We have an unusual 83Z. It has the HO motor, 700R4 auto, front/rear power disc brakes, 6 way power driver's seat, power windows, door locks and hatch release, cruise control, AC, power steering, electric driver's/passenger's mirrors, rear window defogger, pos rear end T-tops and an overhead console with the map light, trip odometer, etc (unfortunately the rechargeable flashlight was missing when we bought it. I've only seen an overhead console in one other Z. Everything but the overhead console seems common, how rare are the overhead consoles in the 83 Z-28's?

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Z's r Best

 

The roof console (RPO DK6) in your '83 was added by a previous owner. It made it's debut in 1984.

Does your car have the Cross-Fire or 5.0 Liter H.O. engine? They were both considered "H.O." If it's the carbureted H.O. engine, it is indeed scarce for 1983; only 3223 Z28's came with it (all in late 1983). There were 62,650 total Z28's built in 1983.

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Willie

Supercharged 1987 305 IROC-Z, Daily-Driver, Emissions-Legal.
12.57 @ 111 mph.
12.04 @ 114 mph (50-hp nitrous).
http://members.optushome.com/au/downunder1/rides/willie/willie.html

1987 "20th Anniversary Commemorative Edition" Z28 Convertible -- Super Chevy Show Class Winner, 1998.

My custom front marker lamp assemblies:
http://members.optushome.com/au/downunder1/misc/lens.html

[This message has been edited by Willie (edited December 24, 2000).]

 

Yes, it has the 190 hp, 4 barrel carb. engine. The engine code in the VIN is 7, according to the GM shop manual that's the right code for the L69 engine. Since manufacturers sometimes blur options across years what's the chance that the overhead console ended up in a few 83's, just like the 190 hp 305?

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Z's r Best

 

You're right, but even if this occured with the roof console, there would be an official count. Here's another example for 1983. The beige exterior color was officially introduced in 1984, but records indicate 4388 beige 1983 Camaros (I owned one -- bought it new). As for the roof console, check your RPO codes for DK6. According to the official record, there are zero '83 Camaros with roof consoles, but you never know......

Willie

 

The 305-4bbl H.O. 190 h.p. was only available with a 5-speed transmission in '83, I would check your VIN again, the eight digit should be a H=305-4BBL 150 h.p., 7=305-4bbl H.O. 190 h.p., S= 305 C.F.I, 175 h.p. Chris

 

The VIN code for the engine is 7. We changed the filter in the transmission last year and it is a 700R4. It still has all the under the hood electrical/vacuum/emissions stuff that makes working on one a pain in the #!?@$%. Advance Auto Parts is always trying to tell me the 7 means fuel injection, but the GM 83 Camaro Shop Manual lists the 7 (L69) in the engine section even though it doesn't list it up front where it explains the VIN number.

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Z's r Best

 

Post the VIN and I will check with G.M. par-tech tomorrow, they can tell me what equiptment is on the car. Chris

 

I have a HO 83 Z28 also. Same problem with the VIN: 7 in 83 meant the Cease-Fire injection, and an incredible number of items for the LG4 don't fit. So if the catalog says "305 all" I learned I needed to have them look it up for 84, I get better results that way.

AFAIK there is no such thing as a HO 83 Z28 with auto trans. All 3000 some odd of them came with 5-speeds. I suspect that either your car is actually an 84, or somebody swapped something. Post your VIN minus the last 6 characters and we'll be able to tell for sure what it is.

If it's actually the HO, it should have electric fan; the huge oval exhaust and 4-bolt-flange cat; 3.73.gears; and the dual snorkel air cleaner, to mention just a few of the more obvious goodies in the package. It was also very popular in those years to stick HO badges on LG4 cars.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."

 

The VIN number (except last 6 digits) is
1G1AP8776DN. According to page 0A-3 of the Chevrolet Camaro 1983 Shop Manual (ST-368-83) the VIN digits stand for:
1 - USA
G - General Motors
1 - Chevrolet
A - Non-Passive
P - Camaro Sport Coupe
87 - Coupe 2 Door Sport
7 - this digit is not listed on this page, but on page 1 of the V-8 Engine section is lists 3 engines and the last one listed is "5.0 LITER V8 VIN CODE 7 (L69)"
6 - check digit (what does this mean?)
D - 1983
N - Norwood

Yes, the car has the catalytic converter that has 4 bolts onto the head pipe and onto the pipe going to the muffler. It has the twin snorkel air cleaner with the duct work going to the plastic scoops just above the head lights, the anti knock sensor, the disc brake rear end, positive traction, etc. It screams off a stoplight, but you work the engine to death (high rpms) on the interstate. Let me know what your research turns up. Thanks.

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Z's r Best

 

I'll need the complete VIN to call with. Chris

 

1GAAP8776DN166090. Oh, yeah, electric fan with all the goofy GM control scheme insanity that doesn't turn the fan on till the engine is 20 degrees hotter than the thermostat opening point. Why??

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Z's r Best

 

I'll check tomorrow on your VIN, interestingly enough, Chevrolet shows a rpo MD8 availability on the L69 in 1983, in the parts catalog under engine/transmission usage charts, but transmission parts for the L69/md8 combo does not show up untill 1984. your car is a very late '83, with the last six digits being 166090. I'm guessing your car was built July 1983, because the last '83 Norwood VIN was 168811 and production ended July 1983 for '83 models. I'll let you know what I find out. Chris

 

whatz up,

My brother also has a 83 Z and we were wondering if 305's were painted chev orange.Because we cant tell if it has a 350 or 305.Plus,it had a non-computer controlled carb on it. any help would be appreciated.

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J.P.
84 Z-28 L69
rebuilding engine parts include:Ported heads and maybe intake,cam and lifters,push rods,rocker arms,gear drive,MSD6AL,HEI rebuild,Spintech muffler,hooker comp. shorty headers,Center Force clutch,

 

I could'nt get anything from GM par tech on this old of a car, they had the same info we have only back to 1990. We have gotten some line sheets from medium duty trucks from the '70's, but cars and light trucks are only going back as far as '90., sometime maybe you can get the #'s off the transmission, they are on the rh side right above the pan, there should also be a portion of the cars VIN on the same side. let me know what you find. Chris

 

Hey Chris, double check your '83 production numbers. I'm showing DL168811 as being the last Van Nuys car for 1983 and DN185571 as being the last Norwood car. I've got an '83 Z28 in my files with VIN DN177124 built fourth week in June. Also while were on the subject does anyone out there have the production numbers for 1982 Camaros built at Norwood vs. Van Nuys? I've got the numbers between the two plants for 1983-1987 but not for 1982.

 

David, your correct Van Nuys last car was 168811, and Norwood's last car was 185571. I got the #'s mixed up. my old '83 was DL155040 it was built June 1983, I found the build sheet under the drivers seat. I have the complete '82 breakdown by month for both plants, but I don't have the '83-87 breakdowns. do you have the figures by month or just the ending VIN? Chris

 

Chris, the numbers I've got came from GM service bulletin 90C22 which was the infamous seat belt recall. It only gives the starting and ending production sequence numbers but they add up to total Camaros built for each year. However my personal "registry" I have been keeping since Nov. 1986 I have about 500 1982-1987 Camaros. Most have build dates. If you want we can swap info via email. David.