[Lethal Tendencies]

What year did they start the L-82 motor option?

[fishslayer143@yahoo.com]

it came out in 73 to replace the LT1 which was dropped in 72.... not even close as a substitute .. over 100 HP reduction

[toobroketoretire]

Originally Posted by fishslayer143@yahoo.com

it came out in 73 to replace the LT1 which was dropped in 72.... not even close as a substitute .. over 100 HP reduction

Yeah, the 370 hp LT-1 was a serious performance engine but the replacement L-82 was just a barely warmed-over 350". Like comparing oranges to grapes..................

[7t9l82]

thats not exactly fair or true. the L-82 short block is identical to the LT-1 with the exception of the 350/350 cam. it also had an inferior intake ,both engines were rated differently. the cam in the L-82 is better down low, it will pull hard out of the hole the LT-1 is better on the top end. a L-82 is easy to get into the 13 second range I've done it many times.

[fishslayer143@yahoo.com]

I disagree.. the rating for the 72 LT1 is 330 Net HP after the 70 was rated the old way at 370 Gross HP.. the L-82 was 220-250 [ depending on year] Net HP , the exact same way of rating HP..big drop due to reduction in Comp ratio, chamber size and a weaker hyd cam , and a Q-jet carb w/different intake ....the LT1 1/4 mi was low 14 s and the L82 was mid 15s in stock forms .. I have owned several of each, and there is no comparison.. the L82 is just a good 4 bolt Forged bottom end starting point for a good street motor .. and when coupled to a th350 it was really obvious how weak it was....and yes you can make it get in 13 s as you can with any engine, even an L48 , but we are talking about right from GM..not that the L82 isn t a perfectly good motor that lots of owners are happy with, but from a performance perspective, it comes from the time of reduced power for lower emissions smog motors...Oh by the way the difference between gross and net HP is about 40-50hp, net =with accessories attached . , gross=w/o accessories [ waterpump, alternator ,P/s pump,fan,etc. ]

[7t9l82]

block ,crank ,rods and pistons are the same in the 71-72 Lt-1 and the L-82 all years. only the 70 LT-1 had 370 horsepower. after 72 they retarded the cam 4 degrees hurting power more. an L-82 on a dyno makes a little over 300 horsepower. the auto makers were also playing with ratings for insurance purposes. i also have had a 70 LT-1 roadster A L-82 pace car (new) a 68 L-88 roadster and several other c3 era corvettes. i stand by my comments

[C3blackvette]

Originally Posted by fishslayer143@yahoo.com

it came out in 73 to replace the LT1 which was dropped in 72.... not even close as a substitute .. over 100 HP reduction

1973 saw a radical change in engines! The gas crunch and emissions standards change the industry.

[fishslayer143@yahoo.com]

Originally Posted by 7t9l82

block ,crank ,rods and pistons are the same in the 71-72 Lt-1 and the L-82 all years. only the 70 LT-1 had 370 horsepower. after 72 they retarded the cam 4 degrees hurting power more. an L-82 on a dyno makes a little over 300 horsepower. the auto makers were also playing with ratings for insurance purposes. i also have had a 70 LT-1 roadster A L-82 pace car (new) a 68 L-88 roadster and several other c3 era corvettes. i stand by my comments

sorry, don t want to argue, but you are mistaken..and I too ,have owned 11 C3 s and worked on hundreds.. the LT1 had 11:1 dome pistons ,special forged crank ,... the L82 never had anything but 9.5 :1 flat tops.. I owned several of each and rebuilt several of each... and if your L82 ever made 300 HP, it was on a dyno stand with nothing attached, which is GROSS not NET HP, and not in the same form as it came.... .and it wasn t just the engine, the entire LT1 car was more performance fitted...but don t take my word ..heres the original RPO Details & Specifications
History

" Chevrolet first introduced the RPO LT-1 motor package in 1970. With 370 gross horsepower at 6,000 RPM, it featured many hi-performance and heavy duty components, including solid lifters, heavy duty starter, forged TRW aluminum pistons, 11:1 compression, four bolt main cap block, Tuftrided crank, special hi-lift cam, high rise aluminum intake, Holley carb, baffled oil pan, and transistor ignition. Also included were larger capacity components also not found on the base 350, such as a larger rad, hi volume oil and fuel pumps, and 2 1/2 inch exhaust. Stock 1970 LT-1 Corvettes were reported at the time to be able to achieve 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, and do the quarter mile in 14.2 seconds."...............the L82 came with almost none of that.. in stock form , it was not a performance PKG like the LT1 was..and again, theres a lot of happy L82 car owners around, but to say it was comparable to the LT1 cars in their stock factory form, is not accurate by any means

[fishslayer143@yahoo.com]

Originally Posted by C3blackvette

1973 saw a radical change in engines! The gas crunch and emissions standards change the industry.

you are correct, between new emission standards and the big Insurance lobby, Corvette performance was cut off at the knees .. it was more than a decade before Corvettes started regaining HP