1980 Corvette Specifications

1980 Corvette dimensions and weights

These are the 1980 car's own figures, read off the factory specification manual further down this page rather than taken from a reference book. Curb weight is the car as it left the line, with fluids and no driver.

Where these figures come from

1980 CORVETTE Specifications book, 'DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS' section. Page 44 = 'EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS' (LENGTHS + WIDTHS); page 45 = 'EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS' (HEIGHTS); page 46 = 'VEHICLE WEIGHTS' (1YZ87, 350 L48; shipping 1454.1 kg / 3206 lb); page 35 = 'FUEL AND EXHAUST SYSTEM'. UNITS: this is the only book in the run that leads with metric. Values are written exactly as printed, 'MILLIMETRES (INCHES)' and 'KILOGRAMS (POUNDS)'. This compiled PDF has no dealer 'DIMENSIONS/SPECIFICATIONS' summary page, so unlike 1979 and 1981-1982 the height quoted is the engineering design height 48.1, not a loaded height of 48.0.

1980 options, quantities and original prices

• A 350 cubic inch, 190 hp engine and a 4-speed manual transmission were included in the base price.
• Tightened California emission rules meant Chevrolet did not certify its 350 there, so California buyers were required to take the 305 cubic inch RPO LG4 and received a $50 credit. In a Corvette it could only be paired with the automatic.
• The 4-speed manual was not available with the optional L82, with the possible exception of a few early production cars.
• 1980 was the last year for the L82.

1980 engine identification codes

The engine suffix code is stamped on the front of the block, on the pad ahead of the passenger-side cylinder head. Read it together with the VIN to confirm an engine belongs with the car.

Casting and component numbers

• Block: 3970010 (350ci 190 and 230 hp), 4715111 (305ci 180 hp).
• Cylinder head: 462624 (350ci), 14014416 (305ci).
• Distributor: 1103287, 1103352 and 1103353 (350ci 190 hp), 1103435 (350ci 230 hp), 1103368 (305ci, California).
• Alternator: 1101041, 1101075, 1101085, 1101088 and 1103122.

The full casting number breakdown per engine, including intake and exhaust manifolds, is on the casting number page, and the carburetor numbers are on the carburetor page.

1980 horsepower and torque

These are SAE net figures, measured with the engine installed and driving everything it has to drive in the car. They are lower than the gross figures quoted up to 1971 for the same engine, which is a change in how the measurement was taken as much as a change in the engines.

Where these figures come from

'ADVERTISED ENGINE RATING', PDF page 28. Confirms the L82 at 230 hp, which is what engines.htm always said and what options.htm was corrected to. The 305 LG4 was a California-only engine, the only time a C3 was sold with less than 350 cubic inches.

1980 VIN range

1980 Corvettes ran from 1Z878AS400001 through 1Z878AS440614, all built at St. Louis. The sixth character is A for the 1980 model year. The fifth digit is the engine: 8 for the 350 at 190 hp, L for the 350 at 230 hp, H for the 305 at 180 hp. The 1980 Corvette VIN decoder breaks down each position, and the trim tag decoder works out roughly when in the year a car was assembled.

1980 production by month

1980 colors

• Which interior trims went with which paint is set out in full on the exterior and interior combination page, along with the trim codes.

1980 axle ratios

The axle code is stamped on the differential carrier housing. The full list for every year is on the axle code page.

What changed for 1980

• New front and rear bumper caps with integral spoilers raised radiator air flow by nearly fifty percent and cut the drag coefficient from .503 to .443 against a 1979 fitted with the optional bolt-on spoilers.
• The car shed weight through lower density roof panels, thinner hood and outer door skins, and aluminium for the differential housing and crossmember. The L82's aluminium intake manifold became standard on the base L48.
• Speedometers read to a maximum of 85 mph, a new federal requirement that had been phased in during 1979 production.
• The crossed flag emblems were redrawn in a new, more elongated design.
• The three behind-seat storage compartments became two, with the battery keeping its own compartment behind the driver.
• The California LG4 used stainless steel tubular headers with an oxygen sensor in a closed loop system, and made 180 hp, only 10 hp under the 350 sold in the other states.

What the manual covers

The 1980 book runs 111 pages and is more of a sales and specification package than the earlier manuals: the Black Book summary sheets, the 1980 options and colours, the Corvette value features brochure pages and the illustrated interior and equipment spreads Chevrolet gave its dealers.

For part numbers and exploded illustrations rather than specifications, the parts manuals are the companion set. Other model years are on the specification manuals page.