Lt 1
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 11
Likes: 7
Lt 1
Hi everyone quick question how can I tell if my 72 has an LT 1 . I recently purchased this vehicle and I’m starting to overall it.. thanks in advance for your help
Last edited by Rhino12; Jul 11, 2024 at 03:01 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,510
From: Virginia
Start with the engine stamp pad, at the top of the block, in front of the passenger side head.
Correct suffix, and does the partial VIN match the car?
https://corvettec3.ca/engines.htm
Correct suffix, and does the partial VIN match the car?
https://corvettec3.ca/engines.htm
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
"CLH" could be a 73-74 Corvette L-82, a 76 passenger car 350 L-48, an 87 Monte Carlo 305, or a 91 Camaro/Firebird 305, but the "S" in the VIN would indicate that it's likely a 73 or 74 Corvette L-48. A check of the casting date on the right rear of the block could narrow it down.
If it was a 72 LT-1 the suffix code would be either "CKY", "CTR" or "CKZ".
If it was a 72 LT-1 the suffix code would be either "CKY", "CTR" or "CKZ".
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,510
From: Virginia
CLH is a 1973 L82 engine, which matches the "3", the second digit of the partial VIN. I take it the rest of the VIN does not match your car?
EDIT: The rest of the possible engines that @gbvette62 listed are in the Lime Book, but the S indicates St. Louis (Corvette factory at the time), and the 3 indicates (to me), 1973. Corvette VINs had a 4 followed by 5 unique digits, so this engine was from the 30,019th 1973 Corvette, which originally had a 3-speed TH400 automatic transmission.
http://www.camaros.org/pdf/LimeBook.pdf
The CLH stamp looks a bit suspect, but hopefully some of the engine stamp experts will weigh in. It could just be the lighting or focus.
So, while it is NOM now (not original motor), your 72 may have been born with an LT1 engine. It is also encoded with the letter "L" in the 5th position of the VIN.
https://corvettec3.ca/vin.htm
There are some other LT1 specific things to look for as well. Hopefully someone chimes in with that.
EDIT: The rest of the possible engines that @gbvette62 listed are in the Lime Book, but the S indicates St. Louis (Corvette factory at the time), and the 3 indicates (to me), 1973. Corvette VINs had a 4 followed by 5 unique digits, so this engine was from the 30,019th 1973 Corvette, which originally had a 3-speed TH400 automatic transmission.
http://www.camaros.org/pdf/LimeBook.pdf
The CLH stamp looks a bit suspect, but hopefully some of the engine stamp experts will weigh in. It could just be the lighting or focus.
So, while it is NOM now (not original motor), your 72 may have been born with an LT1 engine. It is also encoded with the letter "L" in the 5th position of the VIN.
https://corvettec3.ca/vin.htm
There are some other LT1 specific things to look for as well. Hopefully someone chimes in with that.
Last edited by Bikespace; Jul 11, 2024 at 03:51 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 11
Likes: 7
Ok thanks everybody. Wood appears to me that this is a 1973 Corvette 350 engine what’s interesting as it has aluminum heads and valve covers from a 72 LT1… when I look at the Vin number the fifth digit does not have an L so the car was not an original LT1 … knowing that, I don’t have an original LT 1 in this car I won’t bother me if I modify the engine does that make sense?
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,510
From: Virginia
Get a Vehicle Information Kit from GM, here:
https://www.gm.com/heritage/archive/...formation-kits
Having a NOM in a car you like is like winning the lottery. You are free to make any mods you want, with no guilt. I have two numbers matching blocks that will haunt my garage for the rest of my life, even after I finish both LS swaps.
Go drive it, and enjoy it. And welcome to the Forum! Please post an intro thread, too. We love pictures.
https://www.gm.com/heritage/archive/...formation-kits
Having a NOM in a car you like is like winning the lottery. You are free to make any mods you want, with no guilt. I have two numbers matching blocks that will haunt my garage for the rest of my life, even after I finish both LS swaps.
Go drive it, and enjoy it. And welcome to the Forum! Please post an intro thread, too. We love pictures.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,502
Likes: 1,509
From: Little Rock AR
Looks like it might have an aluminum LT-1 intake. Hard to see in the picture if it has the Winters snowflake cast into it or not. The heater hose connection has been drilled and tapped in a new place for some reason but not originally made that way.
The heads look to be cast iron so maybe still the 73 L-82 heads?
If it had a Quadrajet on it before, you probably had an adapter under it? The LT-1 intake is square bore.
The heads look to be cast iron so maybe still the 73 L-82 heads?
If it had a Quadrajet on it before, you probably had an adapter under it? The LT-1 intake is square bore.