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History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
I'm wondering how many other early third gens have horrible radiator support welds? My car is an untouched, original car. It's a 1982 with a build date of 2nd week of September, 1982 at Van Nuys. These are probably the worst welds I've ever seen, and I hate the fact that they look like this. I wonder if a "new guy" welded them, or what??? You can tell by observing all of the underhood bolt heads that they've never been touched by a wrench. And my radiator support has the original, riveted on tag. Anyone else's look this bad???
My brother that was killed in a twin car to mine often commented on his radiator support welds, too....I remember him complaining about them more than once......and his car was built at Norwood, and way earlier than my car.
It seems like the later cars only have the spot welds, and not the big beads on the seams.
I've never noticed any being that sloppy. Haven't found any wirefeed welding on my naked 91 at all. If I saw that in person, I'd assume it was done by a rebuilder.
I've never noticed any being that sloppy. Haven't found any wirefeed welding on my naked 91 at all. If I saw that in person, I'd assume it was done by a rebuilder.
That was actually my first thought, too......but everything else says otherwise. I took it into the body shop where I work, all the other guys looked it over, and all agreed that they are indeed, factory done. There is 100% no sign of anything being touched...or straightened, anything.
We figured it was either a new employee, or it was built on a Friday lol
I didnt know if they welded them similar to that on the early third gens, or what. None of my later cars looked like that, but I cant remember about the early models I've had in the past
Here's an 8,000 mile pace car, but the pics are so far away, it's hard to see. It definitely looks like the same kind of ***** of weld on them. Also a Van Nuys car...
Probably some kind of manufacturing growing pain - that's a dirty, ugly solution to some production problem on the factory floor is what that is. Something wasn't lining up, staying attached, or some specialized machine was broken and they had to stick some poor sap on the line with a MIG gun to keep cars rolling out the doors. Could be that some portion of the assembly process holds the chassis such that this joint is structural for some operation and it wasn't strong enough leading to a fixturing failure on the line. Stitch welding may have been added to reinforce till they could change the design or change the fixturing of the chassis..... we will probably never know. But that is super ugly.
My brother that was killed in a twin car to mine often commented on his radiator support welds, too....I remember him complaining about them more than once......and his car was built at Norwood, and way earlier than my car.
It seems like the later cars only have the spot welds, and not the big beads on the seams.
Any insight on this?
Not any particular insight, I'll drop by my storage unit and have a look at my 82s core support. It's an 05A Van Nuys car, so a little earlier than yours. I'll take a couple of pics and share them.
Could just do like all the 'Time-Out Doll' owners at the car shows and get yourself some chrome or polished aluminum dress up plates to cover them ugly welds up... Have em custom made with slogans like "Chevy Thunder" or "The Heartbeat of America" or "I'd rather push a Chevy than drive a Ford".
If nothing else they make for conversation. Anyone gives you ****, you just tell them that the first time you took it to the track, it left the line so hard it cracked all the spot welds. That oughta do it.
Could just do like all the 'Time-Out Doll' owners at the car shows and get yourself some chrome or polished aluminum dress up plates to cover them ugly welds up... Have em custom made with slogans like "Chevy Thunder" or "The Heartbeat of America" or "I'd rather push a Chevy than drive a Ford".
If nothing else they make for conversation. Anyone gives you ****, you just tell them that the first time you took it to the track, it left the line so hard it cracked all the spot welds. That oughta do it.
Could just do like all the 'Time-Out Doll' owners at the car shows and get yourself some chrome or polished aluminum dress up plates to cover them ugly welds up... Have em custom made with slogans like "Chevy Thunder" or "The Heartbeat of America" or "I'd rather push a Chevy than drive a Ford".
If nothing else they make for conversation. Anyone gives you ****, you just tell them that the first time you took it to the track, it left the line so hard it cracked all the spot welds. That oughta do it.
No problem! I've been looking at 82 VINs the whole time, they really ramped up production as the year went along, by late 82 they were really cranking them out. I'm sure those welds and hitting them with the grinder became less and less important as time went by. I'd like to see some 83s!
That wouldn't be an 82 either, with the l69...had to happen periodically on the line
It's not an L69. L69 cars had a different A/C low side hose assembly that dips down closer to the frame rail and under the snorkel. The straight hose was on single inlet aircleaners. When you put a L69 aircleaner on an LG4, the hose has to go over the snorkel, but it also usually will rub the bottom of the hood.
Looks like that car's had some work done. Pretty sure the intake should be painted to match the block.
No problem! I've been looking at 82 VINs the whole time, they really ramped up production as the year went along, by late 82 they were really cranking them out. I'm sure those welds and hitting them with the grinder became less and less important as time went by. I'd like to see some 83s!
I wonder how many 82's were even built after mine...it had to be near the end. Mine even has the black engine like the 83 model year
I wonder how many 82's were even built after mine...it had to be near the end. Mine even has the black engine like the 83 model year
The highest VIN I've seen on an Van Nuys 82 was CL216xxx. Not very scientific, I think they quit building them in the last week of Sept. There may be someone out there with more accurate info.
That's interesting that stupid bump that makes getting the battery in and out might actually be an engineering solution for a structural problem. Good thing I haven't cut it off the Duck of Death (my green Firebird. Damn, try to keep up with the nick names until one sticks!)
It's not an L69. L69 cars had a different A/C low side hose assembly that dips down closer to the frame rail and under the snorkel. The straight hose was on single inlet aircleaners. When you put a L69 aircleaner on an LG4, the hose has to go over the snorkel, but it also usually will rub the bottom of the hood.
Looks like that car's had some work done. Pretty sure the intake should be painted to match the block.
I'll be damned...I didnt know that. Thanks for the info!
Decal looks like it reads 5.7 anyway, if so definately not a HO car.Early style washer pump too, so maybe pre 84 car.Mechanical fan, so on, so on & so on.
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