1978 CORVETTE

CHASSIS
ENGINE
HISTORY
ID
LITERATURE
OPTIONS
PHOTOS

To mark Corvette's 25th anniversary, the 1978 model received a major aerodynamic restyling with large wraparound back window and a fastback roofline.
This was the Corvette's first restyling since 1968. Two special editions were produced, one well known and the other little more than an optional paint job.
New tinted glass lift-out roof panels were wired into the standard anti-theft system.
A 24-gallon (US) fuel tank replaced the former 17-gallon (US) tank, filling space made available by a new temporary spare tire.
Inside was a restyled, padded instrument panel with face-mounted round instruments and a new locking glove box that replaced the former map pocket.
The restyled interior had more accessible rear storage area with a roll shade to hide luggage.
The wiper-washer control was moved from the steering column back to the instrument panel, but turn signal and headlight-dimmer controls remained on the steering column.
Door trim was now of a cut-and-sew design with soft expanded vinyl or cloth.
As in 1977, the seats had leather side bolsters, with either leather or cloth seating areas in a fine rib pattern.
Corvette's optional L82 high-performance 350-cid V-8 reached 220 hp as a result of a new dual-snorkel cold-air intake system, larger-diameter exhaust and tailpipes and lower-restriction mufflers.
The automatic transmission used with the optional V-8 lost weight and had a low-inertia, high-stall torque converter.
Base engines used a Muncie four-speed manual gear box with higher first-second gear ratios than before; the performance V-8 used a close-ratio Borg-Warner.
Glass roof panels, which had been promised earlier, actually became available this year.
What Chevrolet described as "aggressive" 60-series white-letter tires also joined the option list for the first time.
An optional AM/FM-CB stereo radio used a tri-band power antenna on the rear deck.
Silver Anniversary
- Each of this year's Corvettes could have Silver Anniversary emblems on the nose and rear deck.
- Pinstripes accentuated the fender's upper profiles, wheel openings, front fender vents, hood, and rear license cavity.
- Interiors were also silver.
- Various other options were required, including aluminum wheels.
Indy Package
- For a considerably higher price, buyers could have the Limited Edition replica of the Indy Pace Car with distinctive black-over-silver paint and red accent striping.
- Equipment in this "Indy Package" (RPO code Z78) included a special silver interior with new lightweight high-back seats, special front and rear spoilers, P255/60R1 5 white-letter tires on alloy wheels and lift-off glass canopy roof panels.
- The Indy Pace Car package's content included nearly all Corvette options, plus special decals (unless the customer specified that they be omitted).
- Upholstery was silver leather or leather with smoke gray cloth inserts.
The year's 11 Corvette colors were
- Classic White
- Silver
- Silver Anniversary
- Black
- Corvette Light Blue
- Corvette Yellow
- Corvette Light Beige
- Corvette Red
- Corvette Mahogany
- Corvette Dark Blue
- Corvette Dark Brown
Interior colors were Black; Dark Blue; Light Beige; Red; Mahogany; and Oyster.

I.D. NUMBERS

The serial number [Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN] was stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.

Serial numbers ranged from 1Z87*8S400001 to 1Z87*8S440274

Position	Character	Description
1	1	Chevrolet Division
2	Z	Corvette
87	coupe
5	*	Engine type where * is replaced by the following L = L48 350-cid V8, 175-hp, 4-barrel H = L82 350-cid V8, 220-hp, 4-barrel
6	8	1978
7	S	Assembled in St. Louis, MO
8 to 13	400001 to 446558	production sequence

Engine serial number began 0001001
Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block just ahead of the cylinder head on the right-hand side combined with a three-letter engine code suffix
Also cast into the top rear of the block is a four-symbol code indicating when the engine was built
- The first letter of the date code shows the month the block was cast
- The one or two numbers shows the month
- The last digit shows the year

Engine suffixes:

Code	Engine	Horsepower	Compression	Transmission	Fuel Supply	Emission Control System
CHW	L48 350-cid	185-hp V-8	8.2:1	manual	four-barrel carburetor
CLM	L48 350-cid	185-hp V-8	8.2:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor
CLR	L48 350-cid	175-hp V-8	8.2:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor	California
CLS	L48 350-cid	175-hp V-8	8.2:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor	high-altitude
CMR	L82 350-cid	220-hp V-8	8.9:1	manual	four-barrel carburetor
CMS	L82 350-cid	220-hp V-8	8.9:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor
CUT	L48 350-cid	185-hp V-8	8.2:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor

The body number plate was located on the engine side of the cowl.
The Fisher Body Style Number 78-1YZ37 identifies a Corvette Stingray coupe
The body number is the production serial number of the body.
The trim number indicates the interior trim color and material.
The eleven 1978 Corvette exterior colors were:
- 10 = Classic White
- 13 = Silver;
- 13/07 = Silver Anniversary
- 19 = Black
- 26 = Corvette Light Blue
- 52 = Corvette Yellow
- 59 = Corvette Light Beige
- 72 = Corvette Red
- 82 = Corvette Mahogany
- 83 = Corvette Dark Blue
- 89 = Corvette Dark Brown.

