How can I tell what year L98 is in my car?
03-12-2002, 09:47 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
How can I tell what year L98 is in my car?
Is there a serial number or some kind of identification on the motor in my vette that I can run to tell if it's the orginal motor? Where is it or they located. Can you see it without pulling or disassembling anything? Any pictures would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Thanks,
03-12-2002, 10:35 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
Re: How can I tell what year L98 is in my car? (Curtis629)
I understand your skepticism. The '86 coupe should have iron heads. Vert should have alum.
Well, if the two center intake-manifold bolt holes are drilled at a different angle than the others, it's an '87-up motor. (In '87, they were drilled at 72* instead of 90*).
As for the VIN, the model year code for '86 was "G"; '87 was "H"; '88 was "J"; '89 was "K"; '90 was "L"; '91 was "M".
L98 Engine assembly codes
86 - ZJH ZKA ZKD ZJS ZJW
87 - ZJN ZJR ZLA ZLC ZLB
88 - ZMA ZMC ZMD
89 - CZA ZRA ZRB ZRC
90 - ZSA ZSB ZSC
91 - ZTA ZTB ZTC
All this is from the GM Y-Body Parts Catalog.
The location of and procedure for reading the date/stamp is at - http://www.wzrd.com/~rbrennan/corvette/stamp.gif
[Modified by Rich B., 9:56 PM 3/12/2002]
Well, if the two center intake-manifold bolt holes are drilled at a different angle than the others, it's an '87-up motor. (In '87, they were drilled at 72* instead of 90*).
As for the VIN, the model year code for '86 was "G"; '87 was "H"; '88 was "J"; '89 was "K"; '90 was "L"; '91 was "M".
L98 Engine assembly codes
86 - ZJH ZKA ZKD ZJS ZJW
87 - ZJN ZJR ZLA ZLC ZLB
88 - ZMA ZMC ZMD
89 - CZA ZRA ZRB ZRC
90 - ZSA ZSB ZSC
91 - ZTA ZTB ZTC
All this is from the GM Y-Body Parts Catalog.
The location of and procedure for reading the date/stamp is at - http://www.wzrd.com/~rbrennan/corvette/stamp.gif
[Modified by Rich B., 9:56 PM 3/12/2002]
03-12-2002, 10:52 PM
#4
Instructor
Member Since: May 1999
Location: Lake Havasu City Arizona
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: How can I tell what year L98 is in my car? (Curtis629)
Not all coupes had iron heads. I have an 86 with Alum. heads #22xxx, somewhere after #18000 they were all alum heads. Some one else will chime in with a closer VIN number than 18000.
PC
PC
03-12-2002, 11:02 PM
#5
Melting Slicks
Re: How can I tell what year L98 is in my car? (Curtis629)
Are any of those numbers or codes on the motor? If so where?
Thanks,
Thanks,
I've read conflicting articles on the heads/body style...Most agree that verts were produced at the end of the model year, and that alum heads were fitted to the later '86's...(shrug)...Take it for what it is...Idle speculation/rumor! :D
[Modified by Rich B., 10:04 PM 3/12/2002]
03-12-2002, 11:07 PM
#6
Safety Car
Re: How can I tell what year L98 is in my car? (Curtis629)
The only number I am aware of on the block is stamped on the passenger side front just beneath the head. Unfortuanately, it is hidden by the air conditioner compressor and sundry other items.
03-12-2002, 11:32 PM
#7
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2001
Location: Athens AL
Posts: 59,651
Received 1,401 Likes
on
1,017 Posts
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: How can I tell what year L98 is in my car? (96LT1)
Right, later 86 coupes had AL heads, the number is around 18,000 but nobody here knows exactly where the number is.
There is an ID sequence stamped on the block somewhere, though i dont know what part of the block its on
There is an ID sequence stamped on the block somewhere, though i dont know what part of the block its on
03-13-2002, 12:43 AM
#8
Drifting
Re: How can I tell what year L98 is in my car? (vader86)
I got an email from the corvette museum when I bought my car and they confirmed that all cars in 86 from about 18,000 on got aluminum heads. This included all the verts and a little bit less than half the coupes.
