Just throwing this out there that I've spent the last several months reading the suspension board and how to repair the infamous frame crack behind the steering gearbox. There is a lot of negative talk about the berlinetta having the weakest frame up front. They say it's almost guaranteed to develope the infamous crack behind the steering gearbox. Didn't see this info posted so I wanted to be sure it was brought up to help the berlinetta folks avoid the problem.

 

I had the frame crack happen to my 84 Berlinetta and had it welded up a few months back when I finished the restoration of it in November.

 

How is the Berlinetta any different from other third gens as far as the steering box?

 

Cant tell you. They should be the same but maybe the gear box frame area is different since it's the luxury model.

 

Ask John In RI as thats his car.

 

The way I understood it the berlinetta didn't get the triangular braces the z28 got that was the first attempt to fix the issue before the wonderbar in the iroc.

 

What about my 92 RS? Did GM do something to fix this by this time and on this model?

 

 

From what I've read, all camaros got the triangle braces starting sometime in the late 80s. I also have a 92 RS and I have the triangular braces. They attach the frame and k member. I wish I would have read about this before I cracked my frame. Would have been a lot cheaper to just buy a wonderbar than to have it repaired. I broke it autoXing. Everything I've read says a wonderbar is worth it's weight in gold (Got one for Christmas). What little I know I got from reading the suspension board and the search results for cracked front frame for hours a day to learn how to autoX my car without destroying it. Better late than never!

I think it's safe to say that the berlinetta can be braced like any other camaros your just starting with less.

 

If I got a wonderbar in my stocking I'd be in hog heaven.

 

The Sportster at the time of it's inception was geared towards competing with the lighter quicker bikes that were coming out of Europe. This was in 1957, how many women were riding in the 50's? The reason why the Sportster is considered a girl bike is because it is the lightest and least expensive model that Harley offers. Most women would have a problem holding a bagger up much less lift it off the ground if it were to fall over. Up till the VRSC came out (or the v-rod as most know it) it still was the quickest bike that you could get from Harley. Couple that with its light weight, better brake performance, and lean angle.... It really is a great bike for people who want to ride a little more aggressively. Or for those who are sllim of stature. But, enough about bikes after all this is TGO.

 

Found this one local to me:

http://cnj.craigslist.org/ctd/3479873592.html

Seems like a decent deal, though I'd rather it have the LG4 than the carbed V6. Otherwise, it looks to be in good shape (minus the faded white paint, and it looks like there was a bra on it for a long time due to the whiter colored front end).

Started to get the itch for another thirdgen (its been about 3 years since I've owned one), and was considering this one since the rest of them around my area seem to be mostly junk or too pricey for my wallet at the time.

 

What I have against them is parts stores have none of the parts that are berli specific.when I ask a question about them on TGO it's hard to get answers because not many people have realy gotan to know them.

 

I owned an 88 and an 86 IROC and after those two, I searched for a LONG time to find a clean 5 speed original V8 Sport Coupe, because I felt they had a cleaner look than the GFX cars. I am definitely in the minority saying that, but it's my car, and I made it look how I wanted it to look. No shame in that... Do what makes you happy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/8281673118/

 

My buddy has a 84 and turnsignals radio ect all jacked up nothing works correctly and it is clean! nothing but problems car is now sitting waste away last two years.

 

My friend owned one, Probably the only thing that I didn't like was the Radio Assembly. I don't think I have seen any more since his. I could care from 1967 to 2013, Plain to Blown, If someone has a camaro or firebird, I'll look at it even longer if someone treats their with respect.

 

Looks like a beautiful sports car to me.

 

agreed..... normally i don't pay much attention to non GFX Pre 85 cars.... but I've got to admit... that car looks clean and very nice.... well done.

 

I thank you!

 

well any thirdgen is kinda setup like two bricks held together with two playing cards, allthe bracing the other ones got helps a little, the wonder bar helps a little more, then sfcs and stbs help again, how rigid do you really need it to be if you don't race it or do auto x though? my mom had a mostly stock berlinetta for a LONG time, and it never cracked

 

I still have the one I bought new in 84. I still love it. It has never cracked.

 

Ive never understood why Berlinettas seem to get a bad wrap either.

My first camaro was a 85 Berlinetta. Sold it in 2000 to a friend after doing alot of work to it. It is now in Camaro Valhalla.

I really liked that car. It was fun to drive. Ok on power (lg4 305). Yea it could have used more power but dont they all.

I found that I really liked the digital dash with the side pods. It was interesting and cool. But dont ever slap the directional lever. Did that once. Had to go find another in the junkyard.

I did absolutely hate the radio. I planned to but never did change the car to a normal radio. That had to have been the stupidest thing about the car.

Body, suspension & motor wise they accepted everything camaro so that was good.


Mine ended up very much being a mutt when I was done with it. But I built it the way I wanted. It already had a iroc hood on it when I bought it so I removed the louvers and smoothed out the mounting bumps. Suspension, wheel & steering was all WS6 that I took from a 89 Formula 350, added in the iroc wonderbar for good measure. Painted the car back to its original Black but I didn't repaint the gold bottoms. Engine wise was simple, headers, edelerok intake & carb along with some other bolton stuff.

This was the only picture I have of it. Right after paint.

 

Post 24, well said. I am one of those females who bought a Berlinetta back in 84 and I am proud
to be able to restore it now.

 

I don't like how they look, but then again, people don't like how my car looks, so whatever.

 

Thread is a bit old but I wanted to share my opinion on the Berlinetta. I have an '82 which I love dearly, but, honestly '82 was not the best year for these cars, or at least mine. Mine came with all dial gauges, no extra pods, a simple radio ( not even a neat 8 track) the god forsaken 200c transmission , a 305 LG4, and an open diff with 2.73's and 26 spline axles, and completely different emblems than later year Berlinetta's. Pretty much all of the bad bits I can imagine without all the perks that the newer Berlinetta's got.

But over the years this car has been transforming into its own beast. Updated white gauges and stereo plus a dual A pillar pod setup, new engine, soon to be a recipient of a 700r4 and then a T56 down the road, eventual Moser 12 bolt, eventual forced induction, and once I find the combo I want I will add GFX and then paint it ( still stock for now)

They are a harder find that's for sure, I haven't seen one local that was not in a junk yard, and people always ask what it is because they have never heard of them. Over all, it wasn't my first choice, but it's easy to rebuild to something great.

 

They'll never be desirable, but they may someday be collectible to thirdgen historian types with excessive cash flow... which I believe is currently a crowd consisting of zero people.

 

I always like them, I just don't like the 82-84 sunk marker lights. I prefer the 85-86 cars, but eaches own.

Here's a nice 83 I found the other day for 1500.00

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3961575349.html