"Seems like I've read somewhere, probably on here, that they improved the frames on the later cars, maybe the bar brace wasn't needed?"

This was in another post. Anyone have further knowledge on this?

 

What was done to the later year cars wasnt enough to amount to alot as far as chassis strenght goes. It helped some but some is the key word.

Some of the later cars got the 'wonder bar' (steering gear box/frame brace)

And all of the later years got two little triangle braces between the K member and the side. Not sure if you want to call that the frame rail, bottom of strut tower or what.

Thats about the only diff I can see between my dad's 82, our old 84, my 86 and 88 and a buddies 91

 

I think he's referring to the improved welding process incorporated in the last few years that strengthened the existing body design, rather than any structural change.

 

92s and some 91s had the seams glued over top of the spot welds.

 

...so you guys are saying glue over spot welds is an "improvement" in the structure of the car.? Not that it's a bad thing, but that's not what I'd call an improvement.

 

Its a glue that was in between the panels kinda like what is used to glue bedsides on trucks and roofs on cars with.. good stuff really

 

Ah, yes, glue. I like this over the welds.

 

I had read somewhere, that the 91-92 model years were improved. It said they had better welds, seam sealer, etc., and this is something they planned on carrying over to the 4th gen years. The 91-92 years are supposed to have a better ride quality, over the previous years, because of the improvements. I personally had never really had the opportuinity to drive an earlier year than my car, so I wouldnt know if there is a difference in "feel".

 

I had an 87 and a 91. It's a noticeable improvement.

 

from an 86TA/89GTA/91Z, I never noticed a ride difference other than the spring rate on my WS6 package.

 

I think the suspension gave the newer years the better feel and ride myself.

I don't do stock, all of mine have been built up 327's, and 350's under the hood so I could feel the chassis flexing alot on all of them before I installed SFC and/or roll bars.

Now the only real diff I myself could feel between the 82 bird, 84, 86, 88, and 91 camaros was the handling. That was due to sway bar size, rear sway bar, spring rates, and shocks though. The earlier year cars didnt even have a rear sway bar on them.