1989 CORVETTE

CHASSIS
ENGINE
HISTORY
ID
LITERATURE
OPTIONS
PHOTOS

Most of the Corvette publicity this year centered on the eagerly-awaited ZR-1 which was claimed to be the world's fastest production automobile.
After several announcements proved premature, the ZR-1's introduction was delayed until the 1990 model year.
Meanwhile, the "ordinary" Corvette added a new ZF six-speed manual gearbox with two overdrive ratios.
To meet fuel-economy standards, the ingenious transmission was designed with a computer that sent a signal to prevent shifts from first to second gear unless the gas pedal hit the floor.
Instead, a blocking pin forced the shifter directly into fourth gear for improved fuel economy during light-throttle operation.
Joining the option list was a new FX3 Delco-Bilstein Selective Ride Control system with a switch to select the desired degree of shock absorber damping for touring, sport, or competition driving.
Only hatchbacks with a manual transmission and the Z51 Performance Handling package could get the ride-control option.
For the first time since 1975, a removable fiberglass hardtop became available for the convertible, but not until late in the model year.
Corvette colors were
- White
- Medium Blue Metallic
- Dark Blue Metallic
- Black
- Dark Red Metallic
- Bright Red
- Gray Metallic
- Charcoal Metallic
Chevrolet also painted 33 cars in two non-standard colors.
Six were done in Yellow and 27 were done in Arctic Pearl.
Interior trims came in Blue; Black; Gray; Red; Saddle; and White.
A removable body-color roof panel for hatchbacks or body-color convertible top were standard, along with cloth upholstery.

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.
The Coupe serial numbers ranged from 1G1YY218*K5100001 to 1G1YY218*K5126328

The Convertible serial numbers ranged from 1G1YY318*K5100001 to 1G1YY318*K5126328

Position	Character	Description
1	1	US built
2	G	General Motors product
3	1	Chevrolet Motor Division vehicle
4	Y	Type of restraint system
5	Y	Corvette car line series
6	2 or 3	Body style number 2 = Two door hatchback style 07, 08, 77, or 87 3 = Two door convertible style 67
7	1 or 2	1=Manual seat belts 3=Manual belts with driver-inflatable restraint system 4=Automatic belts
8	8	5.7-liter Tuned-Port-Injection Chevrolet or GM of Canada V8
9	?	A check digit that calculates the characters in the serial number and gives it a single digit code and can be used to verify that the serial number is legitimate
10	K	The model year where 1989
11	5	Bowling Green, KY
12-17	100001 and up	production sequence for coupes and convertibles

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	Extra features
ZRA	L98 350-cid	240/245-hp V-8	9.5:1	manual	tuned port injection	Engine oil cooler
ZRC	L98 350-cid	240/245-hp V-8	9.5:1	THM automatic	tuned port injection	Engine oil cooler
ZRB	L98 350-cid	240/245-hp V-8	9.5:1	THM automatic	tuned port injection

The 1989 Corvette exterior colors were:
- 10 = White
- 20 = Medium Blue Metallic
- 28 = Dark Blue Metallic
- 41 = Black
- 68 = Dark Red Metallic
- 81 = Bright Red
- 90 = Gray Metallic
- 96 = Charcoal Metallic
- Chevrolet also painted 33 cars in two non-standard colors
  Six were done in 35 = Yellow and
  27 were done in 31 = Arctic Pearl.
Upholstery Codes

Color Cloth Upholstery Leather Upholstery
Black 19C 192
Saddle 60C 602
Blue 212
Red 732
Gray 902

IDENTIFICATION

Model	Model No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
Coupe	1Y	Y07	2-dr. Hatch Coupe - 2 passenger	$31,545	3229	16,663
Convertible	1Y	Y67	2-dr. Convertible - 2 passenger	$36,785	3269	9,749

ENGINE

Feature	Standard Engine (RPO L98)
Type	V-8, 90-degree Overhead valve
Block	Cast iron block and aluminum cylinder head
Displacement	350 cid (5.7 liters)
Bore & Stroke	4.00" x 3.48"
Compression ratio	9.5:1
Brake horsepower	240 @ 4000 (245-hp for hatchbacks using 3.07:1 rear axle due to use of low-restriction mufflers with this option combination only)
Torque	345 lb-ft @ 3200
Main bearing	five
Valve lifters	hydraulic
Fuel supply	Tuned-port induction (TPI) system

