We had an L88 in our shop and it idled just like that. And as for the guy below me... I used to fall asleep in a 23 T-bucket (9 sec. street car)... the L88 would have been really cool aswell.
That is probably one of the best sounding cars I have heard in a long time.. I've always heard about the reputation of the L88, and how good it sounded. I have to say it's true. I've got a '70 Chevelle with an L78 in it. The L-88 makes that 11:1 396 sound like a pup. The only bad thing I have heard about the L-88 cam is with how much duration it's got it gives it a real soggy bottom end. One guy I know switched to the ZL-1 cam and the car ran the same at the track, but it was more streetable.
Lol, i dont wanna hear anyone ever say that an inline anything or turbo anything is ever better than a 427 Corvette. You take an inline 4 cylinder and put a turbo on it and all that, but then give the same amount of money you spend on the 4-cyl to the guy with the 427 to do upgrades, he'll get a cam and headers and get the same horsepower boosts and TWICE the torque from his mods, plus his motor started with 200 more horsepower so his will always end up higher
My dads 454 (Which is actually bored over a bit) cannot exactly remember how much but it sounds so mean, and doesn't pass aircare just because of its gas consumption. (Aircare is like smog control here where I live)
@69joearnold i worked at a chevrolet dealership for six years,and never saw the l-88 as an option prior to 1969,but did see the l-89 as an option prior to 69.the l-89 was a closed chamber head design,an older design,the l-88 was open chamber,newer.
@Nickelodeon557 they were the first design,wouldn't make a wart on the 2nd design .if you had spent your young years racing instead of game playing you'd know the difference.your a child not an engine builder.
Off the showroom floor a Corvette with the 427/435hp engine was quicker than an L88. Chevy used a 3.36 gear on the L88s to discourage dickweeds like me (if I couldve afforded one back then) from buying one for the street. The L88 ran 107 mph in the ¼ mile at 14 flat when equipped with the automatic and 3.36 gear and those F70 tires. The engine wasnt meant nor was it designed to run through stock manifolds and mufflers. Its been said 100 hp could be gained with headers and open exhaust.
That engine was not designed to run with mufflers on it. It had a set of restrictive cast iron manifolds and full street exhaust. On a race engine with a long duration cam and free flowing heads and you'll choke the shit out of it. You could easily free up 75 to 100 horsepower by using open headers. A 1969 Hot Rod magazine article said the factory enginneers claimed up to 100hp increase could be seen on the L88 with open exhaust over the stock setup. Maybe I'll send you a copy.
@217zenki The fact is more than 100 hp could be freed up on the L88 with headers and an open exhaust. Bill Porterfield did a dyno test of a ZL-1 engine on a stand (basically an aluminum L88) with all accessories and full chambered exhaust. It netted 375.7 hp.
When he swapped to headers with the exhaust he got 419 hp (+43). When he removed the exhaust system horsepower went to 523.6 (+147). Bill was a respected Chevy expert and muscle car collector back then. Read the article.
@DONDIVA1969 just like my brother ran his l88 open hooker side pipe headers no paint on the doors from the flames and 15 modified exhaust tickets the first year he had it was in a 68ss Comaro with slapper and ladderbars locker 513 rear end jumped off the line with the front weals 3 feet in the air pull the front end up at a rolling 55MPH
Actually the ZL-1 came with only a 427, which were most likely produced at the same plant. By the time the ZL-1 Camaro was released in 69 chevy was already deep in factory racing; trans am, drag racing.
well true to a point, the l-88 was a disguised race car made by the Vette engineer team to provide customers with a race car from factory, which was banned in the 60's by a law not allowing manufacturers to be directly involved in racing. The L-88 was rated for 400 something HP, which was only a bit over the ZL1 which was cheaper, this was for insurance reasons, later on the car was dyno'd and ran at 600 hp stock.. the L-88 would kill the ZL-1 but Duntov did not want anyone knowing that.
