Confiusing catalog for 53 - 73 Corvette

[Richard K.]

Regarding an oil pan for a non-power steering oil pan for a late 1969 350/350. REMEMBER THAT AN LT-1, 370 HORSE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INTRODUCED IN LATE 1969. IT'S EVEN DEPICTED IN THE 1969 PRODUCTION MANUAL.

The catalog shows:

69 Corvette (350) (exc. Sp. H/Per) (is this for the 300 horse L-48, AND 350 horse L-46? Or, is it just for the 300
horse L-46?)

69-71 Corvette (w/SP. H/Per. (350) (is this for the 1969 350 horse 350, or is this for the LT-1 370 horse?)



Any help is appreciated.

Rich Kossum

[Paul D.]

Re: Confiusing catalog for 53 - 73 Corvette

From what I can tell from my Jan. 81 GM parts catalog, the L-46 shared oil pans with the base engine cars. The LT-1, or Sp Hi Perf engines featured a windage tray that required a different pan. Chip.

[Joe L.]

Re: Confiusing catalog for 53 - 73 Corvette

Regarding an oil pan for a non-power steering oil pan for a late 1969 350/350. REMEMBER THAT AN LT-1, 370 HORSE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INTRODUCED IN LATE 1969. IT'S EVEN DEPICTED IN THE 1969 PRODUCTION MANUAL.

The catalog shows:

69 Corvette (350) (exc. Sp. H/Per) (is this for the 300 horse L-48, AND 350 horse L-46? Or, is it just for the 300
horse L-46?)

69-71 Corvette (w/SP. H/Per. (350) (is this for the 1969 350 horse 350, or is this for the LT-1 370 horse?)



Any help is appreciated.

Rich Kossum

Rich------

As far as P&A catalogs go and with respect to small blocks, the "definition" of the terms "H/per" and "Sp. H/Per" are model year specific.

For 1969 and 1970 the term "H/Per" denoted the L-46. The term "Sp.H/Per" denoted the LT-1. "Except H/Per, Sp. H/per" denotes the base 300 HP engine (the term L-48 was not used for 1969-70 but has been "imposed" in the common vernacular). While the LT-1 was initially scheduled for PRODUCTION for 1969, no 1969 LT-1's were actually built. That fact was never recognized in the P&A catalogs, though. This sort of error is rarely "rooted out" in subsequent editions of the P&A catalogs.

For the period of 1969 through 1972, the term "Sp. H/Per" denotes the LT-1.

Curiously, for the period 1973-80 the term "Sp.H/Per" refers to the L-82. The term "H/Per" was not used for Corvette engines after 1970. The L-82 was actually just a lower compression version of the 1969-70 L-46.

By the way, all 1969-70 L-46 were equipped with the standard, "5 quart" oil pan, GM #3820000.

A few other references:

all 1965-68 L-79 denoted as "Sp. H/Per" (for 1965, "Sp.H/Per with hyd lifters)

all 1962-65 L-75 denoted as "H/Per"

[Joe L.]

Re: Confiusing catalog for 53 - 73 Corvette

From what I can tell from my Jan. 81 GM parts catalog, the L-46 shared oil pans with the base engine cars. The LT-1, or Sp Hi Perf engines featured a windage tray that required a different pan. Chip.

Paul------

Except for early 1970 LT-1 without N-40 and all 1970-72 ZR-1, all LT-1 used the standard, "5 quart" oil pan. 1971-72 LT-1 as well as, possibly, later 1970 LT-1 did use an external oil baffle ("windage tray") with the standard pan. This baffle was GM #3989075.

Here's a 3989075 I installed on my original 1969 300/350 engine with standard "5 quart" oil pan. No, the 3989075 is not original to this engine.

GM#3989075onmyemgine.pdf

[Richard K.]

Re: Confiusing catalog for 53 - 73 Corvette

To everyone who replied, especially Joe L. who gave so much thought to this thread,

I agree with Joe that the correct oil pan, Gr. 1.426, for a '69 L-46, 350/350 is part number 3820000. I've subsequently discovered that this part # has been replaced with #360866.

Joe, I agree with your statement that "This sort of error (confusion about part#'s) is rarely rooted out in subsequent editions of the P & A Catalogs". I wonder how many wrong part numbers were given out over the counter over the years!

Interestingly enough, in searching for a cam for a 1969 350/350, L-46, in Gr. 0.519, I was able to find "69-70 w/H/Per. (350)", which to my best knowledge, was L-46 offered as a 350hp in 69-70. Here, they did identify "w/H/Per. (350)" ! Fortunately, in the cam group, it's a bit more clear.

