427 L-88 block casting #

Anybody know what casting # was used on the L-88 blocks and were they used only in 67-69 model years?

[markjohnson]

A 1967 L-88 would be a #351, a 1968 would be #321, 1969 would be #512. Crate L-88's would have been a #512 block also from 1969 until 1971. Then 1972 and up crate L-88's used the #289 block until the late '70's when the introduction of the #445 block appeared until the L-88's demise in the early-to-mid Eighties. Also, back to the '68-'69 Vettes.....there was some bleeding over on the blocks near the ends of the actual production years, so it was possible to have "next years" block in last years 'Vette.

[markjohnson]

Real quick here, you could still buy a crate L-88 short block well into the Eighties. It included some VERY nice components also: a 5140 Steel Crank, Full-floating rods with Boron bolts, 12.5 Compression and that big ol' .540-.560 Solid lifter camshaft. Unfortunately, this was a very expensive short block. It was even more expensive than a COMPLETE LS-6 engine assembly which is what most people unded up buying after seeing the price on the L-88. Sure, the LS-6 still had some nice pieces inside of it, but when it gets down to it......it's a street engine. The L-88 is a racing engine.

[bigsixman]

Well stated Mark, I feel it was the best SHP bbc motor for the dollar from chevrolet. We had alot of L-88 short blocks with added iron heads in dirt cars in the 70s and 80s and they performed well.

Thanks Mark. I am surprized the crate motors were available well into the 80's.