The_Wraith

Was the early 82-83 power buldge hood fiberglass?

88 350 tpi formula

iTrader: (9)

no but I belive some may have been aluminum

wildjeff

iTrader: (1)

There was an aluminum power buldge hood. It’s pretty rare and I think was discounted early in the 82 production run. As a side note, the 92 Firehawk came with an aluminum power buldge hood form SPL

1tinindian

I'm curious, what kind of documentation is there to support this claim?
Thanks,
Leon

wildjeff

iTrader: (1)

okfoz had one, and he’s a very creditable source. I’ll see if I have any other documentation on it. Its been so long since I’ve even thought about it.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...982-power.html


Regarding the Firehawk

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...1992-info.html

1982TA

iTrader: (1)

My parts manual lists 2 separate part numbers for a steel and aluminum hood, also there are 2 different RPO codes, one steel, the other aluminum.

okfoz

THe 1982 Dealer brochure for the Firebird (trans am) lists an Aluminum hood as an option. Apparently they also made some Alum front fenders for racing...

They may have been available in 1983 BUT there is nothing to back it up.

John

1tinindian

I have a 1982-83 GM F-body Parts and Illustration Catalog, Effective March 1983.
Chassis Group 8.000, 1982-83 "F" Front End Sheet Metal, #1 PANEL, Hood (Steel)......10014647

No mention of aluminum hood.
Just curious, but what parts manual do you have that shows 2 seperate P/Ns?
What are the RPOs
I never knew that my steel hood had an RPO.

I'm not trying to drive this into the ground, but I would rather be reffered to actual documents for independent study, instead of words on a forum.
I appreciate all the info supplied up to this point, but I find it interesting I haven't seen these documents myself, let alone an actual AL hood.

I'm not calling anyone a liar here, just realize that it takes more info on my part to completely understand this topic, so if you can help, great, if not, theres no need to slam me, I'm just doing some research here.

Thanks,
Leon

MrDude_1

also in 82/83 the CAMAROS could have a SMC hood... Sheet Molded Composite..

its kinda like fiberglass.. enough so, that most people will think its fiberglass when they look at it.


82/83 cars had all kinds of neat rare things.. like alum bumpers on the 4cyl cars.....

wildjeff

iTrader: (1)

My 83 L69 has aluminum front bumper and my 82 LU5 has a steel front bumper, both hoods are steel.

coolram62

iTrader: (2)

I've seen an aluminum front bumper on Ebay a couple times(expensive too).I've thought about checking my '83 but always get sidetracked.There are 4 different hood part numbers listed for the Camaro in the '82-'88 parts catalog.

Wildjeff did you have to change the hood on your LU5 car or was it done before you got her(I'm assuming this if you aren't the original owner).I'm lucky my '83 was built after the recall and she still has the functional composite hood.

wildjeff

iTrader: (1)

coolram62 - My LU5 is T/A, was there a recall on the T/A hood?

I’m not the original owner and I don’t think the hood is original. My car was built 9/82. The hood is stamped 1/82. I guess it could be original but I doubt it. All the other date stamps are within a month or two of September. There is also overspray on the brake booster. The driver side fender was repainted but it is date stamped correct for my car. I think it was replaced very early in the cars life.

coolram62

iTrader: (2)

I apologize Wildjeff I forgot your LU5 is a T/A and not a Z28(another incident of me thinking=dangerous).

okfoz

WildJeff,
From what I can tell the Aluminum hoods ceased production possibly prior to 1982 physical year. The hood I had I think was made in 1981, but I do not have a pic of the stamp, all I have is a pic of the Part number.

JOhn

Jproz1167

iTrader: (3)

irrelevant but my build sheet has T-46 for it's flat hood

1982TA

iTrader: (1)

I have the '82-'83 F-Body parts and illustration manual also, however it's effective Nov. '82.

It lists both a part number for aluminum hood, and an RPO. I have included scans of both.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

The aluminum PB hood I have has a 82 date stamping on it.
It is also stamped with the STEEL HOOD PT# (for racing sneekyness) but the box had the Aluminum hood PT# on it. According to Jim Mattison.
Mine does NOT have the big reversed stamped "A" on the bottom of the hood by the latch.

*edit* my hood is stapmed 82. It looked like a 83 sorry for the confusion.

wildjeff

iTrader: (1)

1982TA – that’s awesome. My 82-83 parts book REV 3-83 does not list the aluminum hood, only the steel hood. It does, however, show option T42 aluminum hood in the options code section. I’ll need to keep an eye out for REV 11-82.

Brother Al

Ah hell, one more part I gotta look for while boneyard shoppin...LOL. Thanks for showing proof of its existence, I thought only the Firehawks got them....wonder if there's a stockpile of OEM ones collecting dust somewhere?

I found an aluminum bumper bar once, but it got yanked before I could go back & pull it, either '83 or '84 T/A. GM had a lot of cool aluminum parts on many of their cars, (to save gas supposedly). I've got J42 aluminum drums off a '88(?) Caprice on my car now....

....Speaking of aluminum factory goodies...start looking under those V6 '92 Firebirds (and Camaros?) Back in May '07, I found a JG1 aluminum driveshaft in a low mi V6 'Bird, 88K on the clock. It had T-tops, very few options. It succumbed to a blown head gasket, but was otherwise in nice shape. The interior was pretty nice and even the standard factory radio was intact. Perhaps Van Nyes was using up extra parts before GM shuttered the plant?

....I found it by accident really, I was checking it out for upper door-sill panels and misc bits. It was sitting on top of a Ford Taurus. As I was climbing down, I looked up and saw the oh so sweet color of aluminum. Fortunately, the torque arm protected it from gettin bent by the yard's forklift and the Taurus crushed below. It seemed original to the car, as I found factory paint marks on it and it has the GM PN sticker intact, NOT the GMPP PN. I had a hell of a time pulling it too. The axle yoke bolts were pretty rusted. I had to have a buddy sit on the nose of the 'Bird to lift the rear end up like a see-saw for room to unbolt the back bolts of the torque arm. Kids, don't Try that at Home! I was rewarded with a straight JG1 for the low low price of $32.50. Woo Hoo!

Happy Hunting!

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I was told by someone in the know that GM had 15-25 in the boxes on the shelf and they vanished..

okfoz

The Aluminum driveshaft story is interesting. I do know that the yolks on the Aluminum driveshafts seem slightly wider, as when I installed my drivehsaft in the place of my steel one I had to compress the heck out of the Universal joint. I almost broke a C-clamp trying to install it before it would go in. AND I had to tap it in with a hammer to boot, so its a tight squeeze.

John

Brother Al

The yoke on this driveshaft was made by Spicer. The name "Spicer" is cast right onto it/ raised letters. The yoke is a lot beefier than my stock piece of junk. I bought Spicer U-joints for it and its recommended that they be pressed into it. Thats why you had the problem. I'm Gonna start a new thread about this "Factory Aluminum Goodies"- History/Resto, sorry for the Hijack.