1971?? Corvette
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Alpharetta GA
1971?? Corvette
Allright, I bought what I thought was a 1971 Corvette from a guy, and it turns out that it has the LT-1 engine code on the block, and he believes it was the original engine. It also has air conditioning????? I thought that only air conditioning was offered in 1972 with an LT-1 engine though. How would I know what is original the engine or air conditioning, or how could I tell the difference between a 71 and 72, btw I have the vin number and haven't decoded it yet, but the title says it is a 1971.
Alan Higginbotham
Alan Higginbotham
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,281
Likes: 6
From: NC USA
Re: 1971?? Corvette (alanhig)
The engine code should include the last digits of the VIN if it is original. Also, I think the VIN includes an L if it is an original LT-1 car. You'd have to have the build sheet to tell if the AC is original although it would be a chore to add AC to a non-AC car so I'll bet the engine is not original. Hopefully, a 71 expert will chime in on the LT-1/AC combo for that year. Hope this helps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 925
Likes: 1
From: LT1 and LS5 Coupes... New Orleans, LA
Re: 1971?? Corvette (Marks69BB)
Only one 1971 LT-1 with A/C ever built and this was the engineering car for the 1972 factory A/C option. Usually, these cars are tested and then either destroyed or reconfigured to test something else, but this car did end up getting sold and is alive today. It was one of the Astronaut cars in the Apollo 11 movie where I guess they thought it's War Bonnet Yellow paint looked enough like the 69 Riverside Gold to use.
Alan, if the owner told you the LT-1 story, you probably will have the CJK suffix code on your engine. Original early 1971 Chevrolet information showed this code as a 350/330hp with Automatic tranny, and since the LT-1 ended up being rated at 330hp, you could assume that some LT-1 Automatics were built. The NCRS judging manual addresses this and it seems that the early Chevy info was in error, and in fact, the CJK code is the base engine, 350/270hp with Automatic. Flint Engine also says 350/270hp with Automatic. So I would believe that you would have a base engine automatic with A/C, not an LT-1.
Alan, if the owner told you the LT-1 story, you probably will have the CJK suffix code on your engine. Original early 1971 Chevrolet information showed this code as a 350/330hp with Automatic tranny, and since the LT-1 ended up being rated at 330hp, you could assume that some LT-1 Automatics were built. The NCRS judging manual addresses this and it seems that the early Chevy info was in error, and in fact, the CJK code is the base engine, 350/270hp with Automatic. Flint Engine also says 350/270hp with Automatic. So I would believe that you would have a base engine automatic with A/C, not an LT-1.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Alpharetta GA
Re: 1971?? Corvette (alanhig)
Well I went from real excited, to confused to excited to real excited and then back to excited, thanks for the reply. It is an CJK engine code some internet site said that the CJK was an LT-1 engine, so I thought it was. It is hard to find information about and I saw after you replied that it is a CJK engine thanks again. Btw it's purple too :) but I think it was originally blue. I am new to corvettes and have always wanted one and now I am working on this one to restore it to good condition. I found out that it is numbers matching also so that is why I am excited. :cool:
Alan Higginbotham
[Modified by alanhig, 2:12 AM 1/3/2002]
Alan Higginbotham
[Modified by alanhig, 2:12 AM 1/3/2002]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 925
Likes: 1
From: LT1 and LS5 Coupes... New Orleans, LA
Re: 1971?? Corvette (rayray)
Alan, I didn't mean to imply that you have a replacement engine, just that it wasn't an LT-1. It could very well be the orignal engine. Your stamp pad should read V****CJK with the * being the numeric date code (varies). The other stamp will be either 71S1XXXXX or C11S1XXXXX with the X's being the last 5 digits of your car's VIN.
Rayray, all 71's had clear parking lamp lenses even though some books claimed they were amber. It is possible that cars built in July of 71 (last month of production) could have used amber lenses and no fiber optics (like 72), but there would be very few of them if any.
Rayray, all 71's had clear parking lamp lenses even though some books claimed they were amber. It is possible that cars built in July of 71 (last month of production) could have used amber lenses and no fiber optics (like 72), but there would be very few of them if any.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 473
Likes: 18
From: Holland MI
Re: 1971?? Corvette (Allan71)
Allan,
I checked a lot of items on a lot of late 71's at the Silver Salute at Bloomington back in 96. I didn't see a single late July car with amber lenses, and I know that the NCRS surveys have not shown any documented original ones, either.
Patrick
I checked a lot of items on a lot of late 71's at the Silver Salute at Bloomington back in 96. I didn't see a single late July car with amber lenses, and I know that the NCRS surveys have not shown any documented original ones, either.
Patrick
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 350
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From: Atlanta, GA USA
Re: 1971?? Corvette (alanhig)
The engine code on a 71 LT-1 would be CGZ not CJK, the CJK is a base 350. A CGY code is the ZR-1 package. You may want to look a little closer at that pad when you check it. If there are swirl marks on it, it is probably a stamped engine not original. It would also have mechanical lifters and a Holley carb. The carb would be a model 4150 mfg # R4801A and Chevy # 3989021. Your Intake manifold would also be different than a base model. The intake is aluminum and has a casting number on it of 3959594. Air on a 71 LT-1 - no.