Chevy rated the L-88 at 430 hp at 4600 rpm which is well below the power curve at 6000 rpm the L-88 achieved 600 hp. This was when using proper recommended 103 octane fuel which was a racing fuel. So it would have 500 on street fuel but with the recommended fuel it had 600, so you are right since normal everyday people ran them on premium pump gas but with race fuel the L-88 can achieve 600hp. thanks for the reply.
Yeah 500 plus?? 111 in the qtr mile not bad with street tires ....in the 69 vette............I thought the solid lifter had a 6500 red line????????? Also the HP readings i've seen were in the 5600 rpm ranges with the 425/435 HP ratings??
GM Performance should make new replicas of the classic Big Block V8s they've made in the sixties, like the 427 L88 and the ZL1, THEN i would be happy, sadenly they don't...only that ''new'' one which is only made in 427 copies, GM, please do that or give the castings for those engines for others to make replicas of those engines, if you still have them...
That brought tears to my eye. Around 1978 I bought a nice 1970 Vette(it just cost me 4,700 dollars)which came with a 454. The prior owner blew that engine and purchased a brand new(at that time)1969 L88 engine in a crate and installed it. I know that made it not original but I was young and did not care.You cannot miss that sound. After 260 Sonoco days and the octane went down it was not practical anymore. So I sold it. Thanks for the memories!!!
i got a black 73 vette just like this but its stock and doesn't have luggage rack (lol luggage rack i mean come on, i know it leaves gapping holes if removed, well holes none the less) but thats a a nice vette and sounds good. thanks for sharing.
yeah so true but then some can kick a corvettes as if they swap the engine twin inline turbos blah blah blah. but it will never be as cool looking or as nice sounding as a true blue american hot rod
and there are probably a bunch of civics out there that can haha... not saying this corvette aint sweet. but stop being so closed minded, people! a fast car is a fast car, no matter what make, model, domestic, foreign, HIGH SPEED IS HIGH SPEED! given theres always that handful of stock civics that swear theyre fast, but arent..... dont you think its the same thing if somebodys driving around in an old vette if its torn up, breaking down, no paint, runnin 18 second 1/4s swearing theyre cars nice?
nice vet, the license plate is inventive too. Why, I ask myself, as many of us do (that are of age), didn't I pick one of these up in the early 70's gas crunch when they were selling at their all-time lowest. But having driven an 07 Z06, there is sure a lot to be said for today's technology. 150 mph in about 10 seconds is really something.
I have started, revved and driven a 427 435hp 69 vette.. cause I was working on it.... you are soooo lucky to be the owner. I wanted to go down the street so bad. It is like a 200K to 300K car though and I don't drive customer cars... damn it! ;)
what mufflers are you running. i actually have a clone L88 and i would like for it to sound like this. I have it in my 71 SS Chevelle. This engine is truly awesome! Jasson---Edinburg TEXAS!
Comment removed
DONDIVA1969 1 month ago
Very nice but please fix that driver's muffler so it doesn't sit there and rattle! My OCD is kicking in and that shit bugs me! Very nice though.
agentjdub 1 month ago
Groovey Baby, As Austin powers would say.
coolKat666666666 1 month ago
Awesome baby, as Dick Vitale would say!
sgtlzy 2 months ago
That is a sound from hell, by way of heaven...glorious. I wonder, can a Volt sound like that?
HollywoodWags 2 months ago
you dont need a radio for that car, theres one under you rear bumber, hahaha
awsomestuff98 3 months ago
Sweet car, better get a new hangar on that left rear muffler though !
12salem 4 months ago 2
mmmmmmmmm sweetness
wrangliser 8 months ago
550 pissed off horses.
Vaicurious 8 months ago
I'll trade you my wife for that car. No questions asked.
caganb 10 months ago
ok THAT sound made me hard...LOL
rohagan1971 10 months ago
awesome awesome sounding valve train :D
InShatteredMolds 10 months ago
my favorite vette was the 63 split window, other than that i wouldnt touch a vette i allways was a camaro guy
teamramrod2009 1 year ago
Blah Blah Blah????? sounds like he wanna a Corvette. Ya think? Hot rods and Corvettes are two different things.
