Super bad original radiator support welds
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Super bad original radiator support welds
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???
Last edited by dagwood; 11-26-2018 at 07:45 PM.
#2
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
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?
It seems like the later cars only have the spot welds, and not the big beads on the seams.
Any insight on this?
#4
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
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
#5
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
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...
#6
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Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
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.
GD
GD
#7
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Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
It would be cool if some of the assembly line workers and sub assembly workers were on here to tell their stories.
I really enjoyed the stories and pics from member CPC Norwood.
I really enjoyed the stories and pics from member CPC Norwood.
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#9
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Car: 82 Z28
Engine: 305
Transmission: BW T-10
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
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?
It seems like the later cars only have the spot welds, and not the big beads on the seams.
Any insight on this?
#10
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Car: 1989 IROC-Z. Original owner
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Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
dagwood, I would drive that car straight to the junkyard and get whatever you can for it, or maybe I can take that headache off your hands.
J/K ::
I think it's what everyone else mentioned, early build growing pains. Battery topper looks great, BTW!
J/K ::
I think it's what everyone else mentioned, early build growing pains. Battery topper looks great, BTW!
#11
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
Lol yeah shes about ready for the boneyard hehe.
I'm pretty happy with the battery topper! Too bad its located right next to the crappy welds!
#12
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Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
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.
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.
#13
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
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.
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.
OMG
#14
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Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
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.
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.
#15
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Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
I found this picture for you of another '82 with the same crappy welds. This picture is large enough to zoom in and see the welds clearly.
#16
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
I wonder what the story actually is with them.....
Thank you Scott
Last edited by dagwood; 11-27-2018 at 08:47 PM.
#17
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
That wouldn't be an 82 either, with the l69...had to happen periodically on the line
Last edited by dagwood; 11-27-2018 at 08:46 PM.
#18
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Car: 82 Z28
Engine: 305
Transmission: BW T-10
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
Here's mine, first week of May 82 Van Nuys, 55,000 cars earlier than OPs. Not as bad, but not too pretty either. Sorry for the dirty engine bay!
#19
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
Yep, yours are definitely better than mine, but still pretty sloppy, too, compared to later year cars that look like a perfect overlap seam
Thank you to you and gt4373 for taking the pictures!
Thank you to you and gt4373 for taking the pictures!
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Car: 82 Z28
Engine: 305
Transmission: BW T-10
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
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!
#21
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Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
Looks like that car's had some work done. Pretty sure the intake should be painted to match the block.
#22
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
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!
#23
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Car: 1984 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Engine: 5.0 Liter 4-BBL V8 High Output
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Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
I Notice There Was A Change In The Sheet Metal Design,I Wonder If Those Welds Were Only Used With The One On The Right.
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Car: 82 Z28
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Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
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.
#26
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Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
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!)
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
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Re: Super bad original radiator support welds
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.
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!
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