rideon1200

I have an 87 with the third brakelight on the glass. Also has hood scoop which I was told only came on Formula.

Quasi-Traction

Didn't happen to notice anyone posting up about it, but the gauge clusters between 1982 and 1983 had a different style of font on the gauge faces.

Rottluver

Did you buy it new? It is possible that the "turbo hood" was an option for non-Formulas or someone put it on after it was purchased.... :shrug:

Wait, the 3rd brake light is on the glass? The big "cow pie" looking one on the outside of the glass? That is either an '86 or a VERY early model year 87 that still had some 86 attributes....which could also account for the hood......

mardoc88

I have a 92 RS 5.0l. How do I know if it is with or without performance package?

Rottluver

Check the RPO codes?

mardoc88

got it....thanks

Brennan

my 84 z has no louvers period let alone functional ones which is good cuz i hate the look of them

SLZ

1988 and up TPI cars had serpentine belts. 87 and before had V belt configuration.

1987/88 T/A's and GTA's had an optional Digital Dash assy w/pushbutton HVAC controls.

1988/89 T/A's and GTA's had Stereo Steering Wheel Controls (first gen of controls). These controls were used in the 86-89 Pontiac 6000 STE's, 88-89 Bonneville SSE's and some SE's. These were only offered w/stereo/cassette player. Not CD at this point in time

yo soy el warg

I read on a prior posting that you could look at the tail lights DOT # and it would have the correct year of the car on it. After looking at my cars tail lights I noticed that my 1985 Iroc coupe has a Dot# and the year is 1985 on it, but its the same year on my 1988 Iroc convertible and my 1989 Iroc covertible and they are all stock. I then looked at the front turn signal lights and they all have the same DOT# and the year is 1985 on all three. After that I looked at the side indicator lights and found that they all had a DOT# but the year was 1982 on all three. All I can figure out is that as long as they used the same part on different years they all used the plastic mold with the first production date on them. If a light changed its design yearly it got that new date yearly. Since they used the same side indicator light for 10 years as Camaros did it got the first years date, that being 1982 on all of them. The tail lights on all my Camaros got the 1985 date because that was the first year of that particular Iroc tail light design and it was also used on my 1988 and 1989. I guess what I found out was that you can't tell what year a car is just by the date on its lights. That only shows the year that particular style was first molded and used.

jdracing

ok,i just purchased my first third gen camaro.
i have a question.
the car is a 1992 rs and the ground fx front spoiler is missing.
i am wondering what models of front spoiler fx will fit other than 1992?
or is 92 the only year that will fit?
the nose is there,but the spoiler is missing and i need one,but if any will fit it does not matter to me if is the correct.
just as long as it will bolt up to my front end.
thanks for any help,
jd

DrewsCam

iTrader: (2)

anything from 90 to 92 will work if you want the same look... you may be able to get away with the Iroc years.. like 85 and up but definately not 82-84...

Project 3.4 Camaro

I know it's bringing back an old thread but....(I always figure if I am reading it, someone else probably is too....)

Anyways I've got an '85 SC with a 3 piece spoiler on it, and as far as I know the car has nothing aftermarket in/on it. It did have a berlinetta license plate holder on the front though, so who knows....

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

My 1985 TRANS AM has a 160MPH speedometer. I haven't seen too many pre-1987 cars, but that's the only car I've ever seen with a 160MPH speedo in the third generation.

TPImoneypit

iTrader: (5)

87 birds had door panels that were 87-only. Also, I believe the exterior striping changed from year to year, as well as badge locations. IE, the IROC-Z logo was at the front of the door 85-87, and to the rear of the door for 88-90, and I believe the striping reversed itself, with the top color switching to the bottom and vice versa.

Also, I know at least on 86 and 87 (maybe 85 too), base model birds came with the old pontiac rallye II wheels. They changed in 88 to the 25-slot flat wheels.

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

I think you are referring to the molded door panels often referred to (incorrectly) as "GTA door panels." I could swear they were offered for more model years than just 1987. I can tell you a few things about those door panels that are certain.

1.) They suck
2.) They do not hold up well as the years go by.
3.) They were offered only as an option. Firebirds didn't come with them. I have seen them on Formula Firebird, TRANS AM, and GTA cars. I can not recall if I've seen any of the afore mentioned car models that didn't come with them in 1987.
4.) These door panels use a different armrest than standard door panels do.
5.) These door panels also use a different arm rest mounting bracket which is incompatible with the standard arm rests.
6.) There are no reproductions of these door panels available. To get new door panels in your car, you will have to switch to the other style. Points 4 and 5 become a problem as a result.
7.) Those door panels suck.
8.) They do look great when they are in like new condition.