Rock on with your Vette.
zoom53aa 1 year ago
You need to tighten the part that holds the left muffler/exhaust pipe onto the car It's moving way to much.
ferrarilvr12 1 year ago
Im liking the vette and the license plane haha its great
vinceman444 1 year ago
sounds AWSOME !
c0rv3tt3 1 year ago
my dad had a 68 l88 green in color hes kicking himself now for selling it when he couldnt afford insurance in his 20s
bergaflickal 1 year ago
We had an L88 in our shop and it idled just like that. And as for the guy below me... I used to fall asleep in a 23 T-bucket (9 sec. street car)... the L88 would have been really cool aswell.
ztwntyn8 1 year ago
That is probably one of the best sounding cars I have heard in a long time.. I've always heard about the reputation of the L88, and how good it sounded. I have to say it's true. I've got a '70 Chevelle with an L78 in it. The L-88 makes that 11:1 396 sound like a pup. The only bad thing I have heard about the L-88 cam is with how much duration it's got it gives it a real soggy bottom end. One guy I know switched to the ZL-1 cam and the car ran the same at the track, but it was more streetable.
LeperMessiah760 1 year ago
Lol, i dont wanna hear anyone ever say that an inline anything or turbo anything is ever better than a 427 Corvette. You take an inline 4 cylinder and put a turbo on it and all that, but then give the same amount of money you spend on the 4-cyl to the guy with the 427 to do upgrades, he'll get a cam and headers and get the same horsepower boosts and TWICE the torque from his mods, plus his motor started with 200 more horsepower so his will always end up higher
Ratmouth66 1 year ago
is this how it sounded stock?
xlelanolx 1 year ago
My dads 454 (Which is actually bored over a bit) cannot exactly remember how much but it sounds so mean, and doesn't pass aircare just because of its gas consumption. (Aircare is like smog control here where I live)
elfishgrin 1 year ago
Thumbs up on the car, double thumbs up on the clever tag. It's like our 442 tag. 44TWO66
mustangtomiata 1 year ago
@DONDIVA1969 the l-88 was available in 1969,the 427 from 1967 was the l-89 which was a close chambered head design.
dizzypilots1 1 year ago
@dizzypilots1 they had l88's from 67-69
69joearnold 1 year ago
@69joearnold no the L-88 came out in 1969.
dizzypilots1 1 year ago
@dizzypilots1 look at any spec sheets for engine options and see what they say
69joearnold 1 year ago
@69joearnold i worked at a chevrolet dealership for six years,and never saw the l-88 as an option prior to 1969,but did see the l-89 as an option prior to 69.the l-89 was a closed chamber head design,an older design,the l-88 was open chamber,newer.
dizzypilots1 1 year ago
@dizzypilots1 did you look at and of the spec sheets?
69joearnold 1 year ago
@dizzypilots1 There were 80 L88 Corvettes built for the 1968 model year. It was a $947.90 option.
Nickelodeon557 1 year ago
@Nickelodeon557 they were the first design,wouldn't make a wart on the 2nd design .if you had spent your young years racing instead of game playing you'd know the difference.your a child not an engine builder.
dizzypilots1 1 year ago
@dizzypilots1 nope youre so wrong...it was in '67
acres90 1 year ago
@acres90 nope your wrong l-88 2nd design (the only one that counts) 1969.I've built four from all original parts.keep playing video games youngster.
dizzypilots1 1 year ago
@dizzypilots1 first year the L-88 was built was in '67.....only 8 produced....dont know what your talking about "the only one that counts"
acres90 1 year ago
@acres90 only the l-88 2nd design matters ,if you were a drag racer you'd know the difference,you nit-picking hater.
dizzypilots1 1 year ago
I'm lovin the license plate...