TRANSMISSION

Automatic Transmission

Four-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic (TMH 700-R4)
floor-mounted gear shifter
gear ratios
- 1st = 3.06:1
- 2nd = 1.63:1
- 3rd = 1.00:1
- 4th = 0.70:1
- Rev = 2.29:1
Final drive ratio: 2.59:1 or 3.07:1

Manual Transmission

Four-speed manual with overdrive
floor-mounted gear shifter
gear ratios
- 1st = 2.88:1
- 2nd = 1.91:1
- 3rd = 1.33:1
- 4th = 1.00:1
- overdrive = 0.67:1
- Rev = 2.78:1
Final drive ratio: 3.07:1

CHASSIS

Feature	Coupe	Convertible
Wheelbase	96.2 inches (2.443 m)
Overall length	176.5 inches (4.483 m)
Overall width	71.0 inches (1.803 m)
Overall height	46.7 inches (1.186 m)
Front tread	59.6 inches (1.514 m)
Rear tread	60.4 inches (1.534 m)
Standard Wheel size	16 x 8.5 inches
Standard Tires	P275/40VR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT (Z-rated)
Steering	rack and pinion (power assisted)
Front suspension	Single fiberglass composite monoleaf transverse spring with unequal-length aluminum control arms and stabilizer bar
Rear suspension	Fully independent five-link system with transverse fiberglass single-leaf springs, aluminum upper/lower trailing links and strut-rod tie-rod assembly
Brakes	Four-wheel power disc
Body construction	Unibody with partial front frame
Fuel tank	20 US Gal (16.7 Imp Gal) (76 liters)

OPTIONS

RPO AC1	Power passenger seat	$240
RPO AC3	Power driver seat	$240
RPO AQ9	Leather sports seats	$1025
RPO AR9	Base leather seats	$400
RPO B2K	Callaway Twin Turbo installed by Callaway Engineering	$25,895
RPO B4P	Radiator boost fan	$75
RPO CC2	Auxiliary hardtop for convertible	$1,995
RPO C2L	Dual removable roof panels for coupe	$915
RPO 24S	Removable roof panels with blue tint for coupe	$615
RPO 64S	Removable roof panels with bronze tint for coupe	$615
RPO C68	Electronic air conditioning control	$150
RPO D74	Illuminated driver vanity mirror	$58
RPO FX3	Selective electronic Ride & Handling	$1695
RPO G92	Performance axle ratio 3.07:1	$22
RPO KO5	Engine block heater	$20
RPO KC4	Engine oil cooler	$110
RPO MN6	Six-speed manual transmission	no-cost option
RPO NN5	California emissions requirements	$100
RPO UJ6	Low tire pressure warning indicator	$325
RPO UU8	Delco-Bose stereo system	$773
RPO V0l	Heavy-duty radiator	$40
RPO V56	Luggage rack for convertible	$140
RPO Z51	Performance handling package for hatchback	$575

HISTORICAL NOTES

Model-year production: 26,412.
Calendar-year production: 25,279.
Model-year sales by U.S. dealers: 23,928.
The $25,895 Callaway Twin-Turbo engine package could again be ordered through specific Chevrolet dealers as RPO B2K.
Cars that received this package were sent from Bowling Green, Kentucky, to the Callaway factory in Old Lyme, Connecticut, to receive engine modifications and other upgrades.
The 1989 Callaways had 382 hp and 562 lbs.-ft. of torque.
For 1989 Callaway Twin-Turbo Corvettes a different engine-coding system was used.
Callaway engines were stamped with the first two symbols indicating model year, followed by three symbols indicating order in the Callaway production sequence, followed by four symbols matching the last four digits of the Chevrolet VIN.
Chevrolet built 60 Corvette Challenge cars with standard engines.
Of these, 30 were shipped to Powell Development of America to receive race-modified engines and other competition modifications for the 1989 Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Corvette Challenge racing series.
At the end of the year, these cars had their original factory-numbered engines reinstalled.
Chevrolet built 84 ZR-1 type 1989 Corvettes for testing, but then said on April 19 that the ZR-1's introduction would be delayed until 1990.

1989 CORVETTE PHOTOS

LITERATURE & LINKS

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