Easy Mike

Post the links.

Points up a mistake in the blue blook.

Actually, it does.

crvtownr

[QUOTE=Easy Mike;1570874613]Post the links.

Here's one

http://newlondon.craigslist.org/cto/1236501232.html

What you don't believe what's posted on craiglist?

Easy Mike

Absolutely. Every word. eBay stuff too!!

conlar

I have A 81 cORVETTE WITH THE OPTIONAL L82 230 HP engine from the factory, the standard L81 engine has Blue rocker covers.

'75

Can you post the engine and vin numbers?

Mike Ward

I believe the stock L81 engine has cast aluminum valve covers, not painted steel covers.

CrazyAv8r

I have owned 3 Corvettes and the last one I purchased was in January of this year. I realize and from reading alot of info that only the L-81 came as the only option for the 81s. But my VIN numbers along with my build sheet says I have the L 82 230 hp. engine. I placed a call to the National Corvette Museum and they were able to verify that my VIN was correct and that the engine was an L 82. Does this make the Vette worth more?

CrazyAv8r

For the longest time (years) St. Louis hid the last 1983 Corvette from Detroit and then talked to the execs about having one, the execs. promised not to destroy it and it now sits in the museum. Estimated worth is in the millions.

alswagg

I own an 81 with a small block 350 lol. I really don't care if it was an L81 or L82 neither engine in stock form is anything to brag about. I would guess all of the 81's had an electronic carb and distributer. This would really be the differance between these two engines. Al

PuddleJumper

thats cool..

the book i have lists the only 190 HP option for the 1981 as a L48 mentioning nothing about the L81.. its by mike Mueller. another book of his about the SBC lists the L81 as the only option for the 81 vette..

to settle this thing someone should give the NCM a call and ask.

from what i know about automakers is they dont always do things as it says in the "books".. ie like derating engines and such...

Paul Borowski

...this is a good point.

...I owned from 1977-1984 an original motored numbers matching 1967 L-78 396/375hp Chevelle SS. This engine option wasn't listed by Chevrolet as an optional motor for a 1967 Chevelle in any literature, order form or sales brochure, yet Chevrolet built 612 of them making them the fourth rarest engine RPO car built by Chevrolet(per quote from a Super Chevy magazine).

...they estimate less than 30 survive with their original L-78 396.

...my most valuable "keeper" that I let slip away. Knew what it was when I sold it, just needed the funds due to the situation I was in at that time. Sold it in '84 for $5600. Had 41,000mi on it when I bought it, sold it with 52,000mi on the clock.

CrazyAv8r

As far as the L81 and L82, your correct its really nothing to brag about as far as what is bigger and blah blah blah, just curious as to whether or not its worth more as a collector vehicle. Kinda like back in the day you could buy a Plymouth Super Bird with a 426 hemi for under $5,000. Had I known it would be worth what they are worth today .........well you catch my drift.

CrazyAv8r

Sorry I meant a L48, my bad

PuddleJumper

idk its weird becuse i now want to know if its a L81 or a L48 or is there one in the same engine.. i have 2 books by the same guy that say difrent things..

CrazyAv8r

As I understand from reading the L48 is the same as the L81. Now this was just reading from a corvette magazine. The issue I am writing about is that there may be no option for the 1981 mentioned or offered in literature but the numbers match in my 81 and according to the build sheet, National Museum along with the the rest of the misc. papers I have it ended up with the L82 230 hp. engine. No its not a big powerhouse and that is not what this post is about. Its along the same line as St.Louis hid the last remaining 83 from GM knowing the order came down to destroy all remaining of the 44 produced. In doing this St. Louis did hide it for years. So if they could do this (hide the only remaining 1983, they could put a few L82s in the 1981s here and there.

CrazyAv8r

The L48 Engine was standard from 1971 - 1980 in which you had other engine options and from what I have read L48 produced 180 hp.

Mike Ward

Would you mind sharing your actual VIN with us? (leave off the last 2-3 digits if you want

No 1983 Corvettes were built in St. Louis. All were built in Bowling Green.

CrazyAv8r

Sure and this is off the original paper work and cross checked with VIN on car and the build sheet. 1G1AY8769BS41*** According to the book and History of The Corvette the 6 denotes L82/350 V8 230 hp. There are alot of references out there. My other Vettes are 1982s with the cross fire and of course automatic. I am the 2nd owner of the 81 and the original owner had not done a thing to the motor but it sounds as though its been beefed up some? Anyway tell me what you think.

Mike Ward

That's looks to be the same format as every other '81 I've seen, including the '6'. This link shows also shows the engine codes, maybe you could double check that too:

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...1981/81id.html


Many books erroneously printed L82 instead of L81.

Tally Ho

The Black Book shows all 40606 1981 VIN's starting as
1G1AY876

The L81 valve covers are magnesium, the exhaust manifolds are stainless from the 1980 305 motor.