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Hello all, I’ve been on the lookout for a rubber bumper C3, and the same as when I bought my C5 Z06, I’m a stickler for stock, or at the most can easily be retuned to stock (any performance mods and I keep looking). Anyway, very new to the C3 world, and going to look at this ‘77 this week, supposed 30,000 original miles. I’ve attached two engine pics and am asking for thoughts - in my research it appears the L48 valve covers were blue, not orange. Do it has me wondering what else may have been changed. Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated!! Jeff
Changeover from orange to blue was in the '77 year so could be an early '77 but those valve covers don't look original anyway but I could be wrong. Missing the ignition shielding, AIR system, and air intake of course.
Unless the mileage is really documented which few keep or one hell of a believable history dont count on it.
Sad you have to think that way but people in general will say anything to get your money one, and two a lot may be oblivious when they bought it believing that. All it takes is a good detail and bs job to fool most.
Very well could be but cables busted, gears stripped, those things went bad often and turning them back was common place. $25 at any speedo shop back then took care of it dmv didnt track it like they do today. Buy based on condition imo.
That thing looks like it needs a bit of work. If you're looking for a rubber bumper go look at this thing.... it's pretty dang wonderful and see if you can contact that member: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...orvette-3.html
Last edited by carriljc; Oct 21, 2019 at 10:05 PM.
My 77 L48 automatic did not come stock with an air pump system (AIR). Judging by the dip stick, the one in the OP's picture is an automatic, so no air pump needed to be original.
Here's pretty much what it should look like (in blue), minus the L82 valve covers.
The original engine compartment of a 1977 L48 would have appeared very similar to the pictures in post #3. I owned a stock '77 Corvette for 15 years. I liked it. Thank you, revitup.
The differences between the '77 L82 shown and an L48 would be...
The L48 would have had painted steel valve covers, but not the valve covers in the first post above, which are not factory.
The L48 would probably not have had a smog pump, unless it was delivered to California or a high altitude region.
Very early 1977 cars (Aug-Sep 1976) had engines painted orange, like previous model years. The remainder of '77 production left the factory with blue engines, per Corvette Black Book, 2011.
Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
were the l82 intakes painted or natural aluminum?
In 1977, all intake manifolds (L82 & L48) were cast iron and painted engine color. Chevrolet went to an aluminum intake manifold, not painted engine color, on the L82 engines starting in 1978.
I hope this helps.
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1979 L82 M21 FE7
Classic White / Doeskin
‘77 L48 question/advice
