CRG Discussion Forum

Camaro Research Group Discussion => Decoding/Numbers => Topic started by: 67L48 on July 27, 2022, 02:26:34 PM

Title: Identifying an L30 from an LF7 engine? (1967)
Post by: 67L48 on July 27, 2022, 02:26:34 PM
I have read the reports on the L30/M20 combo.  But, that's not what I'm interested in.  How would a person identify an otherwise garden-variety L30 327/275 apart from an LF7 327/210?  For example, what if a car had an M35 Powerglide transmission and a 327 engine.  Do you have to pull casting numbers to identify the type of 327 or is there another way to determine this?  Perhaps valve covers, air cleaner, some obvious marking somewhere, etc.?

In case there are year-to-year variances, I'm most interested in the 1967 model year.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Identifying an L30 from an LF7 engine? (1967)
Post by: bertfam on July 27, 2022, 02:54:25 PM
The LF7 came with a 2BBL carb and the L30 came with a 4BBL carb. But here's the best way, check the suffix code on the front pad. That'll tell you exactly what engine it is.

Ed
Title: Re: Identifying an L30 from an LF7 engine? (1967)
Post by: Gars68Tux on July 27, 2022, 05:00:18 PM
Suffix code will tell what the engine originally WAS. But the main difference is the higher compression, larger valve cylinder heads. Easily identified by the "double hump" castings as seen here...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/122861446732?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=122861446732&targetid=4580359295528870&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=437225724&mkgroupid=1228154759183859&rlsatarget=pla-4580359295528870&abcId=9300907&merchantid=51291&msclkid=88e0d3860a021def18c0b16766802800
Title: Re: Identifying an L30 from an LF7 engine? (1967)
Post by: 67L48 on July 27, 2022, 07:04:39 PM
OK, to my eye, this image looks like what I see in that eBay ad and, therefore, an L30:
(https://scontent-msp1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/295927785_10217919470453268_4880030685701066369_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5cd70e&_nc_ohc=OPdor83kQ2IAX9bLCkV&_nc_ht=scontent-msp1-1.xx&oh=00_AT8deEv58jyggvybn6ODLcemHFOqNFF3U9njmV0OtqTYAA&oe=62E59D7A)
Title: Re: Identifying an L30 from an LF7 engine? (1967)
Post by: bertfam on July 27, 2022, 07:12:09 PM
You can't go JUST by the casting symbol. Heads are easily replaceable so what's the suffix code on the front pad?

Ed
Title: Re: Identifying an L30 from an LF7 engine? (1967)
Post by: Gars68Tux on July 27, 2022, 08:13:45 PM
Yep, COULD be an L48  :) as they had/have the same block(casting) and heads (as the L30). The suffix code on the pad http://camaros.org/drivetrain.shtml#PadStamps will determine the block originality and what heads were installed from the factory.
Title: Re: Identifying an L30 from an LF7 engine? (1967)
Post by: 67L48 on July 27, 2022, 08:57:29 PM
You can't go JUST by the casting symbol. Heads are easily replaceable so what's the suffix code on the front pad?

Ed

No idea and I won't really find out.  This just came up on a Facebook chat.  Someone posted this car and some pics, stated it was a 327 owned by an old lady. Another guy stated it might be an L30 327/275.  That's when I discovered that I had no idea how to even identify such a thing (without, of course, pulling castings and other block ID #s).  So, I was just wondering if there was an easy way to visually see whether a 327 was a 210 or a 275.

Completely trivial question.  I was just wanting to learn more about how to visually identify the differences between the engines (or if it were even possible).

Thanks.
Title: Re: Identifying an L30 from an LF7 engine? (1967)
Post by: Gars68Tux on July 27, 2022, 09:06:57 PM
Well, if it was an LF7 (210 hp), it's not anymore, because of the double hump heads. The bottom end (from the heads down) of an LF7 and L30 are identical.  It likely is an L30 from the photo and description.