1978 Z28 Engine Code

[TheFastForester]

Thanks Mike, it will be interesting to see what you find in the code book.

 

[Gary S]

I have my copy of the Camaro White Book here, and it does not specify which codes go with which transmission. It simply lists the engine codes by engine size, so it won't help us here.

 

[WS6]

I looked in my GM parts catalog and it does not give the trans with the suffix codes, just engine codes by model and option code. Then you have to use a chart on next page to see what trans were available by model and within the model by engine.

 

[MadMike]

The GM master code book provided to me by Alan Colvin lists:

CHS
76 350, 165 net hp, LM1, 4bbl, A/T, Fed - full size

Since the engine in question is matched with the 4 speed which also matches the car they're installed in - I'd say in his case, CHS is correct for this particular car. But it's not typical.

 

[TheFastForester]

Hmmm.....I'm doing some other research as well. Here's a response to my individual request from an ebay seller that has the following ad out for bid right now on a 1978 Z28 4 speed:

"Hello, the engine suffix code is on the build sheet and it is CHS and the transmission code on the sheet is ZU. This is the original to the car born with drivetrain." Ad link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...00276778311&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:MOTORS:1123

And this is a Van Nuys car too...so apparently if the CHS code for '78 Z28's with the Borg Warner T-10 manual tranny was a "non-normative practice" they were stamping it from Ohio to California!

I've got some other feelers out to a couple other auctions on ebay for apparent original, 4-speed 78 Z's. I'll let you know what I find.

Thanks again for all the info on this!

 

[TheFastForester]

Heard back from another of the ebayers selling a 1978 Z28, original manual transmission car. Here is there response to my question on what the engine coding was:

"Hi,

Thank you for your interest in the 1978 Camaro Z28. I have the codes from the engine block from this unique car.

Casting on left rear of block—3970010
Date Code , right rear of block –E 16 8---May 16 ,1978
Right front of block----VO517CHS
18L608766----Which matches last 8 of the cars’s VIN #-1Q87L8L608766

Thank you
Greg Chismar
Sales Manager
Best of Show Automotive L.L.C.
5782 Heisley Rd.
Mentor, Ohio 44060
Cell440) 251-1457
Ph: (440) 350-1480
Fax: (440) 350-1638
Email: [email protected]
www.bestofshowautomotive.com"

Here is the link to the car sale on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...Categories&_fvi=1&item=280284289945&viewitem=

Another CHS engine code for an original m/t car, not an automatic tranny as the websites state.

 

[WS6]

No matter the final car assembly plant, the engine come from only one plant in Flint (code V) and that's where the V0517CHS was stamped. The assembly plant stamped the CON VIN 18L608766.

 

[TheFastForester]

Here's another response from an ebay seller, auction ended tonight for a 1978 Z28, original drivetrain car:

"Keith,
After a lot of fun trying to get the code, I have it! There is a code, with additional numbers stamped slightly over it.
V0424CHS with the following stamped partially over it, 3438"

If you check the auction site out at http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...10322027941&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:MOTORS:1123 you'll see the 3438 is the last 4 numbers of the VIN of the car. Another CHS code for a manual transmission car! I wonder what some of the automatic tranny Z28's were coded as in 1978, maybe it would be good to cross-reference with some of those.

 

[TheFastForester]

Here's an automatic tranny '78 Z28 on ebay tonight, even listed the engine code in the ad:

ENGINE NUMBERS V0420CHC 18L593233 VIN 1Q87L8L593233

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chev...8679973QQsspagenameZRSSQ3aBQ3aSRCHQ3aUSQ3a101

The CHC suffix matches up with the 1978 listings for engine codes for automatics, but doesn't match the link to the long list.

 

[TheFastForester]

The guys selling this one FAXed me the build sheet for it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chev...0595952QQsspagenameZRSSQ3aBQ3aSRCHQ3aUSQ3a101

Box 26 on the sheet (ENG.) has CHS--. Assuming this is the engine suffix CHS again for a 1978 Z28 4-speed.