ptschafer 2 years ago 8
Cam Timing @ .050 Intake opens 24 BTDC, closes 60 ABDC, Max Lift 108 ATDC, Duration 264 - Exhaust opens 70.5 BBDC, closes 18.5 ATDC, Max Lift 116 BTDC, Duration 269
Minimum RPM 4400
Maximum RPM 7200
Valve Float 7800
Valve Setting Intake .024 / Ex 0.26 Hot
Valve Lift 560 Intake / 580 Exhaust
Rocker Arm Ratio 1.7
Loads Closed 120 / Open 336
Triple Spring LBS Closed 1.930 / Open 1.400
djbones6969 2 years ago
Off the showroom floor a Corvette with the 427/435hp engine was quicker than an L88. Chevy used a 3.36 gear on the L88s to discourage dickweeds like me (if I couldve afforded one back then) from buying one for the street. The L88 ran 107 mph in the ¼ mile at 14 flat when equipped with the automatic and 3.36 gear and those F70 tires. The engine wasnt meant nor was it designed to run through stock manifolds and mufflers. Its been said 100 hp could be gained with headers and open exhaust.
howyouluvthat 2 years ago
@howyouluvthat 100hp gain with jus headers .... NO fucking way lol thats crazy
217zenki 2 years ago
That engine was not designed to run with mufflers on it. It had a set of restrictive cast iron manifolds and full street exhaust. On a race engine with a long duration cam and free flowing heads and you'll choke the shit out of it. You could easily free up 75 to 100 horsepower by using open headers. A 1969 Hot Rod magazine article said the factory enginneers claimed up to 100hp increase could be seen on the L88 with open exhaust over the stock setup. Maybe I'll send you a copy.
howyouluvthat 1 year ago
LOL... Wish I could be so lucky to net 100hp with a simple less restrictive bolt-on in my car .. lol
217zenki 1 year ago
@217zenki The fact is more than 100 hp could be freed up on the L88 with headers and an open exhaust. Bill Porterfield did a dyno test of a ZL-1 engine on a stand (basically an aluminum L88) with all accessories and full chambered exhaust. It netted 375.7 hp.
When he swapped to headers with the exhaust he got 419 hp (+43). When he removed the exhaust system horsepower went to 523.6 (+147). Bill was a respected Chevy expert and muscle car collector back then. Read the article.
DONDIVA1969 1 year ago
@DONDIVA1969 just like my brother ran his l88 open hooker side pipe headers no paint on the doors from the flames and 15 modified exhaust tickets the first year he had it was in a 68ss Comaro with slapper and ladderbars locker 513 rear end jumped off the line with the front weals 3 feet in the air pull the front end up at a rolling 55MPH
sirlonghair 1 year ago
@howyouluvthat
i wouldn't doubt that's why it sounds like it's running a little rough.
nivea61 1 year ago
Actually the ZL-1 came with only a 427, which were most likely produced at the same plant. By the time the ZL-1 Camaro was released in 69 chevy was already deep in factory racing; trans am, drag racing.
alexswick 2 years ago
damn!! that car is sick!!! love it
67YETI67 2 years ago
600 hp is possible i heard that too from a friends
cant provide links or anything but...ford aint got the only engine over 600 hp (Cammer) :>
still nice car
dyxamsladkoigultam 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Music to my ears!
midyrvette 2 years ago
i agree with what pinkoklot said. i didn't understand a damn word but, it seems sincere. lol
darricknratrods 2 years ago
damn that sound makes my tool hard
acres90 2 years ago
That is a mean machine!
mra2z 2 years ago
actually taterfamine, I believe the fastest was the ZL1, all aluminum 427
redf100 3 years ago
well true to a point, the l-88 was a disguised race car made by the Vette engineer team to provide customers with a race car from factory, which was banned in the 60's by a law not allowing manufacturers to be directly involved in racing. The L-88 was rated for 400 something HP, which was only a bit over the ZL1 which was cheaper, this was for insurance reasons, later on the car was dyno'd and ran at 600 hp stock.. the L-88 would kill the ZL-1 but Duntov did not want anyone knowing that.
