Educated about L-88
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 182
Likes: 19
From: Williamson County, Texas
Educated about L-88
I debated whether this was worth your time to share, but I feel the lesson learned goes beyond just this bit of information. Kind of a "trust but verify" in everything we hear.
When I was a teenager, our local dealer had 2 '68 or '69 427 Corvettes received on special order, one an L-88, the other a L-89. Of course I was highly interested in them, and in looking at them was surprised that while the L-89 obviously had aluminum heads, the L-88 aparrently did not (now I know they were aluminum, just painted orange).
The service manager whom I had great trust in then went into a discourse on how he preferred the L-89 because it was lighter (aluminum heads) and ran higher compression so better throttle response than the L-88. He "explained" that the L-88 had to run a lower compression because the iron heads were more apt to cause detonation due to hot spots that could not occur in the aluminum heads duie to better thermal conductivity. It all made so much sense that until I was recently educated by the knowledgeable folks on this site I believed it.
When I was a teenager, our local dealer had 2 '68 or '69 427 Corvettes received on special order, one an L-88, the other a L-89. Of course I was highly interested in them, and in looking at them was surprised that while the L-89 obviously had aluminum heads, the L-88 aparrently did not (now I know they were aluminum, just painted orange).
The service manager whom I had great trust in then went into a discourse on how he preferred the L-89 because it was lighter (aluminum heads) and ran higher compression so better throttle response than the L-88. He "explained" that the L-88 had to run a lower compression because the iron heads were more apt to cause detonation due to hot spots that could not occur in the aluminum heads duie to better thermal conductivity. It all made so much sense that until I was recently educated by the knowledgeable folks on this site I believed it.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
The difference between a L88 SHP and L89 is like night and day...the only similarity is the aluminum heads and the 4 bolt block...The following are different. Rods, pistons, camshaft, carb and intake that make close to 600 hp with the addition of some good headers on the same block that produced only 435 hp as a L89 or a L71 tri power equipped solid lifter engine...The 88`s are 12.5 compression where the others are 11-1...the 88 is the only engine besides a Z28 302 that have full floating rods too...And there is another but its the all aluminum 427 or ZL1`s.....
One bitchen engine that only a A990 Hemi was better for you Dodge and Plymouth fans......
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One bitchen engine that only a A990 Hemi was better for you Dodge and Plymouth fans......
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,720
Likes: 555
From: Seattle Washington
There was a L-88 that had the Iron Heads that was sold accross the Parts Counter in 1966. I know somebody who bought one. There might of been a couple of 1966 Vettes with the Iron Heads that made there way to a Race Team or two.There is a famous picture of Zora Duntov standing next to one on a Dyno. By 67 the 20 or so L-88's sold should all of had the Aluminum Clossed Chamber Heads. Same for 68. In 69 the the closed Chamber Heads continued untill the factory closed for a Strike. When the Factory opened after the Strike they installed to 074 Open Chamber Head wich lowered the Compression to about 12 to One. Only problem is the factory wasn't concered about the NCRS and what not and built these cars as Teams wanted them and used the Parts they had at the Time. So any of this ould of been Mixed up. The Iron head car You remember seeing had the L-88 Hood?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 182
Likes: 19
From: Williamson County, Texas
There was a L-88 that had the Iron Heads that was sold accross the Parts Counter in 1966. I know somebody who bought one. There might of been a couple of 1966 Vettes with the Iron Heads that made there way to a Race Team or two.There is a famous picture of Zora Duntov standing next to one on a Dyno. By 67 the 20 or so L-88's sold should all of had the Aluminum Clossed Chamber Heads. Same for 68. In 69 the the closed Chamber Heads continued untill the factory closed for a Strike. When the Factory opened after the Strike they installed to 074 Open Chamber Head wich lowered the Compression to about 12 to One. Only problem is the factory wasn't concered about the NCRS and what not and built these cars as Teams wanted them and used the Parts they had at the Time. So any of this ould of been Mixed up. The Iron head car You remember seeing had the L-88 Hood?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 684
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From: Alberta
Originally Posted by c2vette64
I assumed they were iron because they were painted on the L-88 and the L-89 was bare aluminum.
Gonna guess that the production line didn't care about painting the L88 heads and valve covers orange all at once, since these were gonna be race engines anyways, and the "optics" of the package didn't really matter in that case, like they would on a street engine.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Nope, never
There 'never' was a iron head L88 unless it was home made because the factory didn`t...The crate engines were $1200.00 over the counter and the price alone would tell you that...There was no sense spending 1200.00 for a iron head motor...the iron heads were not L88`s period...those two in the boat cost me 2400.00 for the pair from Dexter Chevrolet...Iron head L72`s with 450 hp were 500.00 each...I purchased several 88`s and put them in everything...Today there are more phony 88`s than any other single 4 bore engine...almost everybody has/had one and still dont know whats inside a real one....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 182
Likes: 19
From: Williamson County, Texas
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