L81 Or L82 Engine In 1981 Corvette???
09-10-2010, 02:03 PM
#41
Le Mans Master
Yeah theres a Corvette Authority
09-10-2010, 04:17 PM
#42
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Yup. All 81s have the 6; all 81s had the L81; there were no optional engines. For the 1980 models, the 6 indicated the optional L-82. There are no factory 81 models with anything other than L81s.
Correct
Also correct.
Knowledge is power.
...The L81 valve covers are magnesium,..
...the exhaust manifolds are stainless from the 1980 305 motor.
Knowledge is power.
09-11-2010, 12:37 AM
#43
Drifting
Well then it must be so. Check the thread about cars that don't exist from about a year ago. Ford did a lot of big engines in small numbers in cars that they NEVER went in, but somehow show up from time to time. Chevy did it too but not to the extent Ford did. I saw a factory 440 tri pack in an old Dart and it was factory, but the books said it was never made, a human writes the books based on the info he finds, humans are not infallable. I suspect the L81 was the only engine however. But I learned a long time ago to never say never....
The Corvette Black Book says there were NO optional Corvette engines in 1981. The L81 was it.Last edited by 81pilot; 09-11-2010 at 12:43 AM.
09-11-2010, 08:05 AM
#44
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As a lover and owner of a 81 C3 I find this thread, "interesting, very interesting".
Can I be the only one who wondered if there really was a "most collectable" 81 C3 out there? Any opinions on what it could be.
Can I be the only one who wondered if there really was a "most collectable" 81 C3 out there? Any opinions on what it could be.
09-11-2010, 09:56 AM
#45
Drifting
11-13-2010, 09:40 AM
#46
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L81 Or L82 Engine
[QUOTE= I have a 81 Corvette, I took it to the dealer to have it inspected. The Dealer told me that some 81's came through with the L82 Engine and that this was one of them, they were produced late in 80 and very early in 81 at the St Louis Plant. The L81 had Blue Valve covers and the L82 had Aluminum Valve Covers "Ribed" and Aluminum Intake Manafold. The reason was they " Chevorlet " wanted to use the last of the L82 engines. So if you have Aluminum Ribed Valve covers & Intake Manfold and NOT A BLUE engine you have a L82 engine.
11-13-2010, 09:46 AM
#47
11-13-2010, 11:04 PM
#48
Melting Slicks
[QUOTE=conlar;1575914515][QUOTE= I have a 81 Corvette, I took it to the dealer to have it inspected. The Dealer told me that some 81's came through with the L82 Engine and that this was one of them, they were produced late in 80 and very early in 81 at the St Louis Plant. The L81 had Blue Valve covers and the L82 had Aluminum Valve Covers "Ribed" and Aluminum Intake Manafold. The reason was they " Chevorlet " wanted to use the last of the L82 engines. So if you have Aluminum Ribed Valve covers & Intake Manfold and NOT A BLUE engine you have a L82 engine.[/QUOTE]
What would be the actual internal differences between a L82 and a L81?
Were engines assembled, to different specs, before an order had been placed? How does this equate with The reason was they " Chevorlet " wanted to use the last of the L82 engines.
What would be the actual internal differences between a L82 and a L81?
Were engines assembled, to different specs, before an order had been placed? How does this equate with The reason was they " Chevorlet " wanted to use the last of the L82 engines.
11-13-2010, 11:58 PM
#49
If you look at the history of engine production at the three main engine plants, there were hundreds if not thousands of different 'build specs' for Chevrolet engines over the years. In any one year, there might be up to 8-10 different specs just for Corvette, never mind a similar number for each of Camaro, Monte Carlo, Nova, Chevelle, Impala etc. and dozens of different truck models. Each of the specs was model year specific with a new series of codes issued each year in almost all cases. This is irrespective of whether the engine RPO changed or not.
I'm sure the engines were built to orders coming from the different car assembly plants and not just randomly, hoping there would be a car to install it in when it reached the car assembly plant.
There is nothing magical about the end of the 1980 MY that would cause unwanted and unloved engines to be left over and subsequently slipped into '81 MY cars hoping that nobody would notice. It was (yawn) business as usual.
If anyone still thinks they've got an L82 in their '81, please supply a clear photo of the engine stamp pad.
I'm sure the engines were built to orders coming from the different car assembly plants and not just randomly, hoping there would be a car to install it in when it reached the car assembly plant.
