History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
Welcome to ThirdGen.org!
Welcome to ThirdGen.org.
You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, join the ThirdGen.org community today!
i recently bought an 85 Camaro and it has a badge on the rear bumper that says F41 and i have found no one that knows what package this was any help is appreciated
F41 has always been the RPO code for the HP suspension upgrade. I've never seen a OEM badge though. In the 70's TA's had the F41 suspension as a stock item and an option on the Camaro's.
As mentioned Chevrolet RPO-F41 has always been the uprated,some models top,suspension option.In '85 on the Camaro it meant you got a larger front stabilizer bar,rear stabilizer bar,stiffer valved shocks,stiffer springs and probably a better tire/wheel package.It has always fit between the base and the Z28/IROC suspension.Some years got badging and some didn't.
__________________ '07 Avalanche LTZ 5.3 FFV/4L60E/3.73,K&N CAI,Magnaflow,Superchips Flaspaq
'83 Z/28 LU5 305 CFI/K&N/Factory Dual Electric Fans/MSD-Hypertech Coil/Performance Rebuilt 700R4/JG1/J65/G80/G92-3.23/Hollow 36mm front-24mm rear bar,TDS steering brace,16" single stripe IROC /T-tops/Pwr everything
'73 C-10 CST 454/TH400(Factory BB Truck)A/C,Tilt,12 Bolt Posi,Dynomax
Miss my '70 Monte Carlo SS454
As replied already it was an upgrde susp option. Ive seen other 85s with the badge on the right bumper inset. It was rare to find one and the decal strip with CAMARO....F41 has been long non-availible. If its ever painted have it taped off if you like it. I would if it were mine.
I have a 91 Camaro RS with F41..and I know that I have a 34mm sway bar in the front and a 21mm sway bar in the rear. Not sure about the stock springs and struts though, I swapped them out. Stock tire size I'm fairly certain was 245/50/16, but I could be wrong on that. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to have the tighter steering box or not, but my car is damn near only 2 turns of the wheel from full left to full right. Like probably 1/6th of a turn past the center mark each direction.
The F41 badge denotes a dealer upgrade. I think it was Choo Choo customs that created the F41 by adding appearance options. They ordered a base Camaro, but with the F41 suspension and added dress up items to make it different. The car is not rare and is not worth any more than a typical 85 Camaro with the same options.
Scott,
Choo choo customs probably did have an "F41" model that I am not aware of, but the F-41 badge did exist on cars that were not CCC modified. I remember being a kid looking at Sport Coupes in parking lots, occassionally seeing the F-41 badge...and these were not modified cars in any way.
Darkshot,
By 1991, F41 was nothing more than an RPO for the base Camaro suspension package...RS was obviously the base Camaro. Years ago, I was disproven on here (and rightfully so!!!) when I cited a 1990 Motor Trend test of a '91 Camaro that had the "F41 package" with the optional 16s. Well, in reality the car had the base suspension (there was no "optional" suspension on an RS) with optional 16" wheels and fatter tires...nothing more, nothing less.
F-41 meant something from '82-'86 or so, but nothing thereafter...
My mistake. I was thinking of something else. I did get part of it right though as it was a dealer optioned thing. If I remember correctly, the cars were done regioanally in the NorthEast. They consisted of upgraded suspensions on basic cars. To make them look like something special, the F41 badges were added.
F41 has always been the RPO code for the HP suspension upgrade. I've never seen a OEM badge though. In the 70's TA's had the F41 suspension as a stock item and an option on the Camaro's.
F41 was an optional suspension upgrade for 82-85. In 86 I believe it became standard on all Camaros as the 14" standard wheel was replaced with a standard 15" wheel.
I have a F41 as what i was told it only came out in 84 w/ a corvette suspension only available this year.i have never read or seen it on later or earlier models other than 84... dont know about ur 85
I have a F41 as what i was told it only came out in 84 w/ a corvette suspension only available this year.i have never read or seen it on later or earlier models other than 84... dont know about ur 85
I was told the same thing. I'm not sure what, but a body guy i took it to has had 5 third-gens, and said that the suspension setup was different, though i'm not quite sure how so. but mine's an 84, and has the decal. not sure about value, but it's nice to have.
