Get Ad-Free Access: Just $39/year

1977 Corvette Performance & Specifications

Powertrain, Steering, Brakes, Dimensions, & Suspension

1977 Corvette

Mechanically, the 1977 Corvette went essentially unchanged from the 1976 model year.  As in 1976, the 1977 Corvette came standard with a 180 horsepower, 350 cubic-inch, small-block Chevy engine mated to a 4-speed, wide-ratio manual transmission.

Read More: 1977 Chevrolet Corvette Research Center

1977 Corvette Specifications

1977 Corvette Main Specs

MODEL: 1977 Chevrolet Corvette
BODY STYLE: Two-door coupe, front engine, rear wheel drive
MANUFACTURING LOCATION: St. Louis, Missouri
CONSTRUCTION: Uniconstruction: fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP or “fiberglass”) body, backboned by a steel cage outlining the passenger compartment. Principal members – underbody, front and rear end assemblies, dash panel and hinge pillars are bonded, riveted, or bolted together and to each other. Hood is plastic with bonded plastic reinforcement. Coupe: two removable roof panels and removable rear window. Frame: all welded, full length, ladder construction with 5 crossmembers. Side Rails and intermediate crossmembers box section; front crossmember box girder section. Eight body-mounting points.
VEHICLE NUMBERS (VIN):
1Z37L7S400001 – 1Z37L7S449213
ENGINE SUFFIX: CHD: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180 HORSEPOWER, AUTOMATIC, CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS
CKD: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180 HORSEPOWER, AUTOMATIC, HIGH ALTITUDE
CKZ: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL
CLA: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180 HORSEPOWER, AUTOMATIC
CLB: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180 HORSEPOWER, AUTOMATIC, HIGH ALTITUDE
CLC: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180 HORSEPOWER, AUTOMATIC, CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS
CLD: 350 CUBIC INCH, 210 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL
CLF: 350 CUBIC INCH, 210 HORSEPOWER, AUTOMATIC
ENGINE BLOCK NUMBER: 3970010: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180 HP, 210HP
HEAD NUMBER: 333882: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180HP, 210HP
374650: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180HP
CARBURETOR NUMBERS: ROCHESTER Q-jet #17057202: 350 C.I., 180HP, AUTOMATIC TRANS.
ROCHESTER Q-jet #17057203: 350 C.I., 180HP, MANUAL TRANS.
ROCHESTER Q-jet #17057204: 350 C.I., 180HP, AUTOMATIC TRANS., AIR CONDITIONING
ROCHESTER Q-jet #17057210: 350 C.I., 210HP, AUTOMATIC TRANS.
ROCHESTER Q-jet #17057211: 350 C.I., 210HP, MANUAL TRANS.
ROCHESTER Q-jet #17057228: 350 C.I., 210HP, AUTOMATIC TRANS., AIR CONDITIONING
ROCHESTER Q-jet #17057502: 350 C.I., 180HP, AUTOMATIC TRANS., CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS
ROCHESTER Q-jet #17057504: 350 C.I., 180HP, AUTOMATIC TRANS., AIR COND., CALIF. EMISSIONS
ROCHESTER Q-jet #17057510: 350 C.I., 210HP, AUTOMATIC TRANS., CALIF. EMISSIONS
ROCHESTER Q-jet #17057582: 350 C.I., 180HP, AUTOMATIC TRANS., HIGH ALTITUDE
ROCHESTER Q-jet #17057584: 350 C.I., 180HP, AUTOMATIC TRANS., AIR COND., HIGH
DISTRIBUTOR NUMBER: 1103246: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180HP
1103248: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180HP, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS
1103256: 350 CUBIC INCH, 210HP
ALTERNATOR NUMBER: 1102474: 350 CUBIC INCH
1102484: 350 CUBIC INCH, WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING
1102908: 350 CUBIC INCH
1102909: 350 CUBIC INCH
AXLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OA: 3.08:1 RATIO
OD: 3.36:1 RATIO
LR: 3.36:1 RATIO
OB: 3.55:1 RATIO
OC: 3.70:1 RATIO
PRODUCTION ENDING VEHICLE: AUG., 1976: 402287, SEP.. 1976: 406337, OCT., 1976: 410517, NOV., 1976: 414216, DEC., 1976: 417551, JAN., 1977: 421118, FEB., 1977: 424662, MAR., 1977: 429041, APR., 1977: 433057, MAY., 1977: 437029, JUNE., 1977: 441233, JULY., 1977: 445179

1977 Corvette Powertrain Specifications

Order Code L48 L82
Manufacturing Location Flint, Michigan Flint, Michigan
Type 90 degree V, Valve-In-Head 90 degree V, Valve-In-Head
Cylinders 8 8
Displacement (cid) 350 350
Fuel Induction System 4-Barrel Carburetor 4-Barrel Carburetor
Horsepower 180 @ 4,000 210 @ 5,200
Torque 270 @ 2,400 255 @ 3,600
Bore x Stroke (in.) 4.00 x 3.48 4.00 x 3.48
Compression Ratio 8.5:1 9.0:1
Valve Lifters Hydraulic Hydraulic
Firing Order 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Cylinder Number System (Left) 1-3-5-7 1-3-5-7
Cylinder Number System (Right) 2-4-6-8 2-4-6-8
Recommended Fuel Premium Premium

