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Topic: 1977 Engine Color

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1977 Engine Color (1/13)
 7/17/16 8:01am
77Driver
Former Member

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Lake Mary, FL - USA

Vette(s):
77 Lemans Blue L48 stock all the way around except paint color.


Joined: 3/29/2016
Posts: 8

Hi gang, Does anyone know of some pretty reliable data on about what VIN # the switch took place in the engine color? My 77 is #942 and when I purchased it the engine was orange. I'm getting ready to pull the motor to do some work and when finished paint it. Any thoughts?
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Re: 1977 Engine Color (2/13)
 7/22/16 12:44pm
nosal1
Former Member

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Dunedin, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1980 Corvette Torch Red with Gold metallic 370HP/350 CU.IN.Turbo 350 w/shift kit.Originally CA.Car with 305 CU.IN.


Joined: 3/21/2006
Posts: 262

Good Afternoon, It has been my experience that in 1979 GM Chevy painted their engines Blue and stayed that color until 1984 when they went Black.Another change on the engines was they moved the oil dipstick the right side of the block.Also in 1980 they(GM Chevy)went to using metric fasteners(nuts/bolts etc.),which when I built my '80 Vette I changed to SAE..

I am sure Joel can confirm this info as correct or correct the mistakes..
Have a great day..                          Sal C                      nosal1
Re: 1977 Engine Color (3/13)
 7/22/16 1:20pm
vettejackLifetime Member
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Titusville, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1977 Coupe (White), 2006 Convertible (Victory Red). NCM Life Member #2221.


Joined: 12/19/2007
Posts: 154

 

My VIN is: 1Z37L7S421334 (total production 49,213)

For the 1977 Corvette production year, between August 23 and September 7, 1976, the Flint Engine changed from orange paint to blue for Corvette engines.

 

 

Additionally: the alarm activator was moved from the driver side fender to the driver side door lock starting around serial number 27,373 (my '77 has the fender alarm activator).

 

Other 1977 Corvette somewhat rare options:

 

Code C49:...electro-clear rear window defogger

Code: UM2...AM/FM Stereo Radio W/Factory 8-Track Tape Player (Another first for a Corvette option) Original Radio and working

Code: ZX2...Convenience Group (This option consists of dome light delay, headlight warning buzzer, underhood light, low fuel warning light, interior courtesy lights and right side visor mirror.

 

Code: YJ8...Aluminum Wheels

 

Code: V54...Luggage and Roof Panel Rack (Rare option only...factory option in 1977 as previous years this was only a dealer installed item. This luggage rack has special brackets and a strap that fit onto the rack allowing the t-top roof panels to be strapped on and you can drive the vehicle like this).






|UPDATED|7/22/2016 10:20:21 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: 1977 Engine Color (4/13)
 7/22/16 1:24pm
nosal1
Former Member

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Dunedin, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1980 Corvette Torch Red with Gold metallic 370HP/350 CU.IN.Turbo 350 w/shift kit.Originally CA.Car with 305 CU.IN.


Joined: 3/21/2006
Posts: 262

vettjack is correct..I typed 1979 and was supposed to be 1977,Bad eyes and fat fingers.

Good Job VetteJack on the correction and the other info you included..
Sal C
Re: 1977 Engine Color (5/13)
 7/23/16 9:51am
Redwoman
Former Member

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Bellingham, MA - USA

Vette(s):
1980 loaded red on red. 68,000 original miles. Second owner. Well documented with all original paperwork. NCRS Founders Award 9/27/14. NCRS Top Flight 10/12/14.


Joined: 6/23/2014
Posts: 175

The correct color is corporate blue. Eastwood is the only place that has the best match to original. The paint from local parts stores and corvette vendors isn't even close. it is a dark blue/green fro eastwood. The rattle cans from other places labeled Gm blue, chevy blue and corporate blue are a bright blue. 

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Re: 1977 Engine Color (6/13)
 7/24/16 8:44am
77Driver
Former Member

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Lake Mary, FL - USA

Vette(s):
77 Lemans Blue L48 stock all the way around except paint color.


Joined: 3/29/2016
Posts: 8

Good information. Thank you. I haven't pulled the motor yet. Has anyone tried to pull the motor with the transmission attached? Can I get them out together? In my garage I.e. No lift.
Re: 1977 Engine Color (7/13)
 8/1/16 6:51am
vettejackLifetime Member
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Titusville, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1977 Coupe (White), 2006 Convertible (Victory Red). NCM Life Member #2221.


Joined: 12/19/2007
Posts: 154

77Driver said: Good information. Thank you. I haven't pulled the motor yet. Has anyone tried to pull the motor with the transmission attached? Can I get them out together? In my garage I.e. No lift.