BotterbrodtGE 2 years ago
@Botterbrodt: 600? Sorry, but I kinda doubt that.
I have heard reliable sources say it did have around 500 or so, however.
SanFran90 2 years ago
Chevy rated the L-88 at 430 hp at 4600 rpm which is well below the power curve at 6000 rpm the L-88 achieved 600 hp. This was when using proper recommended 103 octane fuel which was a racing fuel. So it would have 500 on street fuel but with the recommended fuel it had 600, so you are right since normal everyday people ran them on premium pump gas but with race fuel the L-88 can achieve 600hp. thanks for the reply.
BotterbrodtGE 2 years ago
@BotterbrodtGE: Thanks for clearing that up.
Peace out, bro :-).
SanFran90 2 years ago
Have a good one San Fran90
BotterbrodtGE 2 years ago
Yeah 500 plus?? 111 in the qtr mile not bad with street tires ....in the 69 vette............I thought the solid lifter had a 6500 red line????????? Also the HP readings i've seen were in the 5600 rpm ranges with the 425/435 HP ratings??
scottalanx 2 years ago
@SanFran90 About 450 imo
cactuschris2002 2 years ago
agreed, the L88 was the fastest sport/muscle car of that era.
taterfamine 3 years ago
moja babka sie tak tłucze garkami jak silnik na tym filmie...;p
pinkoklot 3 years ago
The sound of this corvette makes me erect
Strogenforcer 3 years ago
GM Performance should make new replicas of the classic Big Block V8s they've made in the sixties, like the 427 L88 and the ZL1, THEN i would be happy, sadenly they don't...only that ''new'' one which is only made in 427 copies, GM, please do that or give the castings for those engines for others to make replicas of those engines, if you still have them...
Eddiemotor 3 years ago
whos makin popcorn... hahaha
deftoyou 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
wow....WHAT A SHITTY SOUND!! DUDE if thats a real corvette, the sound would be WAAAAAAY more better and louder
gillygilly3 3 years ago
DUDE it's a video on YOUTUBE haha. The sound quality is guaranteed to be a whole lot worse than if you were actually there
finnishmetalfreak090 3 years ago
Dude !!! that is such an evil sound it makes my dick hard!!! Thats the difference between a"mucle" car and a ricer "muffler" car
Grantsimms 3 years ago 2
nice sound quality mr. i tap mufflers with invisable spoons
chevelletrixter72 3 years ago
i hope you're being sarcastic....
sounds like something a ricer would say.. but judging by your screenname you were kidding... hopefully im right
bbyhsbn 3 years ago
My dad used to rock me to sleep in the passenger seat of his l88. There is no better lulaby than a big block corvette.
86cookiemonster 3 years ago 73
@86cookiemonster
aint that the truth.
angryace13 1 year ago
@86cookiemonster I doubt that fake story however the choppy sound of a v8 with a cam is hard to beat.
YungJosh50 7 months ago
@86cookiemonster BB Camaro. Nuff said...
karsrkool 7 months ago
That brought tears to my eye. Around 1978 I bought a nice 1970 Vette(it just cost me 4,700 dollars)which came with a 454. The prior owner blew that engine and purchased a brand new(at that time)1969 L88 engine in a crate and installed it. I know that made it not original but I was young and did not care.You cannot miss that sound. After 260 Sonoco days and the octane went down it was not practical anymore. So I sold it. Thanks for the memories!!!
frache2008 3 years ago
i got a black 73 vette just like this but its stock and doesn't have luggage rack (lol luggage rack i mean come on, i know it leaves gapping holes if removed, well holes none the less) but thats a a nice vette and sounds good. thanks for sharing.
cherrynutz 3 years ago
i just had an orgasm.. (sparks a cigarette)
gwoodgwood 3 years ago
Damn thats nasty
DONDIVA1969 3 years ago
where in nj r u from???
scottydontknow99 3 years ago
fuckin awesome plates
Hrizo417 3 years ago
Nice ride!