1977 Corvette Manual Transmission/Gear Ratios

Manual Transmission

Gear Ratios 
4-Speed (RPO M20)
4-Speed Close Ratio (RPO M21)
1st Gear:
2.64:1
2.43:1
2nd Gear:
1.75:1
1.61:1
3rd Gear:
1.34:1
1.23:1
4th Gear:
1.00:1
1.00:1
Reverse:
2.55:1
2.35:1

Clutch

Clutch Stats
Type Single Dry Disk Centrifugal
Spring Pressure (lbs) 2450 – 2750 for L48, 2450-2750 for L82
Lining area (sq. in.) 101.5 for L48, 123.7 for L82

Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission RPO M40/ Gear Ratios

Gear Drive L2 L1 Reverse
1st Gear 2.48:1 2.48:1 2.48:1 N/A
2nd Gear 1.52:1 1.52:1 N/A N/A
3rd Gear 1.00:1 N/A N/A N/A
Reverse N/A N/A N/A 1.94

1977 Corvette Wheels, Suspension & Brakes

Suspension – Front

Type and Description: Independent, SLA type, coil springs with center mounted shock absorbers, spherical joint steering knuckle pivots.

Front Coil Springs
Make & Type Coil
Material Steel Alloy
Size 10.27 x 3.80; 130.84 x 0.606
Front Stabilizer Bar
Type Link
Material Hot rolled steel
Diameter .875

Suspension – Back

Type and Description: Full Independent rear suspension with frame-anchored differential unit. Position of each wheel established by three links: tubular axle drive shafts, transverse strut rods, torque control arms. Vertical suspension loads taken by transverse leaf springs. Built-in camber adjustment at strut rod inner ends.
Rear Leaf Springs
Number of Leaves Variable rate 9-leaf
Material Chrome carbon steel
Length, width, height 48.60 x 2.25 x 2.121
Rear Strut
Material Forged Steel
Diameter 0.75

Brakes

Brake Specs
Type:
– Standard Caliper Disk – 4 Wheel Dual Hydraulic with Pressure Differential and Warning Light
– J50 Delco Moraine, vacuum power unit; integral
Drum diameter, front (in.): 11.75 x 1.25
Drum diameter, rear (in.): 11.75 x 1.25
Swept Drum Area Effective area: 249.14

Wheels & Tires

Wheels & Tires Specs
Wheel Type:
– Standard Short spoke spider, welded steel
– Optional Cast Aluminum
Wheels, size:
– Standard 15″ x 8.00
– Standard 15″ x 8.00
Tire, size:
– Standard GR70 x 15B — Blackwall Steel Belted Radial
– QRZ GR70 x 15B — White Letter Steel Belted Radial
Inflation
– Front 24 psi (cold), 30 psi (hot)
– Rear 24 psi (cold), 30 psi (hot)

Steering

Steering Specs – Manual Steering
Type
– Power Integral, recirculating ball nut with hydraulic pressure provided from a vane type pump.
Make Saginaw
Steering Gear
– Power 16:1
Overall Ratio
– Power 17.6:1
Wheel Diameter (in.) 14.75 x 14.25
Turns, Stop to Stop
– Manual 3.4
– Power 2.92
Turning Diameter 37 ft. (outside front), 38.6 ft. (outside front)

1977 Corvette

1977 Corvette Exterior Dimensions

Coupe Dimensions

Exterior Dimensions (Coupe) Interior Dimensions (Coupe)
Wheelbase: 98.0 Inches Headroom: 32.2 Inches
Overall Length: 185.2 Inches Shoulder Room: 47.9 Inches
Total Body Width: 69.2 Inches Hip Room: 48.8 Inches
Overall Height: 48.0 Inches Leg Room: 42.1 Inches
Front Track Width: 58.7 Inches
Rear Track Width: 59.5 Inches
Min. Ground Clearance 4.3 Inches

Capacities

Capacities
Passenger Capacity 2 – Driver & Passenger
Curb Weight (lbs) 3,534
Interior Passenger Volume (cu. ft) 7.8
Interior Trunk Volume (cu. ft) 17
Fuel Capacity (gallons): 4.0 (capacity of crankcase less filter – refill)
4.5 (capacity of crankcase refill with filter change)
Coolant capacity without heater (qts.) 20.7
Battery: 12 Volt, 78 Plates, 3,500 Watts for Standard
12 Volt, 90 Plates, 4,000 Watts for Heavy Duty

1977 Corvette

1977 Corvette Performance Results

4-Speed Transmission
Base L82
Performance weight (lbs.)
3834 3838
Pounds/net horsepower
21.30 18.28
Pounds/cu.in. piston displacement
10.95 10.98
Net horsepower/cu.in. displacement
.514
.600
Power displacement (cu.ft./mile)
258.61 284.78
Displacement factor (cu.ft./mile)
134.90 148.40
0 – 60 mph (seconds)
6.8
Top Speed (mph)
132
Quarter Mile (secs @ mph)
15.5 @ 92.5
Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Base  L82
Performance weight (lbs.)
3868 3896
 Pounds/net horsepower 21.50 18.55
Pounds/cu.in. piston displacement
11.05 11.13
Net horsepower/cu.in. displacement
.514 .600
Power displacement (cu.ft./mile)
237.06 273.23
Displacement factor (cu.ft./mile)
122.57 140.26
0 – 60 mph (seconds)
Top Speed (mph)
Quarter Mile (secs @ mph)

1977 Corvette