69-er

I've been collecting engine bay pictures from eBay to get my newly installed AC system to the factory appearance for my 83 Z/28 H.O. Out of 13 cars, only one picture is an 83, the rest are 84's. (Just not many 83 H.O.'s out there). I noticed that the picture of the 83 has a radiator filler panel installed. My June-built car doesn't have this panel. It seems that 84 and up cars have this panel.

Does anyone have an 83, H.O. or not, that can me tell if their car has this panel?

Thanks!!

Larry

coolram62

iTrader: (2)

69-er on the filler panel all Camaros use it. There may be some variation as to style by years for the Carb/TBI cars and the TPI cars use a unique version of it for the dual intakes. My '83 LU5 has the panel but I'll have to take a picture of it to show you (I thought i had one).

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Never seen a stock thirdgen without a panel.

JamesC

scottmoyer

If I remember correctly, someone stated that non AC cars might not have that filler panel. I could b e wrong. Try looking up the long thread that had to do with an 82-84 white Z28 that someone was selling with almost no miles on it. People scrutinized it here. It was missing the filler panel and someone explained why. I'll try to locate the thread, but if I can't, it was only about 6 months ago. Here's a pic of that car.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Would the fact that the rubber hood bumpers have paint on them indicate a repaint? If so, that might explain why there's no panel.

JamesC

scottmoyer

Nope. It doesn't make sense, but GM put the rubber bump stops on before the car was painted. Not sure why. My car has the same painted stops.

69-er

Scott,

That makes perfect sense! Mine is an original non-AC car. My car looks like that picture except my vacuum hose, and emissions decals are on the radiator support and not on the upper fan support. My fan warning decal is on the fan support.

I suppose the panel is there for proper airflow through the condenser. What I did to help with the AC efficiency was install the plastic ducting between the nose openings and condenser off of a late 80's Camaro. That helped with cooling the engine better at highway speeds. The AC still isn't all that great in slow traffic. The electric fan just doesn't pull enough air. It's great at highway speeds.

Thanks everybody!

Larry