I am looking to buy either a 1982 Z28 or Indy Pace Edition Z28, with the Crossfire Injection. I would like to get this to restore to stock specs. I have some questions about this first. Did the Z28 Pace editions come with crossfire or a 4 barrel? Are there a lot of Crossfire models out there? And what about parts or them? I was wondering if it is a good idea to go ahead with restoring a Crossfire over a 4 barrel, and what advantages or disadvantages might there be. I also don't know much about the Crossfire injection. Is it any good? how does it work? Thanks in advance.

 

Another question. Did the Z28 come with manual trannies at all? What about the Indy Pace editions?

 

both the 82 Z/28 and indy pace car rep came with carbed motors and CFI motors. the carbed motors came with muncie 4 speeds and the CFI cars came with 200 metric 3 speed autos.

the crossfire to me is a pretty strong unit if tuned properly. it has dual rochester throttle bodies on them. seems parts are hard to come by as i am currently restoring mine after sitting for 6 years. now that i got the funds to do it it's on my project list

imo the crossfire cars will be worth more than the carbed cars in the long run.

 

These cars have never come with Muncie transmissions. The Muncie 4-speed was discontinued in about 1973. The 82 4-speed cars had either a Saginaw 4-speed (most of them) or a Warner T-10.

The disadvantages of the Cross-Fire mostly stem from the fact that it's basically the same thing as a Citation or Celebrity setup, except twice as much of it. They ran pitifully as far as I was concerend at the time, so pitifully that I left the dealer in 82 without buying a car, deeply disappointed in the future of the automobile in general. The LG4s were even more pathetic. The LU5 cars ran just exactly like a grocery cart; no real get-up-and-go, felt very "lazy" even though they were less weak than the LG4s; kind of like driving a tractor or something. Nice grunt, no speed.

A L69 (305 HP) would put a spanking on a Cross-Fire 350 Vette that was almost humorous. It was even worse comparing the L69 to the LU5 in a Camaro or Firebird. The "rating" of the 2 engines was only 30 HP difference, but to drive the 2 cars, it was like getting out of a 74 Impala 350 2-barrel and into a 71 LT-1 Z28. Sure they were both 350s; but the similarity ended there.

As far as any kind of performance potential, the ECM in them is absolutely Stone Age. IIRC it's the same 6809 or whichever one of those it was that the carb cars have, which you can't reprogram. It's a simple basic speed-density TBI system though; people put some one of the later-model S-D ECMs on them, which then allows you to burn PROMS; that helps them out somewhat. The biggest problem with them as far as performance goes though is the runners. They're about 16" long or so, and the intake runner is only about 2/3 as tall as the runner in the head; so they have no upper-RPM capability whatsoever.

Parts are hard to find, but they're still out there. They're getting more scarce though as those get junked. If you intend to hold on to one for any length of time, it would be wise to keep yourself a supply of a couple of complete used ones on hand, to snarf stuff off of; most of the pieces are long since discontinued by GM.

I doubt that anyone will care in 2 years or 10 years or 50 years, any more than anyone cares now, whether one of those cars has the "original" motor in it (as far as valuation is concerned). They didn't exactly excite the public's imagination and inspire a generation of young people to remember them as the symbol of automotive desirability, unlike something like the 57 Chevy or the GTO or even the old Mustangs. It's just not that kind of car at all. But they were the top-of-the-line Camaro that year, and that's kind of cool at least, even though for the most part, nobody really cares.

I'd say there's no point in "restoring" the CFI for the sake of resale value. One of those cars with its trim will have whatever value it has regardless of what motor it has in it. If you do it, do it for your own personal satisfaction or enjoyment, but don't look at it as an "investment", because it isn't. And of course there's certainly nothing wrong with an original restoration, as long as you understand why you're doing it, and don't try to fool yourself about it. I can't imagine the general public type of buyer actually wanting a CFI car rather than a carb or other car, especially not wanting it more enough to pay extra to get it. Personally I would pay extra to avoid it, but that's just MO. I've felt that way about that system since I first test-drove one in the fall of 81, and decided to keep the 79 Z28 4-speed slug I already had, because it was so much faster.

 

Momma Mia !!!

I guess it's a generation gap, or a feeling that these units are somehow exotic?

I can only imagine it's like restoring an old 80086 PC from the about the same time period. Neat and all, but serves no purpose or use today. However, It's nice to be able to show my nephew what times where like. Just don't spend any real money doing it.

My CFI, well I got bored and used it to make the infamous suicide photo.

Ron

 

nice..lol

 

I have to come up with one for are opti-spark's

Ron

 

It's good to have members like RB on this board that have actually driven these cars new and can share his experience. My car was CFI, running a Edel 550/performer intake now. Since I didn't own my car while it was CFI, I can't make a comparision statement. Maybe my car just needs a good tune-up or something, but it definitely feels just as RB described the CFI. Sluggish, full of grunt, gas guzzler and slow as snot! Heck! My wifes 90 3.0 Probe could easily dust my Z off. I thought about restoring my car back to CFI for emissions sake. But am thinking of staying with carb since the car already has other issues. Don't need to be hunting down replacement parts for CFI as well as spending the $$$ to convert back.

Brandon

 

Do you mean OLD GUYS like RB???

 

Just insert a blasting cap and a random timer... That's basically the definition of an Opti.



Does that mean the right front wheel caster setting cause the front end to flutter at any speed over 2 MPH? So, YOU'RE the guy I hear in the aisle behind me at the store...

 

Sorry....I forgot to put that in.

 

hmmm - I was thinking disco ball & 20 gauge birdshot?

Ron

 

lol ...FUNKY TOWN...

 

Whats funny 'Riley', I swear I was thinking the same thing - BUT it was when "a stoned Towley" was playing funky town on the security key pad, on some episode of south park...

What's even bad 'Riley' is a lived in Bellevue, NE (Close to Offutt AFB) in the 70's!!! I think between '75-'79. We were stationed there. In fact my step dad used to navigate KC-135 out of there.
I had the best of times there..."Donny & Marie, Chips, & SNL with the original prime-timers" on the weekends!!!

Ron

 

I have a 1982 Z28 CFI, I was debating keeping the orginal motor or changing it out? I am not so much interested in power as History but if the parts are hard to find I dont know. What type of manafold and Carb system will work best on the 305?

 

I'm also restoring my 82 camaro pace car at the moment. I'm sticking with the CFI even though I'm dropping a 350 crate engine with Turbo 350 tranny. I'm hoping this car will be able to lay some rubber.