Second generation · C2 "Sting Ray" · 1963–1967
1966Chevrolet Corvette
The Sting Ray — introduced the nameplate, the first Corvette coupe, and independent rear suspension. The 1963 coupe's one-year-only split rear window makes it the most iconic Corvette body.
Photo: Mustang Joe / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Start here
What do you need to know?
This page covers the whole 1966 Chevrolet Corvette model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.
Documented lineup
Find your exact 1966 Corvette
Compare factory configurations or open a separately identified evidence document. Service documents explain historical applications and do not establish an ownership or parts recommendation.
12 factory configurations + 2 service documents
Factory configurations and separate evidence documentsHow this lineup was verified
Factory configuration counts exclude documentary records. Evidence documents preserve specific source findings; they do not establish a factory body/engine/transmission pairing or complete the model-year lineup.
Corvette Sting Ray 300 Sport coupe — 3-speed manual
- Body
- Sport coupe
- Engine
- 327 cu in V8 (300 hp)
- Gearbox
- 3-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette Sting Ray 300 Sport coupe — 4-speed manual
- Body
- Sport coupe
- Engine
- 327 cu in V8 (300 hp)
- Gearbox
- 4-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette Sting Ray 300 Sport coupe — 2-speed Powerglide automatic
- Body
- Sport coupe
- Engine
- 327 cu in V8 (300 hp)
- Gearbox
- 2-speed Powerglide automatic
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette Sting Ray 300 Convertible — 3-speed manual
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 327 cu in V8 (300 hp)
- Gearbox
- 3-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette Sting Ray 300 Convertible — 4-speed manual
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 327 cu in V8 (300 hp)
- Gearbox
- 4-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette Sting Ray 300 Convertible — 2-speed Powerglide automatic
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 327 cu in V8 (300 hp)
- Gearbox
- 2-speed Powerglide automatic
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette Sting Ray L79 Sport coupe — 4-speed manual
- Body
- Sport coupe
- Engine
- 327 cu in L79 V8 (350 hp)
- Gearbox
- 4-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette Sting Ray L79 Convertible — 4-speed manual
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 327 cu in L79 V8 (350 hp)
- Gearbox
- 4-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette Sting Ray L36 Sport coupe — 4-speed manual
- Body
- Sport coupe
- Engine
- 427 cu in L36 big-block V8 (390 hp)
- Gearbox
- 4-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
427 Powerglide converter service application
- Body
- Not established by the service catalogue
- Engine
- 427 cu in V8
- Gearbox
- 2-speed Powerglide automatic
Corvette Sting Ray L36 Convertible — 4-speed manual
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 427 cu in L36 big-block V8 (390 hp)
- Gearbox
- 4-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
427 Powerglide clutch service application
- Body
- Not established by the service catalogue
- Engine
- 427 cu in V8
- Gearbox
- 2-speed Powerglide automatic
Corvette Sting Ray L72 Sport coupe — 4-speed manual
- Body
- Sport coupe
- Engine
- 427 cu in L72 big-block V8 (425 hp)
- Gearbox
- 4-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette Sting Ray L72 Convertible — 4-speed manual
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 427 cu in L72 big-block V8 (425 hp)
- Gearbox
- 4-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
No record matches those filters.
The 1966 model year
Overview
The 1966 Chevrolet Corvette was the C2 Sting Ray model-year specification for the U.S. market. Its documented factory range comprised 327 cu in small-block V8, 427 cu in big-block V8 with 2-speed Powerglide automatic or 3-speed manual or 4-speed manual.
Specifications
- Engines
- 327 cu in small-block V8
- 427 cu in big-block V8
- Transmissions
- 2-speed Powerglide automatic, 3-speed manual, 4-speed manual
- Body styles
- Sport coupe, Convertible
Year over year
What changed
- The 427 replaced the 396 as the Sting Ray's big-block choice.
- Early Chevrolet sales sheets show the L36 with four-speed only. A later GM service catalogue explicitly lists 1966 Corvette 427 Powerglide components; the automatic configuration page distinguishes that evidence from secondary identification of the late L36 pairing.