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

Also 1990-1992 cars have a different dash bolster on the drivers side, switch panels under the dash bezel are different. I believe that is also the year when they switched to shoulder belts for the back seats. In 1990 they relocated the third brake light under the rear hatch glass at the top. Right under where it was located in 1986. Decals also changed in certain periods. 1985-1986 had one stlye, 1987 to 1990, and 1991-1992 cars had their own style. Cars in 1988 had a different steering wheel than 1987 cars did. There are a bunch of other differences as well. Certain interior colors were only offered in specific years, etc.

TPImoneypit

iTrader: (5)

I had an '87 base model bird, and it had them. They were definetely stock. I tried posting pics of the car but I had already posted them in a thread from when I tried to sell it, and it wouldn't let me reattatch them. The only thing on that car that wasn't stock was the driver's seat, I think it was from a Cutlass or something.

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

They were definitely available, but they weren't installed on all 1987 Firebirds. A friend of mine has a 1987 base model Firebird that has the other style of door panel. (The flat kind.)

TPImoneypit

iTrader: (5)

Oh I know they werent standard. I looked up a couple pics and alot of them have it but some still don't. I didn't see any other years with them though. So chances are if a car has them, it's an 87.

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

That may be true.

LWCS561

i just bought a 91 v6 bird with the styling gfx. What parts are interchangable with this body style? for example, could i put the nose of a 90 on a 91? Could i put taillights from an 89 gta on this car?

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

What do you mean by interchange?

For the nose from a 90 you need bumper supports, turn signals, headlight parts, wiring, etc, etc, etc. Will it fit without a sledgehammer, yes.

Taillights need a different wiring harness or modifications to yours, but they fit.

JSACRA

iTrader: (2)

88 & up-first year to get the world class t-5 5 speed all other years regular t-5

89-up get the aluminum 11.5 pbr rear disc calipers

gscz28

iTrader: (2)

not all 89's got rear disc brakes, my 89 IROC has drums

JUST AN FYI

Dante93GTZ

iTrader: (5)

For the Camaros...

82-84 is somewhat hard to tell exact:

- All 82-84 SCs had the larger, more pronounced turn signals and 'snout vents'.
- All 82-84 Z28s had the shorter (when compared to the 85+) ground effects (tail lights were single line, not a grid style))

- 82 was the only year to have the fully functional induction fiberglass hood (Z28)
- 83 and 84 got the same style hood, but w/o functional vents
- 82 was the only year that the 4 speed was used

- 82-87 Camaros got the "squared" or "blocky" door bumper guards on them
- 85 was the first year of the "new" ground effects (85-90) and did NOT have a 3rd brake light.
- 85-86 ONLY TPI cars got the engine ID badging on the rear bumper
- 85-87 SCs got the revised front bumper
- 85-86 TPI Z28/IROCs were ALL 700R4
- 85-86 you could get a 5spd only with LG4 and L69 V8s
- 85-87 IROCs got the single line wheels, forward mounted door stickers
- 86 ALL Fbodies got the ugly exterior 3rd brake light.
- 87-92 ONLY TPI cars (5.0 and 5.7) cars got engine badging on the rear bumper
- 87-89 the Camaro went back to a spoiler mounted 3rd brake light
- 87 5speed finally available with LB9 TPI 305
- 87 last year for LG4 and L69 already dropped
- 87 First year for 3rdgen 350 V8
- 1988 SC finally got ground effects and the "lowrise" Z28 style wing (now just referred to as "Camaro"
- 1988 L03 replaced LG4
- 88-92 side molding door guards were now more rounded and pointed at the ends
- 88-90 all Z28s were IROC-Zs
- 1988-1990 IROC got redesigned "deluxe" cloth interior option
- 1988-90 new style double line IROC wheels and rear biased IROC door sticker
- 1989 First year for 3rdgen "RS" model (the way I tell if its an 89 or 90 is simply by the dash)
- 1989 SC dropped in favor of RS
- 1989 got the 3 point rear seat belts
- 1989 Last year for 2.8 V6 (for most of GMs lines)
- 1990 3.1 V6 replaced 2.8
- 1990 Revised dash in all Camaros
- 1990 only IROC or RS available (no "Z28" model; yes the IROC was a Z28)
- 1990 was the only year for the IROC-Z to have the new dash
- 1991 3rd brake light moved to upper inside of hatch and therefore the 3pc spoiler was solid
- 1991-1992 RS and Z28 are only options
- 1991-1992 RS was only avail with L03 and 3.1 V6 (excld B4C cars)
- 1991-1992 got revised "aero" ground effects and ALL had grid tail lights
- 1991-1992 RS _NEVER_ offered a "305 HO" option. ALL 305 91-92 RS models (Excl B4C cars) are ALL L03 305 models. I really hate it when people advertise the L03 as an "HO" motor.
- 1991-1992 Z28s offered in two flavors, with or w/o performance package
- 1991-1992 Z28s with performance package usually came with 305/5spd or 350 auto combos, 140mph gauges, rear disc, etc
- ALL 1990-1992 T-Top equipped Camaro Z28s were 305 powered.

