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Jan 5, 2019 | 12:36 AM

plafonta

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From: barwon heads vic

Engine type

Hi

does anyone know how you would determine what type of engine a c3 was original supplied from factory with?

Thanks

Jan 5, 2019 | 08:27 AM

Easy Mike

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From: Southbound

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The base engine for all C3s was a small block Chevrolet; 327 CI for 68 and 350 CI for all other years. Higher horse power small blocks were optional. Until they were discontinued, big block engines (427 or 454 CI) were optional. Do you have any original documentation with your car?

Jan 5, 2019 | 10:42 AM

Nowhere Man

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starting in 71 the vin tells you the engine it was born with.

Jan 5, 2019 | 11:24 AM

Dynra Rockets

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for a 68-70 you will need a tank sticker to be 100%. Without a tank sticker you have to look for tale-tell signs such as fuel lines, tach redline, HD differential, etc.

Jan 5, 2019 | 11:41 AM

CA-Legal-Vette

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From: Scottsdale Arizona

Quote:

Originally Posted by plafonta

Hi

does anyone know how you would determine what type of engine a c3 was original supplied from factory with?

Thanks

As others have already said, depends on the year. Assuming you’re asking for a specific car, post the year and what’s in it now and we’ll go from there. As a for instance, for a 72 LT-1, the VIN will tell you what the original engine was but for a 70 LT-1, there are pages of clues that you have to work through. Without original documentation, hard to be definitive on these.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhere Man

starting in 71 the vin tells you the engine it was born with.

I think the VIN shows the motor in the 1972 model year, manufactured late in 1971.

Jan 5, 2019 | 07:42 PM

riverracer au

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From: "ɹǝpunuʍop", Adelaide, South Australia

there's a vette club in Geelong
they would have some knowledgeable people that could give the car the once over for you.

Jan 5, 2019 | 11:22 PM

plafonta

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From: barwon heads vic

Sorry I should have been more specific. I know it's a 350 but was it a standard 350 or an lt1? And it's a 71

Last edited by plafonta; Jan 6, 2019 at 07:16 AM.

Jan 6, 2019 | 12:30 AM

CA-Legal-Vette

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From: Scottsdale Arizona

Quote:

Originally Posted by plafonta

Sorry I should have been more specific. I know it's a 350 but was it a standard 350 or an lt1?

If it’s a 1972, easy enough: the fifth digit in the VIN would be a K for the base engine and an L for the LT-1 (255 HP that year). For the 70 and 71 models, no such definitive reference but rather clues. There are different tachometers, ignitions and differential ratios but a simple clue is that LT-1s only had a single fuel line on the passenger frame rail. The stock 350 had two, a feed and return line.

Last edited by CA-Legal-Vette; Jan 6, 2019 at 12:32 AM.

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Jan 6, 2019 | 02:16 AM

AUS72

Heel & Toe

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From: Vic Australia

How close is it to being on the road? I have the corvette black book if you want a look.

Jan 6, 2019 | 07:13 AM

#10

nutsy

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From: CA.

I believe in 72 if it was a big block there is a W in the vin. when I decoded my 71 big block I didn't see anything that specified engine size.

Jan 6, 2019 | 08:38 AM

#11

Easy Mike

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From: Southbound

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Quote:

Originally Posted by plafonta

...I know it's a 350 but was it a standard 350 or an lt1? And it's a 71...

There is a pad on the block at the front of the passenger's side head. There should be two stampings on the pad. One identifies the engine and the second is the VIN derivative of the vehicle the engine was originally installed in.
Here's a sample of a pad.

Last edited by Easy Mike; Jan 6, 2019 at 08:39 AM.

Jan 6, 2019 | 02:12 PM

#12

jackson

Le Mans Master

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From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina

OP
How do you KNOW it's a 350...Could be any size sbc someone may've replaced original motor. Start by getting the code/numbers off that pad.

Jan 6, 2019 | 04:23 PM

#13

jackson

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From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina

1971 C3 w/ sbc
Three letter code beginning with C followed by two letters

Jan 6, 2019 | 04:37 PM

#14

monteholic

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From: Michigan

its been a long time since I've owned a C3, but isn't there a tag on the console that says what engine was in the car?

right below the shifter

Last edited by monteholic; Jan 6, 2019 at 04:40 PM.

Jan 6, 2019 | 05:30 PM

#15

Easy Mike

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From: Southbound

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Quote:

Originally Posted by monteholic

...isn't there a tag on the console that says what engine was in the car?...

Yes and no. The last thing to rely upon is the console plate since they are easy to change. You can make your car into an L-88 by adding the L-88 plate if you want. The engine suffix code is the most reliable ID.

Last edited by Easy Mike; Jan 6, 2019 at 05:34 PM.

Jan 13, 2019 | 05:36 AM

#16

plafonta

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From: barwon heads vic

Hers the stampings

Jan 13, 2019 | 08:08 AM

#17

BKarol

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From: Northeast

Because of the shape of the pad it is a mid 77 or newer block. This is what the pad should reveal. Can't figure out what they did to yours.

Jan 13, 2019 | 08:34 AM

#18

Easy Mike

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From: Southbound

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Quote:

Originally Posted by karol

Because of the shape of the pad it is a mid 77 or newer block. This is what the pad should reveal. Can't figure out what they did to yours.

I agree. Wrong pad for a 71.

Jan 13, 2019 | 09:19 AM

#19

derekderek

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From: SW Florida.

is the yellow in the stamping or highlits added by you? it is an obvious attempt at restamping. poor attempt. CGZ is 71 corvette LT1. such a bad job they may as well have used an L88 code. wouldn't be much less believable.

Jan 13, 2019 | 10:33 AM

#20

jackson

Le Mans Master

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 7,739

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From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina

Per others...pad and characters are entirely bogus.

I suspect chicanery afoot here...or worse.

About the only way you can positively ID this red-headed stepchild is by disassembling it; be prepared to learn it's not sugar but chit.

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