Upholstery Codes

Color	Cloth & Leather Upholstery	Leather Upholstery
Oyster	12C	122
Silver	15C	152
Black	19C	192
Dark Blue	29C	292
Light Beige	59C	592
Dark Brown	69C	692
Red	72C	722
Mahogany	76C	762

IDENTIFICATION

Model	Model No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
1978 Corvette	1Y	Z87	2-dr. Sport Coupe - 2 passenger	$9446	3401	40,274
1978 Limited Edition	1Y	Z87/Z78	2-dr. Sport Coupe - 2 passenger	$13,653	3401	6,502

ENGINE

Feature	Standard Engine (RPO L48)	Standard Engine (RPO L48)	Optional Engine (RPO L82)
Type	V-8, 90-degree Overhead valve
Block	Cast iron block
Displacement	350 cid (5.7 liters)	350 cid (5.7 liters)	350 cid (5.7 liters)
Bore & Stroke	4.00 x 3.48"	4.00 x 3.48"	4.00 x 3.48"
Compression ratio	8.2:1	8.2:1	8.9:1
Brake horsepower	185 @ 4000	175 @ 4000	220 @ 5200
Torque	280 lb-ft @ 2400	270 lb-ft @ 2400	260 lb-ft @ 3600
Main bearing	five
Valve lifters	hydraulic
Fuel supply	Rochester M4MC	Rochester M4MC California emissions and high-altitude emissions	Rochester M4MC

TRANSMISSION

Standard Manual Transmission

four-speed fully-synchronized
floor-mounted gear shifter
gear ratios
- 1st = 2.85:1
- 2nd = 2.02:1
- 3rd = 1.35:1
- 4th = 1.00:1
- Rev = 2.85:1
Final drive ratio: 3.36:1 or 3.70:1

Optional Manual Transmission

close ratio four-speed fully-synchronized
floor-mounted gear shifter
gear ratios
- 1st = 2.43:1
- 2nd = 1.61:1
- 3rd = 1.23:1
- 4th = 1.00:1
- Rev = 2.35:1
Final drive ratio: 3.36:1 or 3.70:1

Automatic Transmission

Three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic
floor-mounted gear shifter
gear ratios
- 1st = 2.52:1
- 2nd = 1.52:1
- 3rd = 1.00:1
- Rev = 1.94:1
Final drive ratio: 3.08:1 or 3.55:1

CHASSIS

Feature	Coupe
Wheelbase	98 inches (2.489 m)
Overall length	185.2 inches (4.704 m)
Overall width	69.0 inches (1.753 m)
Overall height	48 inches (1.219 m)
Ground Clearance	4.5 inches (11.4 cm)
Front tread	58.7 inches (1.491 m)
Rear tread	59.5 inches (1.511 m)
Tires	P277/70R-15 steel-belted radial
Positraction	standard
Steering	recirculating ball
Front suspension	Independent, unequal-length control arms with ball joints, coil springs, and stabilizer bar
Rear suspension	Independent, trailing link, transverse semi-elliptic leaf springs
Brakes	Hydraulic, vented four wheel discs; 11.75-inch diameter, single calipers
Ignition	HEI electronic
Body construction	Separate fiberglass body and box-type ladder frame with cross-members
Fuel tank	24 US Gal (20 Imp Gal) (91 liters)

OPTIONS

RPO A31	Electric power windows	$130
RPO AU3	Power door locks	$120
RPO B2Z	Silver Anniversary Paint	$399
RPO CC1	Removable glass roof panels	$349
RPO C60	Air conditioning	$605
RPO D35	Sport mirrors	$40
RPO FE7	Gymkhana suspension	$41
RPO G95	Positraction axle, optional highway ratio	$15
RPO K30	Cruise Control	$99
RPO L82	350-cid 210-hp V-8	$525
RPO M21	Four-speed close-ratio manual transmission	no cost option
RPO MX1	Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission	no cost option
RPO N37	Tilt-telescopic steering column	$175
RPO QBS	P255/60R-15 White-letter steel-belted radial tires	$216.32
RPO QGR	P255/70R-15 White-letter steel-belted radial tires	$51
RPO UA1	Heavy-duty battery	$18
RPO UM2	AM-FM stereo radio with tape system	$419
RPO UP6	AM-FM stereo radio with CB system	$638
RPO U58	AM-FM stereo radio	$286
RPO U69	AM-FM radio	$199
RPO U75	Power antenna	$49
RPO U81	Dual rear speakers	$49
RPO YJ8	Aluminum wheels	$340
RPO ZN1	Trailering package	$89
RPO ZX2	Convenience group	$84

HISTORICAL NOTES

Introduced: October 6,1977
Model-year production: 46,772 (but some industry sources have reported a total of 47,667)
Calendar-year production: 48,522
Calendar-year sales by U.S. dealers: 42,247
Model year sales by U.S. dealers: 43,106
The limited-edition Indianapolis 500 Pace Car replica was created to commemorate the selection of Corvette as the pace car for the 62nd Indianapolis 500 race on May 28, 1978.
A production run of 2,500 was planned, but so many potential buyers who saw it at the New York Auto Show in February wanted one that the goal quickly expanded to 6,500 or roughly one for every Chevrolet dealer.
Buyers also had to endure a selection of "forced RPOs" (items installed at the factory whether wanted or not).
The mandatory extras included power windows, air conditioning, sport mirrors, a tilt-telescope steering wheel, a rear defogger, an AM/FM stereo with either an 8-track tape player or CB radio, plus power door locks, and a heavy-duty battery.
Before long, the original $13,653 list price meant little, as speculators eagerly paid double that amount and more.
Later the price retreated to around the original list.
Even though so many were built, the Indy Pace Car is still a desirable model.
Dave McLelIan became head of engineering for Corvettes and worked on the next-generation models.
The axle ratios used in cars sold in California and high-altitude counties were switched from 3.08:1 to 3.55:1.
A total of 12,739 had the optional L82 engines, 3,385 Corvettes had the M21 four-speed close-ratio gearbox, and 38,614 had automatic transmission.
A total of 15,283 displayed the $399 special two-tone "Silver Anniversary" paint combination with silver metallic on top and charcoal silver on the lower body.

1978 CORVETTE PHOTOS

LITERATURE & LINKS

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