Those are some things I look for when spotting thirdgens and trying to narrow down the years. I'm sure I've missed some stuff, but I believe most, if not all, of the above is correct information.

Basically, as far as the Camaros go, I automatically identify whether its an 82-84, 85-87, 88-90, or 91-92 and then the other above mentioned differences can help determine what year it is exactly.

Camaro82Z28

Not true. In 82, the functional cowl induction hood was only on cars with cross fire injection (LU5). They were not functional on the carb'd 305 (LG4). And are you talking about the manual or auto 4 speed?

jdracing

And are you talking about the manual or auto 4 speed?

i am almost sure he meant manual since there was no 5-speeds in 82.
isn't this correct?
jd

Dante93GTZ

iTrader: (5)

Oh yes, I forgot on the LU5s... and yes, I meant manual.

fst64_v8pwr

Interesting facts!

Dante93GTZ

iTrader: (5)

Commit them to memory and amaze your friends! hehehehe That amazement has kind of been lost on my wife over the years... she used to think it was cool - anymore... not so much...

CamaroBeau

Very good information.

nalong87

Also on 82 Z28's there is no Chevy bowtie on the rear Z28 emblem

Dante93GTZ

iTrader: (5)

Didn't know that - I guess ya learn something new everyday.

383 Power

iTrader: (2)

When did they get rid of that aweful double sided speedometer needle? (I already got rid of mine)

101stRangers

I'm not sure if this can be answered or not, but here it goes: A guy wants to sell me what he says is a 1982 IROC Z Camaro. I know enough about Camaros to know that the IROC Z model was not produced during '82, so I did a little research. In doing so, I came across this website, and looked at the pictures of Camaros from '85 to '88. I found that the best match was an '88 IROC Z, but I still noticed a few differences, such as the IROC Z logo on the car this guy wants to sell seems to be higher on the door than the one I found on this website. I only have a few pictures to go by right now, and I would like to know if I can tell for sure if he wrote the date wrong or if it's a clone of an IROC Z. I included the picture from this website and the two that were relevant from the car he's trying to sell. If it's impossible to tell from these pictures, is there a way I can tell for sure in person? Thanks for the help! And if this is the wrong place for this question, please let me know and I'll repost it in the right place. I figured it was relevant to the question asked.
I found out today that the car in question has "Limited Edition" on the door handles. I did a little more research and again wound up here, but a lot of what I found suggested that the Limited Edition was a dealer-added piece with no real meaning, an aftermarket piece from Walmart, Autozone, etc., or, in a few cases, people claimed that it was an actual Limited Edition model for whatever reason. I'm inclined to side with the car dealer or aftermarket side, because, from what little I know and what little else I've researched, there doesn't seem to be anything special about the car. This makes me think it's a clone of an IROC Z...the guy did say it was registered with the county as an '82, and the man he bought it from claimed it was an '82 IROC Z. Any more knowledgeable opinions are greatly appreciated, I'm simply making an educated guess here.
Also got the VIN number today. decodethis.com said that itwas a 1982 305 v8 Camaro with a base trim level. A second website, (mylocalford.com), said the same thing, except that the model was a Camaro base/z28. Do these mean the same thing? Is it a basic z28, or was there a basic Camaro model that could get z28, RS, and Berlinetta packages? Other than that, everything agrees with each other. I also found both of these sites from this forum under various VIN number decoders, free VIN report posts, etc. Thanks for the help!

91rsZ28

I'm surprised no one had the 90 IROC yet, only year IROC to have air bag and yellow instrumentation.

((Mike))

iTrader: (1)

83 crossfire cars had the functional hood too.

RaceFace

iTrader: (3)

who can identify this Camaro, is it stock tail light?

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

Stock Caprice tail lights.

roryglenn8

I think it is written near the tail lights

Camstang owner

I am wondering if my Camaro is as rare as I think it is as I am having trouble finding certain parts . It's a 92 camaro rs t tops 5 speed with a 305. Great shape as it only has 65000 miles

L67ss

Me and my brother just gutted an 88 sport coupe with just camaro badges(yellow paint, tan interior, and gold ground efx) to fix up his base 88 iroc