C3 Shifter Badges
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
C3 Shifter Badges
I just bought a 1975 C3 for next to nothing. It had been sitting for 10+ years in a guys barn but was well preserved by a quarter inch of dust. Upon inspection, I noticed that the plaque under the shifter, says 350 C.I., 350 H.P., 11:1 Compression. I cant find any record of this being made in the 70's. Has anyone heard of this model/motor combo?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,135
Likes: 4,206
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi bk,
Welcome!
The L-46 engine which was an option for the 69 and 70 model years was rated at 350 hp and had a 11:1 compression ratio.
Very nice sb engines!
Regards,
Alan
Welcome!
The L-46 engine which was an option for the 69 and 70 model years was rated at 350 hp and had a 11:1 compression ratio.
Very nice sb engines!
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Aug 3, 2017 at 10:33 AM.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 720
Likes: 204
From: Michigan
Your '75 must have been "Re-Badged" or Re-Consoled at some point with one from a '69 or '70.
Some may call that false advertising.
I believe the HP ratings of the SB dropped year-by-year in the early '70s, until (IMO) it got to the point of being too embarrassing to etch a sub-200 HP number into a plaque, and they canned it altogether!
Some may call that false advertising.
I believe the HP ratings of the SB dropped year-by-year in the early '70s, until (IMO) it got to the point of being too embarrassing to etch a sub-200 HP number into a plaque, and they canned it altogether!
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
I was wondering if it might have had a different console installed. I'm completely new at this, so forgive the "elementary" questions, but would the VIN on the motor tell me the specs? I'm not even sure if this is a factory motor, the VIN on the dash has a J in the fifth position, which I read is the L48 engine. So I have to believe that something has been changed, either with the plaque or the motor. Nothing on the engine appears or sounds stock. (headers, high rise, holley carb, distributor, nice sounding cam) I will post some pictures once I pick it up from the tire shop. They were dry rotted, and the brake pedal was on the floor, but cranked pretty quick with a fresh battery.
Last edited by ballkiddy; Aug 3, 2017 at 11:46 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,135
Likes: 4,206
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi bk,
You can take a look at the 'stamp pad' on the engine block right in front of the right side valve cover.
On that pad will be 2 stamps.
The first will indicate at which engine plant the engine was assembled, the date it was assembled, and the application for which it was intended and configured. (horsepower, carburetor, transmission.)
Secondly, there will be a stamp with the partial VIN sequence of the vehicle this particular engine was first installed in.
So take a look there to see what might be visible.
Regards,
Alan
You can take a look at the 'stamp pad' on the engine block right in front of the right side valve cover.
On that pad will be 2 stamps.
The first will indicate at which engine plant the engine was assembled, the date it was assembled, and the application for which it was intended and configured. (horsepower, carburetor, transmission.)
Secondly, there will be a stamp with the partial VIN sequence of the vehicle this particular engine was first installed in.
So take a look there to see what might be visible.
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Aug 3, 2017 at 12:32 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 289
From: Spring Park MN
I'm guilty of rebadging my 75 Vert. With the car having almost nothing stock in the engine, tranny, driveline, steering and suspension, I just couldn't see putting the lowly L48 badge back on it, so I picked the baddest small block they ever put in a C3, the 1970 LT1 badge.
Mike
Mike
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
When I put my custom injected roller 355 engine under there some 20 years ago, I had a awards/plaque shop cut/engrave new inserts for the console...engine and ODrive trans....it was a 4 speed muncie, but now an auto 4 speed 200 4r and I have a Hurst shifter arm with an 8 ball on it.....see pix below....
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
pictures
The exterior pictures were taken prior to it being parked in the barn some time ago I think, the interior pics were snapped while I was there. I've replaced the tires, got to slap in a drivers side window motor, replace the headlight vacuum lines, tach doesn't work, two new front calipers, master cylinder, ac compressor leaks from the back, and I believe it needs a ac blower motor. Cold air comes out, but not very hard. There are three wires by the blower motor that are taped together I need to run down.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,029
Likes: 662
From: FL
Car looks nice. Definitely some mods have been done.
Just from the photos, I see:
- Aftermarket hood.
- Possibly new front bumper cover (bumperettes on either side of license plater should be black on front portion, not body color)
- Center gauge console painted red? Should be black.
- Center console red (either black or woodgrain).
- Door trim painted red.
Just from the photos, I see:
- Aftermarket hood.
- Possibly new front bumper cover (bumperettes on either side of license plater should be black on front portion, not body color)
- Center gauge console painted red? Should be black.
- Center console red (either black or woodgrain).
- Door trim painted red.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 434
Likes: 47
From: Lake in the Hills IL
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
so I did what Alan 71 said and went out in the garage last night, wiped off some grime and tracked down these numbers. On the front of the block I found a 15S425428, and a VO 123CHB. Which I think I decoded as a 1975 350 L48 engine, also had 3970010 stamped on the rear near the firewall. The 425428 matches the last numbers of the car's VIN....so I think this is the original motor! Which is cool because the guy who had it chilling in his barn said it was a "crate motor" that was put in 15 years ago.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 781
Likes: 113
well, I have the lowly 350, wRochecter qjet 4barrel L48 in my '78.Originally 185 hp.
SINCE new..it has real performance headers true dual exhaust, no cat converters..but essentially still an L48. Probably puts out closer to 210 hp..but I really don't care about the number....still goes quicker and runs faster than the laws (or my common sense)allow or require.
I put L48 emblems on my hood w/3M tape..and had a console plate made by Corvette mods which reflects the original specs on the engine-drive train.Affixed it to the ash tray cover. on the console with 3m double sided emblem tape..
jim
SINCE new..it has real performance headers true dual exhaust, no cat converters..but essentially still an L48. Probably puts out closer to 210 hp..but I really don't care about the number....still goes quicker and runs faster than the laws (or my common sense)allow or require.
I put L48 emblems on my hood w/3M tape..and had a console plate made by Corvette mods which reflects the original specs on the engine-drive train.Affixed it to the ash tray cover. on the console with 3m double sided emblem tape..
jim