I own an 83 F41 Camaro, from what I've gathered is from 82-86 it was more or less a Z without the ground efects and a different front fascia minus the power windows and locks options, from 86-89 it was a slight suspension upgrade, then from 89-92 it was nothing more than a sticker when you got down to it. I have a family friend whom worked at GM in the 80's.
added larger front sway bar and a rear sway bar..I have a 83 sport coupe with the F41 stripe on the bumper and its a 6 cylinder car! i bought it for the suspension parts
F41 was an optional suspension upgrade for 82-85. In 86 I believe it became standard on all Camaros as the 14" standard wheel was replaced with a standard 15" wheel.
If this is the case what does the F41 RPO code on my 92 camaro stand for? Same thing? but it just came stock now
F41 was available throughout the entire 3rd gen run. It was the heavier duty suspension until the IROC-Z came in with FE2. An F41 Camaro is an aftermarket attempt at creating a base car with an upgraded suspension only. The F41 RPO code means that you have an upgraded suspension over the base suspension. nothing more in your case.
F41 was available throughout the entire 3rd gen run. It was the heavier duty suspension until the IROC-Z came in with FE2. An F41 Camaro is an aftermarket attempt at creating a base car with an upgraded suspension only. The F41 RPO code means that you have an upgraded suspension over the base suspension. nothing more in your case.
Scott, Scott, Scott...
You are correct the F41 was a suspension RPO it was available from 1982 -1992 in one form or another. The Sport Coupe Camaro when equipped with F41 would often have the F41 badge on the rear bumper
I think you may be getting the ZF Camaro confused. The ZF was the conversion by ASC that included a sunroof and a Woodgrain Dash.
White book figures:
1982: 8364
1983: 7207
1984: 17230
1985: 19231
my friend had a 84 f41 camaro. back in 1993 that is the car that got me into thirdgens. 28 cars later still love em. i am looking for a base model f41 if anyone sees one come up for sale in the mid atlantic area let me know. outta all the third gens i had i never had a base model. they actually run and drive quite well.
I know it's an old post, but I have to correct this. F41 was available since 1970 whether on Camaros and Trans Ams. I have around 85 build sheets of 70-81 F-Bodies : the oldest is a 1971 Van Nuys Firebird Formula 400 and it has the F41 SPC PERF SUSP code. The youngest is a 1981 Van Nuys LG4 Trans Am WS6 with the same RPO but another description : F41 RR STAB BAR.
On a 1980 Norwood Camaro Z28 it's written like this : F41 SPEC SUSPENSION. Same thing on a 79.
It seems like it was the "pre-WS6" option on 70-77 2nd Gens. When the WS6 package arrived, it was a part of it as F41 is mentioned on all WS6 build sheets I have.
F41 on all 3rd gens is a firm ride suspension . My womans stock '84 Firebird has it and my '89 Firebird has the FE1 soft ride suspension and believe it or not my car rides better and corners better than her car .
__________________ Mighty 2.8 power . Enough said .
In addition to the firm suspension, I was told on this forum (a long time ago) that the F41 package included the better steering ratio in the gearbox. It makes sense as far as what I have personally seen...my '84 Sport Coupe F41 handles much better than my old '83 Sport Coupe base model, or my brother's '82 Sport Coupe base model. Much quicker ratio.
Who knows...maybe the person was misinformed and my better ratio is a coincidence. But it's nice to have.
F41 has always been the RPO code for the HP suspension upgrade. I've never seen a OEM badge though. In the 70's TA's had the F41 suspension as a stock item and an option on the Camaro's.
The F41 suspension package was standard on the Z28 and 396 SS models. It was optional on the rest.
I have a 1985 F-41 that my mother bought brand new. It has 4 wheel disk brakes along with better suspension. Once was told it was a Vette type suspension?
