The discontinuation
of the Grand Sport program forced Duntov and his associates to reevaluate the
process by which future racing programs were to be supported. Because Ford’s
Shelby 427 Cobra was such a threat to the Corvette, Duntov figured in 1966 that
standard big-block power just wouldn't suffice. In 1967, Duntov unveiled his
greatest creation to date, the L-88 Corvette, which was produced for three years,
1967-1969. In this issue of CorvetteMagazine.com, we’ll concentrate on the 1969
L-88 engine and the particular pieces that made it one of the most revered and
outright wild powerplants in Corvette history.
The
basis of any performance engine must begin with a strong cylinder block. The
L-88 block was built with the strongest production assembly Chevrolet had to
offer. It had 4-bolt mains and an external provision for an oil cooler tapped
into the block.
The L-88 Corvette came standard with a 6,500 RPM tachometer and a 160 MPH
speedometer. You can also see the radio block-off plate in front of the console.
All L-88 Corvettes sold to the general public had the 427/L-88 plate located
on the console. Also, a fuel octane warning sticker is located on the console
under the parking brake.