Horsepower Profiles. Com
hrspwrprofiles 3 years ago
sounds just like the drum intro to Van Halens "Hot for Teacher"
homeskillet1962 3 years ago 7
80 L88's where made in 69.
GKaly 3 years ago
incorrect...
production numbers for the L88 are:
1967 - 20
1968 - 80
1969 - 116
total - 216
rufeelinme1234 3 years ago 2
Wrong there was only 2 Zl1's made
GKaly 3 years ago
no, they found a 3rd one. it was a orange and blue race car. it has all the paper work
nitrorustler41 3 years ago
That is and always has been my dream car. I would kill just for a ride.
moonvilleghost 3 years ago
L88 Was King! from 67 to 69
GKaly 3 years ago
Yup, until the ZL-1 all aluminum 427 came out in 1969. There was only 69 made.
TooFastForTransAm 3 years ago
It sounds like tribal drums pounding out a beautiful song
BigDiesel85 3 years ago
beautiful song!
Yeah Song of Death! to whoever is stupid enough to challenge the L88
GKaly 3 years ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
Hell Yeah Dude
BigDiesel85 3 years ago 2
My dads T-Type could keep up on Top end, but Bottom end it would be fried.
TaKeItLiKaMaN 3 years ago
there is probably some kid in a civic saying "dude I can kick his ass"
86cookiemonster 3 years ago 7
yeah so true but then some can kick a corvettes as if they swap the engine twin inline turbos blah blah blah. but it will never be as cool looking or as nice sounding as a true blue american hot rod
TSHRTL 3 years ago 26
lol
richardman1992 3 years ago
and there are probably a bunch of civics out there that can haha... not saying this corvette aint sweet. but stop being so closed minded, people! a fast car is a fast car, no matter what make, model, domestic, foreign, HIGH SPEED IS HIGH SPEED! given theres always that handful of stock civics that swear theyre fast, but arent..... dont you think its the same thing if somebodys driving around in an old vette if its torn up, breaking down, no paint, runnin 18 second 1/4s swearing theyre cars nice?
seangeeb4o9 3 years ago
how many civics are known to hit more then 600 hp with nothing but a carb, timing change and race gas...
mageac 2 years ago
NONE! lol.
kushnugz 2 years ago
@mageac: In an alternate universe where pigs fly, perhaps. LMAO!
SanFran90 2 years ago
nice vet, the license plate is inventive too. Why, I ask myself, as many of us do (that are of age), didn't I pick one of these up in the early 70's gas crunch when they were selling at their all-time lowest. But having driven an 07 Z06, there is sure a lot to be said for today's technology. 150 mph in about 10 seconds is really something.
1594svt98 4 years ago
I have started, revved and driven a 427 435hp 69 vette.. cause I was working on it.... you are soooo lucky to be the owner. I wanted to go down the street so bad. It is like a 200K to 300K car though and I don't drive customer cars... damn it! ;)
ztwntyn8 4 years ago
This sounds like the drum intro to Hot for teacher by Van Halen..
laughingFallApart 4 years ago 3
That's funny because every time I hear that song I think "cool, sounds like a funny car." Glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks that way.
arizonaresident1 3 years ago
very nice
dpduval 4 years ago
what mufflers are you running. i actually have a clone L88 and i would like for it to sound like this. I have it in my 71 SS Chevelle. This engine is truly awesome! Jasson---Edinburg TEXAS!
djbones6969 4 years ago
best of all thats not flowmaster sound, thats an ENGINE! the L88 is just a killer setup.
NWCS 5 years ago 2
i love it! the looks on the kids faces when you roll up next to their imports!
bradenn 5 years ago
nothing like a solid lifter in a big block.. :)
454440 5 years ago