C4 vettes used PBR calipers like (not the same) the later 1LE and the stuff used on the 89+ rear disc optioned cars. There's no similarity between the early stuff and vette stuff.
I have two 1987 Camaros sitting in my garage, 1987 Camaro Z-28 RPO F41 on the SPID, and a 1987 Camaro IROC-Z RPO FE2 on the SPID!! Both handle quite well, even after 23 years, and no parts changed!!
Can "I" tell the difference between them.......nope!! I guess that I haven't really pushed them hard enough!!!
The IROC-Z has the "wonderbar", and the Z-28 doesn't, is that the difference???????
I guess a little further research is required on my part!!!!
Along with the wonderbar, the IROC I think got the 34mm front sway bar, and the 24mm rear sway bar...
I am not sure if the Z28 got the 32mm front sway bar or not... I know it did not get the Wonderbar,
I do know that for a short time the Pontiac WS6 got the 36mm front sway bar and the IROC got the 34mm... I want to think that was the case until 1990 or 1991, when the IROC went away...
John
__________________ 87 FORMULA - 5.1 LB9/A4 T-tops 3.73 Modified (Yellow/Black)
87 FORMULA - 5.0 LB9/M5 T-tops 3.45 (Yellow/Gray)
89 FORMULA 350 - CONVERTIBLE 3.27 All original (Red/Gray) www.3rdgenformula.com
for 91-92 F-41 for the RS v8 models added 16 inch wheels with 235-55-16 tires not the 245-50-16 found on z28s
added a quick ratio steering box same as found on z28s and iroc-z's
larger front and rear sway bars 32 mm soild front and 19mm rear
heavyduty springs that where stiffer then what is needed stiffer then z28 springs these where also 1 inch lower then stock v8 fe1 springs
just means a harsher ride but handleing the same as a z28
gms way of makeing you think you where getting more for your money
my fathers iroc rides much softer but handles just as good
f-41 could not be had on v6 models
when i compared my non f-41 rs to my f-41 rs
the softer springs give a much better ride not as pounding and the non quick ratio steering feels better on the freeway "not as twitchy" but the quick ratio is much better on city streets
i had upgraded both cars to 34mm front bars 24mm rears and my non f-41 car to 16inch wheels
both seemed to handle about the same one just had a much harsher ride
stock the 91-92 z28s got 32mm soild bars and 23mm rear
fe2 springs 1.5 inchs lower then stock fe1 springs also they where a bit stiffer then fe1
as for wonderbars in 91-92 only cars with 245-50-16 tires got them stock
gm added minor braceing to correct the steering box issue but still put the bars on cars with the 245s just to make sure
__________________ Red 1991 RS ,C&C t-tops,full leather interior,145 speedo ,brakes 4 wheel PBR disc 12' up front 11.9 rear,engine sd tpi ZZ3 engine
crank underdrive pulley,trans 700r4,alloy driveshaft,rear ten bolt auburn posi 3.23 gears,Edelbrock TES with Flowmaster 80 series muffler,f-41 springs ,soild 36mm front and 24 mm rear swaybars
Last edited by Azrael91966669; 06-22-2010 at 02:10 AM.
Hi eveyrone...I am new here, so pardon me for stepping in!LOL
I do own a 1985 Camaro F41 version, and it had the real back bumper tag for it. It has an odd mix of a few of the Camaro versions, or so I seem to find.
The instrument cluster, for example, I cannot find ANY replacements for that is original stock, which to me is too bad, since the original one looks nice once you dress up the dash front as I did. I do not want to set in the Berlinetta style digital cluster, but that is the only thing out there with the same gauge setting design. I find it very annoying to get the plastic parts for it, but no instruments! Sigh!
It was a basic model...without any frills unless special ordered. Mine has the delux interior with the split back seat and buckets in front. It has the 14 inch wheels, but interesting, it also came with the old style SS rally steel rims with the little metal inserts on the wheel triangles...which one can paint separate to match the rest of the car. Did that, looks nice!
