79 Vett, NEED HELP ASAP!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
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79 Vett, NEED HELP ASAP!
Alright, recently i received a 1979(?) corvette... long story short, my uncle had this thing sitting in a garage for a long time, and its in kinda rough condition but i'm going to fix it up. but i have a few questions...
I have NO original manuals or documents...
Given that its a 79, What engine is in it? is it the L82? My grandfather thought it was an L81, and he also thinks its a stingray?
The tags in the engine and body are not currently visible and/or worn off or removed, as well as the interior is pretty bad (But i do know for sure its stock what ever it its). I have other questions, but i need to know the engine type first, thanks.
I have NO original manuals or documents...
Given that its a 79, What engine is in it? is it the L82? My grandfather thought it was an L81, and he also thinks its a stingray?
The tags in the engine and body are not currently visible and/or worn off or removed, as well as the interior is pretty bad (But i do know for sure its stock what ever it its). I have other questions, but i need to know the engine type first, thanks.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
Look at your VIN tag on the driver side windshield pillar.
5th digit determines ORIGINAL motor.
8 is L48
4 is L82
I'm betting you have the L48 as there are other clues that you probably would have found saying it's an L82.
5th digit determines ORIGINAL motor.
8 is L48
4 is L82
I'm betting you have the L48 as there are other clues that you probably would have found saying it's an L82.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
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ok...
alright ill check numbers tomorrow, depending on what it is... i'm hoping its an L84... The carborator has been removed, and is sitting in my passenger side seat, and the gas tank has had half a tank sitting in it for bout 9 years... how would i go about cleaning the carborator and fuel out of my engine/tank?
(-SUPPOSEDLY it runs... just have to put the carborator back on and drain old fuel/oil, then get a battery...-)
NOTE: The car is in a garage atm, so not readily able to run and check stuff, but after checking pictures, it looks like an L84, it has the large cover over the carborator, and the extra hoses going into it, sorry im new to older cars, only thing ive worked on is a 02 Celica GTS
(-SUPPOSEDLY it runs... just have to put the carborator back on and drain old fuel/oil, then get a battery...-)
NOTE: The car is in a garage atm, so not readily able to run and check stuff, but after checking pictures, it looks like an L84, it has the large cover over the carborator, and the extra hoses going into it, sorry im new to older cars, only thing ive worked on is a 02 Celica GTS
Last edited by hkdcamcain; Mar 6, 2010 at 06:38 PM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 410
Likes: 0
From: Wichita Kansas
I suggest you have the carb rebuilt (I would guess it had problems) and drain all the gas by removing the fuel lines and blow them out. You will want to change the oil and anti-freeze after you see if it runs. Make sure the fluids are all full....of course.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
The L-82 came w/ Al. finned valve covers & L-82 on the hood. Many change the painted metal valve covers, etc. & some of us remove the L-82 emblems so that's why checking the no. is suggested.
STINGRAY refers to the body design.
http://ganeys.home.sprynet.com/STINGRAY.htm
Many consider all C3s to be Stingrays.
Disconnect the fuel line at the fuel pump to drain.
STINGRAY refers to the body design.
http://ganeys.home.sprynet.com/STINGRAY.htm
Many consider all C3s to be Stingrays.
Disconnect the fuel line at the fuel pump to drain.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,223
Likes: 666
From: Northeast
Here are some sites you can start reading.
http://corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/c3/1979/79id.html
http://www.nastyz28.com/chevy-engine-code-stampings.php
http://www.corvette-world.com/corvet...ifications.php
http://www.100megsfree4.com/corvette/1970/vet79.htm
Go online and buy an Owner's Manual. Very informative. Along with chassis manual. etc.
Good luck.
http://corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/c3/1979/79id.html
http://www.nastyz28.com/chevy-engine-code-stampings.php
http://www.corvette-world.com/corvet...ifications.php
http://www.100megsfree4.com/corvette/1970/vet79.htm
Go online and buy an Owner's Manual. Very informative. Along with chassis manual. etc.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 35
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shrug?
im going to head down tonight after i take my girlfriend out to dinner and try to get the vin #.... guess ill start with that... if it is the L48... how much would it cost to get some real power out of it? im running 200 whp in my 4 Cylinder... so it would be kinda sad to have less in a v8
note: my GTS is modified... just to avoid the long arguments... Header, exhaust, CAI, new cams, ecu chip, pistons etc...
note: my GTS is modified... just to avoid the long arguments... Header, exhaust, CAI, new cams, ecu chip, pistons etc...