It would probably be more troublesome trying to pull the motor/tranny together. I'm sure the radiator and surrounding components would have to come out...with the obvious of the hood coming off as well, no matter the configuration. My mechanic got my help in putting in 2 motors (1 in a C2 and 1 in C3), and both were put in without trannys. It seemed safer that way as well. Having an adjustable engine lift, a transmission lift, a 2 post and a 4 post lift, certainly goes a long way in a well equipped garage that my mechanic has.
The only guy that touches my 77 and 82 is: Corvette Interiors (Ron Wood), 2459 Cheney Hwy, Titusville, Florida 32780, 321-269-3887 

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Re: 1977 Engine Color (8/13)
 8/6/16 7:42am
77Driver
Former Member

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Lake Mary, FL - USA

Vette(s):
77 Lemans Blue L48 stock all the way around except paint color.


Joined: 3/29/2016
Posts: 8

I'm going to wait until the weather calls a little. I have to pull the radiator since it seems I have a small leak. I might just pull the engine and trans fwd a bit to get to the trans bolts by the firewall. Your car looks great
Re: 1977 Engine Color (9/13)
 8/6/16 2:22pm
Vman73
Former Member

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Gig Harbor, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1973 L82 4 Speed Coupe - Very original, well documented driver/survivor. 2016 Bend Regional NCRS Top Flight.


Joined: 10/2/2014
Posts: 405

I actually prefer to pull the engine and trans based on the type of transmission. Auto, leave the trans in. Manual, pull the trans with the motor. I'm not a big fan of trying to align the engine and trans in the car. Auto trans seem to be a little easier because there is no immediate connection from the flex plate to the torque converter, that can be accomplished once the motor is in. Manual trans on the other hand I prefer to align everything including the input shaft spline/clutch on the floor prior to installing the engine. Jack is correct that it necessitates pulling the hood, radiator, A/C condenser if equipped and the core support. It also requires you to pick the motor from the front of the car rather than over the fender if your pulling motor only. No lift required, just a good engine hoist. You may want to eyeball the reach of the engine hoist to make sure it is long enough if your coming fron the front. My buddies engine hoist also has front legs that spread out pretty far. Great for safety and stability, but it requires removal of one front tire. Good luck which ever way you do it and let us know how it turns out !!

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Duct tape is the new Black !!
Re: 1977 Engine Color (10/13)
 8/7/16 12:50pm
daveo76
Former Member

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Vancouver, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.


Joined: 8/25/2005
Posts: 857

To add to what John is saying concerning the manual cars....  I removed the tranny before I pulled the motor.  Might be more work than keeping them together, but certainly do-able and nothing too hard about it.  Now going in...different story.  I installed the tranny with the motor in the car and it was a bit of a bear.  Requires: help, patience, strength, a good back, and a fair amount of luck!  

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1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
Re: 1977 Engine Color (11/13)
 8/13/16 7:50am
77Driver
Former Member

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Lake Mary, FL - USA

Vette(s):
77 Lemans Blue L48 stock all the way around except paint color.


Joined: 3/29/2016
Posts: 8

I think the am settling on pulling them separately. I'm not a transmission expert by any standards so I'm going to take it to a shop and have them confirm that it is indeed the front pump seal before I do any of this. Also, I want to make sure it doesn't need to be rebuilt. If its rebuild time, that's a game changer. I will probably just switch to a 200R4. What's necessitating this whole deal is that I have so many leaks now it's crazy. I think because it sat for 4 years while I was painting it it developed a bad case of old age. I didn't build it for show. Its just my future daily driver when I get to retirement. And I drive it a lot right now so I don't want to develop a problem driving to Key West or something. It's all about the reliability for me.
Re: 1977 Engine Color (12/13)
 9/13/16 1:12pm
SILVER77
Former Member

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Burnsville, MN - USA

Vette(s):
1977 L-48 auto. 3.55 gears. Bright silver with silver leather int. A few minor performance parts, carb/intake shorty headers w/full dynomax exhaust.


Joined: 7/21/2016
Posts: 5

Good info!  My 77 was built in Aug of '76 and has the orange eng as well as the alum wheels,
luggage rack and the defrost option set as well as the security in the fender and single squared mirror. Also has the convenience group lighting etc.   Cool to learn about the diff options and when things changed in production.


|UPDATED|9/13/2016 10:12:02 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Re: 1977 Engine Color (13/13)
 9/13/16 10:09pm
cinorLifetime Member
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, - Canada

Vette(s):
1975 L48 Stingray 1992 LT1


Joined: 12/24/2013
Posts: 414

Just to be completely different, after I put my engine back together i am going to paint it an all together different color, maybe to match the car maybe just shiny really not sure yet, gonna have fun with it .  Took my car apart bit by bit pulled body  off first so getting to motor and tranny was pretty easy, kinda like cheating.  Have engine in right now to have bored to 30 thou over ( pitting in cylinders) gonna turn crank etc.  Yep I'm having loads of fun.



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