The plastic wheel hub caps however are a pain!! Can look nice but lasts about one year in Canada and as you know, in harsh weather, they crack. OK, so I drive mine all the time, as it is my pride and joy driver. I am the second owner of the car...and second lady to own it. However, unlike most women, I also have rebuilt mine, worked on paint, body, interior, you name it, I have redone it....going to do the Troof seals this summer..finally...but, really hate the after market weather seal kits out there...really a lot of crap if you ask me....honestly...they must think we are a bunch of idiots out here in car land to want crap for our babies!! whoa! Not impressed with some of the things found out there. Sheeeesh!.
OK, so, still looking for correct gauge parts for my car...new would be nice...but, no luck in that department...darn! There is the new set digital, but I really don't like the look of those at all, not to mention they also do not tend to stand up to our winters in this neck of the woods.
Well, here is my car--I did this paint job myself, and created the color,( but I need to redo this now as people have liked it so much as to give it wounds!).....hope you like it! Rebuilt the motor and tranny...very clean and nice driving car. Not sure how to get picture to show up, so I hope it will, don't see a preview button to make sure!LOL Anyway, it was the car I could afford to own, and was lucky to find one fairly easy to work on...and yes, got rid of the carb it came with and put in an Ederbrock.. that works much better!
Cheers,
Vicki who also loves the Camaro....
Oh, it is also a V8, 305, automatic (with the new 'sport' shift kit') with overdrive. Keeps the gas cost down a bit..thank goodness! Anyway, love to hear about all the cars out there...drop me a line if you like.
Last edited by Vgibson; 05-28-2011 at 09:57 PM.
Reason: need to get photo to go up.
no, it is a cluster grouping, in the same setting LIKE the berlinatta...the 3 in the center of column, (gas, water and volts) with the tack/oil combo on RHS and the speedomiter with the trip tic on the LHS as large unites . It s NOT digital but the needle gauges instead...which seem to be rather difficult to come by. I cannot get parts for it...other than same stuff 25 years old...sigh...I do not want to put in the autometer sets, as they also exclude the sea tbelt light, high beam light etc along the bottom of the bezel. Plus they are really over priced!LOL Whoa! Redoing the unite with new autometer gauges is not the answer, as then you must totally refabricate the entire metal unit at the back behind the plastic gauge cover...and have not seen anything out there to get those gauges to fit right...the original ones are rather off center too in setting in behind where they bolt on...and are not even round..LOL cookie cutter fitting for sure...so I guess they were not really intended for any other gauge setting in reality. I do like the larger speedometer look , not those small ones in the after market set ups. But, looks like I may have to do it that way, or just get the digital replacement for the Berlinetta, as that is the correct gauge set up appearance. I am not fond of the look of that however...and are far from easy to read.
Anyhooo, am currently looking for the water temp gauge, but will install an after market one in the column along the upper window screen arm and leave the none working one in the normal guage setting...for now....
Oh, the only other car that seemed to have these needle like gauges and setting, was in a firebird, of the same years...84-89....if you found them. I had found one in the junk yard once. Should have taken all the parts out of it! DARN!!! Oh well....it was ten years ago when you could still find such stuff.
Is a ZF Camaro and a F41 Camaro one in the same, because I have seen only one ZF Camaro that I know of, but an F41 is new to me all together?
As stated throughout the thread, an F41 is an RPO code indicating an upgraded suspension package that was discontinued as a separately available option in 1986. After that it was included with most F-Bodys.
I've never heard of a ZF Camaro. I Googled it and it looks like an appearance package. This may help: >Link
The RPO code = F41 : SUSPENSION SYSTEM, FRT, RR, FIRM RIDE, HANDLING and it was on many GM vehicles from the 70's on up. My dad had it on his '70 Z/28 and it was on my '79 T/A, '85 Z/28, '86 IROC, and '88 GTA. It is not a rare option in general, but the badge is unique and not see too often.
__________________ -06' White Silverado Crew Cab Shortbox 4x4 w/ a 6.0 (my big gas guzzling baby)
-86' Black/Gold IROC 5.0 Auto (current project)