There is nothing magical about the end of the 1980 MY that would cause unwanted and unloved engines to be left over and subsequently slipped into '81 MY cars hoping that nobody would notice. It was (yawn) business as usual.
If anyone still thinks they've got an L82 in their '81, please supply a clear photo of the engine stamp pad.
06-12-2012, 09:07 PM
#50
81 l82?
To the naysayers....the factory window sticker on the car I saw clearly listed "L82" as the motor code. Since this discussion, I've found 2 1981vettes for sale on the internet with L82 motor code in VIN. Also, NADA lists L82 motor as option in its values. Finally, those who say it doesn't exist don't know much about Chevrolet. Just because the factory said they didn't make it, and it isn't in their option book, doesn't mean they didn't produce it. The history of Corvettes, Camaros, Chevelles, and Chevy/GMC trucks bear this out time and again. For example, you won't find 427 motors in the option book for 1968 Camaros but Chevrolet factory produced the cars with that motor for Yenko to build his cars on the condition that he not disclose it. So, it appeared that the 68s had the Yenko option "dealer installed" just like in 1967 but we now know that was not true and the 68 427 Camaro was factory. Similarly, a handful of L88 427 Corvettes "slipped" out of the factory in 1967. Also, have you ever heard of COPO (Central Office Production Order a/k/a Change of Production Order) which was Chevrolet's back door way of geting around performance and option limits. Do some research and you'll find numerous examples of cars that Chevrolet built with available parts that weren't an option. So, I'm not saying the 1981 L82 was a COPO but Chevrolet clearly did things off the options books and these cars do exist.
06-12-2012, 09:11 PM
#51
I have an LT1 in my 81 with Edelbrock Muti-port Fuel Injection but Chevrolet did not put it in there.
06-12-2012, 09:14 PM
#52
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?
06-12-2012, 10:23 PM
#53
Le Mans Master
The most expensive '81 is the one code 24 bright blue metallic car, and nobody knows where it is.
06-12-2012, 11:03 PM
#54
Burning Brakes
For what its worth my L81 has a 6 in the VIN too, but I know it's a L81 by the stamp on the pad. Also I believe the L-82 block has 4 bolt mains, my engine is a two bolt main. I've never seen a stock 81 Corvette without ribbed mag. valve covers or a alumium intake.
06-13-2012, 01:20 PM
#56
Safety Car
the websites are wrong. in other years the particular digit may have specified the engine option, but in 1981 it did not.
web page builders are always taking shortcuts. in this example from the 1st post the webmaster was just building multiple pages based on multiple years. he copied the 1980 info, renamed it 1981 info and proceeded to edit the specific 1981 changes. if you look at the web page you will see that they correctly edited the engine broadcast code/suffix for the different types of L81 engines, nowhere does it state what the broadcast code is for a L82.
you folks with a claimed 81 L82, what is your engine broadcast code/suffix that is stamped on your stamping pad?
web page builders are always taking shortcuts. in this example from the 1st post the webmaster was just building multiple pages based on multiple years. he copied the 1980 info, renamed it 1981 info and proceeded to edit the specific 1981 changes. if you look at the web page you will see that they correctly edited the engine broadcast code/suffix for the different types of L81 engines, nowhere does it state what the broadcast code is for a L82.
you folks with a claimed 81 L82, what is your engine broadcast code/suffix that is stamped on your stamping pad?
06-13-2012, 02:47 PM
#57
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06-13-2012, 04:00 PM
#59
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I wish there were L 81 side badges. I searched around and couldnt find them. I know the 81 didnt come with any side badges but you think someone would have made something aftermarked to adorn that bared area.
06-13-2012, 04:04 PM
#60
Race Director
[QUOTE=conlar;1575914515][QUOTE= I have a 81 Corvette, I took it to the dealer to have it inspected. The Dealer told me that some 81's came through with the L82 Engine and that this was one of them, they were produced late in 80 and very early in 81 at the St Louis Plant. The L81 had Blue Valve covers and the L82 had Aluminum Valve Covers "Ribed" and Aluminum Intake Manafold. The reason was they " Chevorlet " wanted to use the last of the L82 engines. So if you have Aluminum Ribed Valve covers & Intake Manfold and NOT A BLUE engine you have a L82 engine.[/QUOTE]
The L81 I pulled out of my car was built in Ky and had ribbed aluminum valve covers and was not a blue engine. It is still an L81 not 82.
The L81 I pulled out of my car was built in Ky and had ribbed aluminum valve covers and was not a blue engine. It is still an L81 not 82.