Worth knowing
Notable
- This page records the U.S. 1966 factory powertrain and body-style range rather than borrowing a nearby model year's specification.
Living with it
Reliability & ownership notes
- For a 1966 Corvette, verify the VIN, installed powertrain and service history against the exact-year GM document; age, modifications and deferred maintenance are more useful evidence than generation-wide reputation.
- Check the NHTSA VIN lookup for unrepaired safety recalls before purchase or road use.
Maintenance & service parts
Keep your 1966 Corvette on the road
Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.
Service desk
What this car needs & when
Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1966 Chevrolet Corvette. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.
- Service topics
- 12
- Factory intervals
- 10
- Fitment-scoped
- 12
- Exact references
- 1
Before orderingIdentify your engine, options and build date.Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.
Engine oil and filter — change
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Engine oil — normal service
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Engine oil — heavy-duty start-stop or prolonged-idling service
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Oil filter
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Crankcase-ventilation valve and breather cap — service
Sourced interval available
Test the ventilation system at every oil change; perform service more often in prolonged dusty use.
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Crankcase-ventilation valve — replace; hoses, fittings, flame arrestor, and breather cap — clean
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Crankcase breather cap — clean and re-oil
At every engine-oil change.
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Carburetor-inlet fuel filter — replace
Fitment must be confirmed
Replace only when inspection shows it is dirty or plugged, or when flooding occurs.
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Engine air-cleaner element — service
Sourced interval available
Use the row matching the installed element type; service more often in prolonged dusty use.
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Polyurethane element — clean and re-oil
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Oil-wetted paper element — inspect or test
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
V8 distributor cam lubricator — service
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Turn cam lubricator end-for-end
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Replace cam lubricator
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Transmission fluid and lubricant — service
Sourced interval available
The 1966 Corvette factory power-team table lists manual transmissions and Powerglide. Chevrolet introduced Turbo Hydra-Matic as a Corvette option for 1968; cross-model THM instructions do not establish 1966 factory fitment. Retained intervals separately cite the 1966 chassis manual.
Source: Chevrolet — 1968 full-line brochure, Corvette introduction · PDF page 7, Corvette paragraph; publication D-49492-R-1 — first-time availability establishes model applicability, not service intervals · checked
Manual transmission — check lubricant level
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Powerglide — check fluid level
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Powerglide — change fluid
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Rear-axle lubricant level — check
Sourced interval available
The factory manual specifies no routine lubricant change for the life of the vehicle.
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Chassis, clutch cross-shaft, and parking-brake mechanism — lubricate
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Chassis and parking-brake mechanism
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Clutch cross-shaft
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Manual steering-gear lubricant level — check
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Front wheel bearings — clean and repack
Sourced interval available
The text specifies 24,000 miles and also requires repacking whenever the brake drums are removed; the Corvette diagram identifies service whenever the brakes are serviced.
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Brake-master-cylinder fluid level — check
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Battery-terminal felt washers — oil
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1966 Chassis Service Manual licensed GM reproduction (preserved copy) · Lubrication, pages 0-11 through 0-18; Corvette lubrication diagram, Figure 32 · checked
Engine oil filter — catalog fitment
Exact reference available
Manufacturer-catalog fitment only; no service interval is inferred.
Baldwin P18 cataloged fitment
This manufacturer application record establishes replacement-filter fitment only; it does not alter Chevrolet's service interval.
Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 783, Chevrolet 1966 Corvette 327- and 427-cu-in carbureted V8 row — Lube — P18 · checked
Verified ordering references
- Validated equivalentBaldwin P18
Qty. 1 · Engine lubricating-oil filter · catalog-listed
Cataloged for the 1966 Corvette 327- and 427-cu-in carbureted V8; confirm the installed engine and filter dimensions.
Catalog: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 783, Chevrolet 1966 Corvette 327- and 427-cu-in carbureted V8 row — Lube — P18 · checked
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