Thank You to all who helped in finding my answer.

Rich Kossum

[Joe L.]

Re: Confiusing catalog for 53 - 73 Corvette

To everyone who replied, especially Joe L. who gave so much thought to this thread,

I agree with Joe that the correct oil pan, Gr. 1.426, for a '69 L-46, 350/350 is part number 3820000. I've subsequently discovered that this part # has been replaced with #360866.

Joe, I agree with your statement that "This sort of error (confusion about part#'s) is rarely rooted out in subsequent editions of the P & A Catalogs". I wonder how many wrong part numbers were given out over the counter over the years!

Interestingly enough, in searching for a cam for a 1969 350/350, L-46, in Gr. 0.519, I was able to find "69-70 w/H/Per. (350)", which to my best knowledge, was L-46 offered as a 350hp in 69-70. Here, they did identify "w/H/Per. (350)" ! Fortunately, in the cam group, it's a bit more clear.

Thank You to all who helped in finding my answer.

Rich Kossum

Rich------

Yes, the GM #3820000 was replaced by the GM #360866. The latter is identical to the former except for the front oil pan gasket radius. However, the 360866 is long-since GM discontinued.

The 1969 L-46 camshaft, GM #3896962, is still available from GM to this day, more than 50 years after it was released. In fact, it's still used as part of the engine assembly for some current crate engines. The same cam was also used for 1973-80 L-82.

[Paul D.]

Re: Confiusing catalog for 53 - 73 Corvette

Joe, I am curious about the listings in my old parts book, and am fully aware it could just be a mistake corrected in later editions. My book lists the 360866 to fit
63-65 Y (EXC. F.I., SP. H/PERF., W/MECH. LIFTERS)
66-68 Y (327)
69-72 Y (350) (EXC. SP. H/PER.)
72 Y (350) W/SP. H/PER. (EXC. H.D. 4-SPD)
73-74 Y (350)

359942 fits
63-65 Y W/F.I., SP. H/PER., MECH. LIFTERS
69-71 Y (350) W/SP. H/PER.
72 Y (350) W/H.D. 4-SPD., SP. H/PER.

My question is, were there 2 different pans, or is this just a mistake? I only have the one book (1-81) so no earlier or later to compare to. Chip.

[Joe L.]

Re: Confiusing catalog for 53 - 73 Corvette

Joe, I am curious about the listings in my old parts book, and am fully aware it could just be a mistake corrected in later editions. My book lists the 360866 to fit
63-65 Y (EXC. F.I., SP. H/PERF., W/MECH. LIFTERS)
66-68 Y (327)
69-72 Y (350) (EXC. SP. H/PER.)
72 Y (350) W/SP. H/PER. (EXC. H.D. 4-SPD)
73-74 Y (350)

359942 fits
63-65 Y W/F.I., SP. H/PER., MECH. LIFTERS
69-71 Y (350) W/SP. H/PER.
72 Y (350) W/H.D. 4-SPD., SP. H/PER.

My question is, were there 2 different pans, or is this just a mistake? I only have the one book (1-81) so no earlier or later to compare to. Chip.

Paul-----


There were 2 different pans, originally the GM #3820000 ("5 quart")and 3820001 ("6 quart") and later GM #360866 and 359942, respectively. Keep in mind that for 1969-72 LT-1 is denoted as "SP. H/PER" (even though, of course, no 1969 LT-1 was actually produced).

The applications shown are correct except for the 69-72. The 3820000/360866 is applicable to all 1969-72 350 except early 1970 LT-1 and 1970-72 LT-1 with ZR-1 (i.e. SP. H/PER w/H.D. 4 SPD)

The GM #3820001/359942 is applicable to early 1970 LT-1 as well as all LT-1 with ZR-1 (i.e. SP. H/PER w/H.D. 4 SPD)

They actually do have it right for 1972

It should have read like this:


63-65 Y (EXC. F.I., SP. H/PERF., W/MECH. LIFTERS)
66-68 Y (327)
69 Y (350)
70-72 Y (350) (EXC. 1st design SP. H/PER., SP. H/PER w/HD 4 SPD)
73-74 Y (350)

359942 fits
63-65 Y W/F.I., SP. H/PER., MECH. LIFTERS
70 Y (350) W/SP. H/PER., 1st design
70-72 Y (350) W/H.D. 4-SPD., SP. H/PER.