Hey everyone!! I'm missing my third gen, and I'm looking to buy another one. I recently read that there were issues with the freame cracking on early models of the camaro berlinetta, where the power steering pump attached. Does anyone have any more info on this?

This is the first that I've heard of it. Is it only on Camaros/ berlinettas, or firebirds too? Any info would be great, as I was leaning toward an 82-84 car.

Thanks!

 

No, that's bogus.

The frame can crack around the power steering gear mounting area, on any years. A "wonderbar" is a good upgrade to help prevent it. No models are more susceptable than others, but if you have sticky tires and corner hard, that would be a cause for that....

 

i've read that after 84 the front frame was revised a bit because of stress cracks around the steering box.

But irregardless, a wonderbar should be the second addition to any thirdgen, first being subframe connectors

 

Can this be checked easily just by looking? I also read that the frame was strengthened after 84....

So a wonderbar should solve this? I guess I don't understand whay it would crack in that area.

Thanks for the responses!

 

Easiest check for this, which will also show why they crack, is to: open hood, roll down driver window, start engine. While reaching through the driver window and observing the P/S box, move the steering wheel back and forth.

Note how much the P/S box moves (!). If there is any strange noises it may be from the sheet metal catching and releasing along the crack.

Can also visually inspect where the P/S box is mounted to the frame.

RBob.

 

That's good to know. Thanks again for the responses, and wish me luck on my next third gen!

 

my 82 t/a has no obvious cracks or steering slop due to any box movement

the 83 i am parting junking has none either, very tight solid steering




in fact i have never come across one of these cars- no matter the year- with any steering slop issue or crack in the frame that i could tell

hmm

good luck

 

Here's a picture of the cross member-to-frame rail brace - there's one on each side of the engine bay. You can see a 3rd brace that is mounted under the drivers side "Battery tray" area for additional stregth to the front end on that side. The only camaro to get these braces from 82-84 was a Z28. I'm not sure about the Birds.......




Once these early cars were used for a few years chevy started installing these braces in ALL Camaro's due to the amount of stress being placed on the drivers side frame rail. These braces *might* have been a part of the 'F41' suspension offered in the early years.

I believe it was 85 that chevy began installing these front end braces in all cars - Ironically, I believe this was also the year 'F41' was added to all cars. The Dealer brochure says mentions the Coupe " The footwork comes from a chassis and suspension configuration directly derived from the Z-28". and when it cam e to the Berlinetta,... "The engineers who developed the IROC-Z package have retuned Berlinetta suspension..."

I can't count how many Cracked Frame rails I have seen over the years ( at LEAST 5 cars ) The other area to watch out for is the radiator support on the drivers side. It's not a "bogus" report. RBob has written the best test to check for this type of frame damage. ( I'd use 2 people with the car on jackstands but that's me ! The steps he outlined will reveal a crack if it's there ! )