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Doing a little homework on a potential purchase, and while awaiting answers from the seller to some questions I asked, I thought I would ask this one here.
Never go by the air cleaner decal. Find the numbers stamped on the pad in front of the passenger cylinder head. They will tell you if the motor is original and what it was rated at. Also never assume the HP/TQ on the shifter plate is actually what the car was born with or has currently.
Never go by the air cleaner decal. Find the numbers stamped on the pad in front of the passenger cylinder head. They will tell you if the motor is original and what it was rated at. Also never assume the HP/TQ on the shifter plate is actually what the car was born with or has currently.
That makes sense, thank you, and of course I will do due diligence checking that and other things about the car. I was hoping its size could be determined from the pic of the engine itself if this is an L48 or an LT1.
In this case the truth is in the numbers you find stamped into the motor at various locations. One location is on a flat surface at the front, passenger side right at the end in front of the valve cover. Post all those numbers here and you will have help translating.
I think it's safe to say you have a 350 cu in. But I'll bet it's a replacement motor, maybe a crate motor not the original 1972.
Hi 66,
Follow Z06's advice and first check the stamps on the front of the right side of the engine.
There will be 2.
The first is the one done at the plant that assembled the engine.
For all small block 68-72 Corvettes that would be the Flint Plant. (a 'V' as the first digit of the stamp.
Next are numbers indicating the month and day the engine was assembled. (4 digits…0107… January 7th)
Last 3 letters, the 'broadcast code', which indicates the configuration in which the engine was built. For 72 either CKW for the L48 (4-speed) or CKY for the LT-!.
The second is the partial VIN number of the vehicle the engine was first installed in.
After determining what the engine was originally you can begin to try to figure out what it is now. For example, the distributor in the photo didn't start it's life on either a 72 L48 or LT-! engine.
IF it started life as an LT-!, AND, it originally had that a/c system, this could be quite a special car.
Hi 66,
A rubber hose spliced into the steel fuel line from the fuel pump to the carburetor is often a surprisingly accurate indicator of what the rest of the car may be like.
Regards,
Alan
In 1972 and later-the VIN will tell you what engine was in the car when built-
1972 Corvette VIN
VIN Range - 1Z67K2S500001 to 1Z67K2S527004
Character Position Code Significance
1-2 1Z Chevrolet Corvette
3-4 67 Convertible
3-4 37 Coupe
5 K Base Engine
5 L LT1 Engine
5 W 454 Engine
6 2 Last Digit of Model year
7 S St Louis Assembly Plant
8-13 6 Digit Build Sequence Number
Do tell, "Z06MLB" - I'm disappointed over it, so some insight would be appreciated.
Well for one, from what I can see in the one provided photo there are a few items under the hood that are not 1972. That by its self is not enough to bet the farm but it does cast a fair amount of doubt.
Sellers that are straight forward and have an honest car to sell don't spoon feed a potential buyer facts and information?
Above everything I just highlighted it would have been a tremendous help for more information from the beginning. For the most part CF members help new guys and well seasoned alike. We won't steal your "find" upon too much information on your part.
What size engine is this?
