Hey guys,

Hoping someone here can help shed some light (relief) of the following questions on Wheels for 1982-1987 Camaro.

Looking at the attached picture and following the #'s

#1.

[1987]

Camaro LT

PE1 14" x 7" (Optional wheel)

[1986]

Camaro Berlinetta

PE1 14" x ????" (Optional wheel)

[1985]

Camaro Berlinetta

N90 14" x 7" (Optional wheel)
B5L 14" x 7" Same picture but shown with "B5L". As far as I can tell it's the same.

[1982-1984]

RPO can't be found for it.

Conclusion: As far as can tell the wheel is the same throughout 1982-1987 yet the RPO changes from PE1, N90, B5L, and back to PE1

#2.

It appears from what I can conclude is that wheel shown in #2 has the RPO of PO1

#3. Does ANYONE know the RPO for that wheel? It's the standard Berlinetta wheel in 1985 where the "PO1" in #2 isn't available for it anymore.


First end this by saying how HORRIFICALLY FRUSTRATING it has been just to determine what type of wheels were standard/optional on years 1982-1987. Nearly EVERY source out there give completely different answers to what should be a simple search. Between brochures changing throughout (changing through each print date) to a wide range of books such as the well known "Mike Antonicks Camaro White Book 1967-2011", to the countless online sources available, as well as the stacks of Camaro books, magazines, 1000's of pages of restoration kits each each containing multiple research material inside... they nearly ALL conflict. I have spent the better half of 3 days researching JUST the wheels and tires for 1985-1988. So I am really hoping someone can help me out here.. Running out of migraine pills ;-)

Thanks,

Paul

 

The 14" alumninum wheel was standard equipment on the Berlinetta ( ONLY )from 82-85 and doesn't appear to have been shown as an option code (N90 OR PE1) on the RPO tag those years as a result. I've got about 20 or so RPO tags from parted Berlinettas,... none of the 82-85 RPO's show N90 or PE1 and they all had aluminum wheels.

IIRC 85 was shown to be the year that a steel wheel was standard equipment with a Berlinetta specific hub cap. I do not *think* this actually happened until 86. VERY few Berlinettas got steel wheels and a hub cap. ( possibly your B5L code ? ) I did find the RPO 'PE1' on an 86 Berlinetta RPO tag to specify the Aluminum wheel......

In 87 The Berlinetta aluminum wheel was finished in GREY rather than gold and used on the LT cars. Same wheel - different color.

Funny thing,..... the "White book' shows 4,479 Berlinettas produced in 86, yet RPO 'PE1' (shown for "Berlinetta Only") is detailed too with 6,596 units sold ?!?


P.S. I just looked at an original window sticker for an 84 Berlinetta. It shows the "Gold Painted Alumninum Wheel" as part of the Berlinetta package with no RPO listed and "No Charge" in the itemized index.

Also looked at a factory Build sheet for an 85 Berlinetta and it showed the 'N90" code for the Aluminum Wheel.

 

From what I'm gathering from my catalog at work, the only thing it's telling me about #3 is that it is for a Berlinetta without the N90 option. It doesn't give any other options for it, but I'm still researching it

 

#1 is the 'N90' and 'PE1' wheel.
#2 is a Sport Coupe steel wheel with a hub cap.
#3 is the Berlinetta steel wheel with hub-cap.

 

WOW! thanks for the response. This has lead to some more confusion tho.

Are you indicating that the #1 Berlinetta "Aluminum Finned" is 2-piece? (I thought it was a one piece with a small center cap?)

Is N90 for the finned aluminum WHEEL and PE1 for the "berlinetta" center cap?

I could understand that #3 is a 2-piece since it's a wheel and a full cover clipped onto the front of it...

thanks

 

btw: #2 and 3.. Did you type those backwards?

shouldn't the #2 be the Sport Coupe and the #3 be the berlinetta? :-)

 

Sorry Dude !

Yes It was backwards and I just corrected it ! ( thanx ! )

#1 is the 'N90' and 'PE1' wheel.
#2 is a Sport Coupe steel wheel with a hub cap.
#3 is the Berlinetta steel wheel with hub-cap.


One piece,.... You thought right.

No. I believe it's the same wheel using 2 codes.

#1 Is a full aluminum finned wheel. Seems as if it was given 2 different codes. The code used appears to be year dependant (82-85 = N09 and 86 = PE1?) 82-84 uses a CENTER cap showing 'berlinetta' and the 85-86 CENTER cap shows "BERLINETTA"; all 82-86 center caps interchange.

This is true for #2 & #3.

#2 Is a steel wheel with a Coupe specific HUB cap ( says 'Camaro' - possibly 'Chevrolet ' - on the center )

#3 Is a steel wheel with Berlinetta specific HUB cap ( says 'Berlinetta' on the center ) I THINK that #3 is possibly your B5L code ? As a matter of fact; I JUST found that code in a RPO summery; It says: "B5L, 1985-1985 Sport Wheel Package." I THINK this code was added in 85 because the N90 wheels were 'standard equipment' and did not show on the RPO sticker for these cars. ( confusion when building ?)

Only the 1986 Berlinetta RPO sheet showed a code PE1. That car had Gold finned aluminum wheels. After learning in 85....... I THINK they used the PE1 code to differentiate aluminum from steel wheels on the order sheets & assembly line.

I must have looked through at least 20 RPO tags for 84-85 Berlinettas. NONE of them show code N90 or PE1. I did find N90 on the build sheet for an 85 Berlinetta and N90 on a window sticker for the 84 Berlinetta - both indicating "Gold Painted Aluminum Wheels"


Now I'm curious !!

That page from the 85 Dealers Brochure states that the 14" Gold Aluminum finned wheels were also available "Argent" colored on Sports Coupes. I didn't realize the 'Grey' colored wheels ( used on LT in 87 ) were available as early as 85 ?? The grey colored wheels CAN'T be the PE1 code - because I've got it on the Berlinetta (gold only) RPO tag.

I wonder what the code for the Argent colored Aluminum finned wheels is ?? !

 

What I have learned is that you cannot go by ANY source including GM documents of all things. When it comes to books, many conflict and when it comes to brochures and GM documentation it entirely depends on when they were printed as there were constant changed/removals/additions thought the 1982-1988 year.

If you have multiple brochures of the same year have a look at the engines, transmissions, and std/opt accessories. They changed completely. Some indicating a XX engine, others would say it was never available for it.. I've been tearing my hair out with research just for 1 piece of info for each. LOL.

But it'll be all worth it in the end. Thanks so much for all the time you've taking. Greatly appreciated!