Eng./Trans combinations
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 148
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From: Chatham Ontario
Re: Eng./Trans combinations (Lohkay)
I have to agree, I have had my 80 for 19 years now. I'm the second owner and love it, only I have often wished for either a 4-speed or at least the L-82. Preferably both. I think it makes all the difference in the performance of the car, not to mention, sports cars should be manual trannys!!! Alas, as a kid I was just so excited to finally get my Vette, that I never really looked hard enough for a 4-speed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Eng./Trans combinations (RonnyV1980)
I ordered a 1980 Corvette and I know that when I ordered it I had to get the base L48 engine in order to get the 4-speed transmission. I was told that Chevrolet had trouble certifying the engine/transmission combination. I think I ordered it around Oct/Nov 1979 and received it around April 1980.
I have several pages of a Corvette Engine Series Number and Suffix Chart that was published by the Warehousing and Distribution Division of General Motors, dated 6-82. It is 7 pages and lists all Corvette engines from 1953 through 1982. For 1980 it does list the following engine/transmissions:
305-H (LG4) A.T. ZCA
350-8 (L48) M.T. ZAM
350-8 (L48) A.T. ZAK
350-6 (L82) M.T. ZBD
350-6 (L82) A.T. ZBC
BTW this listing agrees with my 1984 edition of the The Genuine Corvette Black Book.
Because of the high cost of all the testing required for Federal emissions certification, it would seem that if you had problems and missed start of production, it would not be very cost effective to retest and try to introduce an engine/transmission combination late in the model year. It is possible that Chevrolet intended to offer the L82 M.T. and the literature was published indicating the availability even though it never made production.
I have several pages of a Corvette Engine Series Number and Suffix Chart that was published by the Warehousing and Distribution Division of General Motors, dated 6-82. It is 7 pages and lists all Corvette engines from 1953 through 1982. For 1980 it does list the following engine/transmissions:
305-H (LG4) A.T. ZCA
350-8 (L48) M.T. ZAM
350-8 (L48) A.T. ZAK
350-6 (L82) M.T. ZBD
350-6 (L82) A.T. ZBC
BTW this listing agrees with my 1984 edition of the The Genuine Corvette Black Book.
Because of the high cost of all the testing required for Federal emissions certification, it would seem that if you had problems and missed start of production, it would not be very cost effective to retest and try to introduce an engine/transmission combination late in the model year. It is possible that Chevrolet intended to offer the L82 M.T. and the literature was published indicating the availability even though it never made production.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Chatham Ontario
Re: Eng./Trans combinations (Jim Shea)
Jim, I too have heard the story about the problems certifying the L-82 with a 4-speed. But then how do we explain the ad that The Wanderer found earlier in this thread. I have seen similar ads before, and now that we have established what codes to look for and where, is it possible that they dud make some of these cars. I'd hate to think that they are all fakes. What do you think?
