1977 Corvette Specifications

1977 options, quantities and original prices

• A 350 cubic inch, 180 hp engine, a 4-speed manual transmission, T-tops and leather interior trim were included in the base price. 1977 is the first year leather was standard.
• The steering column changed to the corporate unit, which is why tilt and telescopic could finally be bought together as N37.
• 1977 was the last year for the Stingray fender script and the last for the wide rear luggage shelf before the fastback arrived.

1977 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

• Engine suffixes: CKZ for the base engine with the 4-speed, CLA for the base engine with Turbo Hydra-matic, CLD for the L82 with the 4-speed and CLF for the L82 with Turbo Hydra-matic.
• Engine stamping: on the top front of the right hand bank of the cylinder case. F is Flint. The two digits after the source letter are the month and the day.
• Rear axle: the identification number is on the bottom edge of the differential carrier flange.

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.

1977 VIN range

1977 Corvettes ran from 1Z37L7S400001 through 1Z37L7S449213, all built at St. Louis. Reading the VIN across: 1 for Chevrolet, Z for Corvette, 37 for the body style, then the engine, L for the 350 at 180 hp and X for the 350 at 210 hp, then 7 for the model year and S for St. Louis. The plate is on the left hand windshield pillar. The VIN decoder breaks down each position, and the build date decoder works out roughly when in the year a car was assembled.

1977 production by month

1977 colors

• Paint quantities do not always add up to total production, because some cars were built with non-standard paint or left in primer only.
• Which interior trims went with which paint is set out in full on the exterior and interior combination page, along with the trim codes.

1977 axle ratios

The 1977 manual lists four axle codes: OA at 3.08, OD at 3.36, OB at 3.55 and OC at 3.70. The full list for every year is on the axle code page.

What changed for 1977

• The crossed-flags emblem returned to the nose and the Stingray script came off the front fenders.
• The console was redesigned so the radio sat higher and easier to reach, and the wiper and washer controls moved to the turn signal stalk.
• A leather interior became standard equipment.
• The steering column changed to the corporate unit, allowing tilt and telescopic in one option.
• The rear luggage area was given a wider shelf, and the interior lost the map pockets on the door panels.

What the manual covers

The 1977 book is the pure factory specification manual, 111 pages with no summary sheets bound in: model identification and serial numbers, standard and extra cost equipment, dimensions and weights, body, chassis and power train sections, the alphabetical option index and the colour and trim selection charts.

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.