vz thunder / how built with different engines?

[ssmate]

g'day,
i have recently purchesed a vz thunder ( with the l98 engine)
i was told by a holden that there were 1200 of these built??
just wondering how many were built with the l76 and how many with the l98
thanks

[Surfwagon]

L98 came as manuals and the L76 came as Automatics.
They are both essentially the same engine, heads, pistons, block, intake etc.
The VZ L76 has the DOD lifters but they don't do anything as the fuel shut off feature (computer management) didn't happen until during VE but all the hard ware was still there in the L76's

[ssmate]

thanks for that . . but i have an automatic l98 ??

[Surfwagon]

Thats been my understanding, someone on LS1 forum may be able to answer better.
Australian LS1 and Holden Forums
see from post #35
Evidently some VZ utes (yours included) got the L98 in auto.