Last edited by hkdcamcain; Mar 6, 2010 at 07:19 PM. Reason: annoyance?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
In your earlier posts you said L84. There is no such thing on a 79, but I think you caught youre mistake as there is an L48 which is the base engine. From the factory it would have had blue vavle covers and a blue intake manifold as the first giveaways under the hood. As mentioned above, the L82 had black finned vavle covers and an aluminum intake. KapSA said it rigiht though, your definitive answer is going to be in the VIN, and he knows a lot more about these cars than I do.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 35
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NOOOOO..... lol
I have the same car as Thiatt's avatar... same color too... well it was... kinda covered in crap n dust now... but here is my vin: 1Z87895401347
sigh... its a L48... was hoping for the L82. (thanks for the catch, i got mixxed up with the L84.....)
Ok... so its and L48, and while i was out i picked up a maintenance and repair guide for it, the Haynes book...
So i need to:
Replace Battery
Clean and put Carborator back on (hoping it works still)
Dump out old gas, oil etc... find some way to flush it all clean again
New tires... all are completely beyond hope...
And it should run!
then the fun begins... appearance...
Anyone know rough times, or have any advice on the previous steps? ill deal with making it faster once i got it together good...
sigh... its a L48... was hoping for the L82. (thanks for the catch, i got mixxed up with the L84.....)
Ok... so its and L48, and while i was out i picked up a maintenance and repair guide for it, the Haynes book...
So i need to:
Replace Battery
Clean and put Carborator back on (hoping it works still)
Dump out old gas, oil etc... find some way to flush it all clean again
New tires... all are completely beyond hope...
And it should run!
then the fun begins... appearance...
Anyone know rough times, or have any advice on the previous steps? ill deal with making it faster once i got it together good...
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 35
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Hellz yea..
I know lol, time i got, and money isnt too much of an issue... just a matter of getting it running first off... then i plan to do some stuff to it... going ahead and replacing exhaust with some side exhausts once engine is done... but whats the first thing to modify on the engine of a corvette? thats usualy pretty simple...
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 176
Likes: 1
What do you mean by simple? Heads are simple to some, big pay off, cam/lifter are simple to install can be hard to choose. Pistons not that bad. If it were me I'd get her running then buy everything I wanted then tear it down one time and make all my changes
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 176
Likes: 1
Wells cost is up to you it all depends on what you want Vortec heads flow well and can be found cheap used cam and lifter sets are as little as $200. Pistons can be pricey or economy. If your fast and have the right tools you'll be done in a weekend if not it'll take a few weekends, if you have kids you may never finish.lol
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
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Lol
I was just given a garage, 2 bay, with a work shop, im 19, no kids obviously... next 2 weeks im cleaning out the garage and organizing, then im breaking into the vett, gettin some pre-rebuild info... it was our summer home, and the garage was used for storage... so looonnggg task... meanwhile... vett sits in storage... have to have it towed to the garage once im done...
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 176
Likes: 1
I don't want to mislead you, this will be a very involved project. make sure you know what you are doing lots of things I have not mentioned like block and head decking, cylinder honing, and countless others. Good luck
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
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Other stuff...
yea im aware there is ALOT of stuff to do with an engine, i completely rebuild a 1966 VW Beetle with my grandfather, and he will be around during most of this project, plus my father was a mechanic for 5 years, and i have the engine guide book, and several .pdf files on various aspects of the project, its going to be my first solo attempt, and im pretty sure i can do it without too much trouble, nothing major is wrong with it
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
I was just given a garage, 2 bay, with a work shop, im 19, no kids obviously... next 2 weeks im cleaning out the garage and organizing, then im breaking into the vett, gettin some pre-rebuild info... it was our summer home, and the garage was used for storage... so looonnggg task... meanwhile... vett sits in storage... have to have it towed to the garage once im done...
You might find this interesting- what many refer to it as my Exhaust topic. http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/ganeyexhaust.htm
Another spec. to look at is Torque.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 807
Likes: 2
From: VIRGINIA BEACH VIRGINIA
hkd, I would get it running and enjoy it then start digging into the engine. I have owned my 79 for a few years now and it is finally dependable. Changed:
carb, fluids, shocks, tires, water pump, fuel pump, valve job, radiator, alternator, battery, vacuum hoses, light bulbs, oil pump, transmission filter and gasket, oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket, brakes, power steering pump, rubber bushing in the front suspension and cleaning and painting in the interior. Learned it all from books (I had never done work on cars other than change oil) and spent many hours doing some things over a couple of times. Have fun and get some good books off e-bay like the corvette shop manual and find some wiring diagrams and vacuum hose diagrams. Good luck and enjoy.
carb, fluids, shocks, tires, water pump, fuel pump, valve job, radiator, alternator, battery, vacuum hoses, light bulbs, oil pump, transmission filter and gasket, oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket, brakes, power steering pump, rubber bushing in the front suspension and cleaning and painting in the interior. Learned it all from books (I had never done work on cars other than change oil) and spent many hours doing some things over a couple of times. Have fun and get some good books off e-bay like the corvette shop manual and find some wiring diagrams and vacuum hose diagrams. Good luck and enjoy.