yaj15

iTrader: (3)

What are the differences between the 1982 Z28's and the 1983-1984 Z28's? I've heard there are a lot of 1982 only model year parts like the 3-speed auto, 4-speed manual that's pretty common knowledge.

Is it true that the dash cover panel is different?

I've read some articles that the rear spring rates were not as high in 1983 to smooth out the ride vs. the 1982 cars.

What are some of the other differences.

8t2 z-chev

dashpad is different on '82s,Ihave heard '82 style pads also ended up on some early '83s.'82s also had much stronger bumpers-they still had to meet 5MPH standard-'83/84 impact bar was same design as '82, but made of aluminum instead of steel, rated 2.5 mph.Most '82s all had copper/brass radiators,but certain ones had aluminum.Also seems '82s had leather steering wheels while '83/84 had a different material,perhaps foam.

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the info. Looked at some pictures online. Looks like the rear bumper emblem doesn't have the chevy bowtie next to it either.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

All of the '82s and '83s I've seen had the same dash pad. Also, the '82 and '83 Z28 steering wheels were different than '84 and up. There was a line on the 6:00 spoke. The window switches were also different in the '82-'83 - not sure if it was carried over to '84.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

82's have Captain Obvious labels on all the dash controls... i.e. "Lights" and "Lighter". Also the gauge clusters in 82 have a goofy "redline" highlighting speeds over 55mph and higher rpms. The seat belts, and the door sills by association are unique to 82 since they don't have a retractor on the floor end of the belts.

Lots of little things are different from later years, but most of them are trivial.

John in RI

iTrader: (167)

82:

T-Tops are "hook" style
Cluster is specific to that year. ( cosmetic )
odd-ball rear-gear ratios
Speedo cable was 2-piece and ran thru cruise "box". ( might be 83 too )
82-83 wiper motor was specific to those years ( might be same as 81 ? )
Doors were specific because of the specific window filler. ( maybe 83 too ?? )
Hatch latch had and alignment rod on it.
"Z28" dash badge had purple stripe(s) rather than red
None of the 82 cars had a bow-tie on the rear bumper emblem
Brake lines were SAE not metric ( 83 too I IIRC )

That's all I've got off the top of my head !

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the info guys. It's interesting to see the changes that GM made during the first couple of years of production.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

83 too.

Saxondale

iTrader: (2)

Speedo and tach labels use large pitch in '82 (specific cluster as mentioned by John).

Conteur seat option in '82 had tall-back passenger seat with integrated headrest. '82 did not have the Camaro Camaro Camaro fabric, similar to Recaro pattern of the day.

'82 had nice maroon and deep blue paint color choices.

'82 had a nice maroon interior color choice.

Hydraulic clutches were introduced in '84, replacing manual linkage.

Engines were painted blue in '82, black in '83 and later.

Radios/stereos were not digital in '82, as far as I know.

Rear seatbelts in '82 and maybe '83 were longer on the non-retractable half.

Front and rear seatbelt buckles in '82 and '83 were a different style of push button.

TTops in '82 and '83 did not have keyed locks.

SPID (service parts identification) labels (stickers) may have been introduced in '84, and were placed beneath the console lid.

scottmoyer

Can we stop perpetuating the "purple" emblem stripe. This is not true. All Z28s had the tri red color dash emblems. The purple is due to pigment change due to age and/or environment. Purple clashes with the red and GM would never have put that combination on the car. Parts are made by many suppliers and the one supplier of these emblems used paints that didn't hold up. That's why we some some discolored and why others aren't.

John in RI

iTrader: (167)

I learned that about the 83's yesterday Drew,...... had to pull the latch off an 83 hatch and found that it had the big alignment pin on it !

OK Scott,...... Let me re-phrase my post about the emblem - with a little help from your input.

If you find a Z28 dash emblem that looks purple, < As every used 82 Z28 emblem I've ever found has a purple stripe> it almost certainly came from an 82. "Parts are made by many suppliers and the one supplier of these emblems used paints that didn't hold up. That's why some discolored and why others aren't." I didn't mean to argue that that GM made them that way,... ( I don't know that to be true ) but that's what you are most likely to find in an 82 today.

scottmoyer

I will agree with that statement that many 82 emblems are discolored. I thought you were saying that they came in purple, based on the wording in your post. There was a thread awhile back where some were arguing emphatically that they came from the factory that way. I thought we were heading down that path again. Thanks for clarifying, John.

okfoz

My 83 has Hook style Tops too...

If you really want to do an in-depth search of differences, get the parts catalogs and go through page by page. Look for specific things for 82. Some part numbers are listed several times for different years for some reason. They will show a PN for 82, then the same PN for 83-84. I am not sure if it was something that they changed and is reverse compatible, or just the guy doing the parts catalog being lazy to update the 82 to 82-83.

John

gt4373

1982's Didn't Have A Passengers Side Sun Visor Vanity Mirror.

dagwood

iTrader: (5)

My 82 does.....and it has a black engine......and tri RED dash emblem. Mine has a build date of the 2nd week of September, 1982, so it's one of the last 82's so the black engine and vanity mirror on pass sun visor may only be the very late build 82's

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

I remember pulling the "blue" Crossfire Injection engine out of my 82 Pace Car. I could only fight with it so long. Also replaced the TH200 with a TH350 while I was in there.