Hi,
My car is equipped with the odd-ball 4spd. manual transmission. I'd like a short throw shifter. I drove my friends Civic, (yes a Civic ) with a B&M ripper and I loved it. The guy at the parts store said the dont make one for my car because its a 4spd. linkage type shifter. I was thinking about cutting the shifter. Good Idea? Bad idea. Any suggestions?

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1982 Berlinetta
2bb 2.8l V-6
4 spd. Dog **** SLOW!!

 

Just my .02, but if I was you, instead of modding a somewhat rare (and slow) 3rd gen, I'd sell it and buy a MPFI 2.8.

A Berlinetta (especially a carbed 2.8) is not a car that is very receptive to mods. Besides your engine setbacks, Berlies came with a very soft suspension setup, and don't handle nearly as nice as later, regular third gens. If I was you, find an older guy who wants to putter with a Camaro...he'll love it and you can take the $$ and get a car that's a better platform on which to mod. Berlies aren't for people who wanna mod...they're gonna be collectors items, especially the '82s.

But to answer your question, I GOTTA think someone makes a short throw shifter for that car!! '82 Z's came with the same shifter, as they had the 4 speed as well. Someone out there must make a 4 speed shifter that'll fit your car.

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Jason E
'89 Camaro RS 2.8
Hypertech chip/K&N filters/Accel 8.8 wires,coil/RapidFires
Eclipse CD and 100x4 amp/Boston plates and 6x9s
Alpine Alarm w/ Keyless entry
IROC tailights/tinted windows

[This message has been edited by Jason E (edited November 20, 2000).]

 

Jason, you really think the '82 will be worth something? I'm not putting down your car, V-6 Berlinetta '82, but I know my '86 isn't going to be worth anything besides the blue book value. Actually it's probably less with all my mods.

So I say mod the heck out of it! But as to the shifter, I don't know. I dont' see any reason to not cut it; of course you'll have to thread the end to take a shift ****. You could always get one of those fancy chrome ones in the Summit Racing catalog. You might also want to find another T-4 shifter "as backup" in case you screw yours up.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Tom,

There are 2 distinct reasons why I think the '82 Berlies will be worth at least some money someday:

1) IMO, any '82 is gonna be worth more than the average 3rd gen. 1st year status is always a plus for any collectible car.

2) Its a Berlinetta. Berlies had the lowest production every year they were made. Think back...how many nice Berlies have you seen in the last few years? I've seen 2 that stick out in my head as being very nice cars. The '82 that my friend had was total trash. Because these cars don't have the performance charisma that the Z's have, they tend to get bought by people that would have just as likely bought a Sport Coupe. Because of this, they tend to get trashed and abused more than Z's do.

I think the '82-'83s will have a following in the coming years because of their uniqueness as a boulevard cruiser. Think about it...soft ride suspension and extra sound deadening in an Fbody? It's definitely different! And I KNOW the '84-'86s will have more appeal than run-of-the-mill Fcars because of the cool digital dash.

Thats my opinion as to why I say this is a car to restore, not a car to mod. I mean, you'll never sell it for the big $$ you'd get for a Z28, but it will be worth more than the average Sport Coupe, and it is a unique piece of 3rd gen history.

Unlike an '89 RS 2.8

 

Jason I serously dont think my car will be worth anything more than the $600 I paid for it. I have no other chioce but to keep the car for now because of my lack of money. I just wanted to give the car a little more pep. Besides it's my first car.

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1982 Berlinetta
2bb 2.8l V-6
4 spd. Dog **** SLOW!!

 

i agree with jason. I would keep tha car as a potential collectors item and restore it. I would save ur money take it into the body shop and have it repainted to the origional color. Scrub the hell out of the interior (if it isnt already spotless) get some nice rubber and a sweet set of wheels. If its more ***** u need i couldnt think of n e thing cooler on a car like that than a supercharger

 

Nothing wrong with that. I know Edelbrock makes intake manifolds for your engine - get one of those and a bigger carb (how much bigger before it gets too big...? Anyone?)

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'86 T-Top Z28 (LG4) - 16.4s 1/4 best time (stock, clean)
86 2.8L V6 Camaro - World-Class T5, K&N, full tune-up, Panther alloys, power roof
FREE CarFax report here!

 

Value is determined by the balance of supply and demand. The supply for an 82 berl is low, but unfortunately the demand is even lower. The fact is, nobody wants an 82 berl. My friend had a 79 berl, and in mint condition he would have been lucky to get half of what a mint 79 Z28 was worth, even though the Z28 was substantially less rare. The thirdgens will be no different. Find a V6 first-gen camaro in a paper. They are not worth anywhere near what the SS and Z28s are, even though by now they are far more rare. The cars that are worth money are the ones that people want but can't find. 1LE cars are both very rare and very desirable cars to own. They will be worth a mint. TTAs are already commanding substantially more than any GTA from the same year, because not only are they very rare, but they are highly desirable cars. IROCs and GTAs are very desirable cars, but there are so many of them that it will take a very long time for them to really begin to rise sharply in value. Unfortunately, when dealing with a car as popular as the Camaro, the "me too" cars just don't have the demand, especially the lower end vehicles like the Sport Coupes, Berlinettas, RS, etc. It's already apparent at the differences in prices for the used vehicles. 82 berls can be had for virtually no cash, even if they're in good shape, but an 82 Z28 is already starting to command some bucks if it's nice.

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The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Very true, Jim, I've seen that too (where a V6 first gen isn't as valuable as a v8 first gen). I say mod the hell out of it.

Of course that's why I could never own a classic car with matching #'s! I'd mod everything, and the car's value would be sliced in half. And that's not counting the mileage I'd put on it! Heh heh...

V-6Berlinetta'82, have you done a major tuneup yet? I'll put my info sheet up as a new message tomorrow, I'm heading out now.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Lemme rephrase guys

An '82 Berlie isn't worth a lot NOW...but now isn't necessarily the point when gaguing the market. What's more important is what demand will be in the future.

As I said, I know it isn't gonna be worth as much as a CFI '82 Z, but the fact of the matter is, it will be worth more than the average '82. If he had an '82 SC, I'd say mod the hell out of it!! Regardless though, if he really wants to mod a car, a carbed '82 is a tough start

Sorry, I don't mean to come off like a know-it-all or something. I guess I'm just more of a preserver than a hot rodder

Which is why I belong over at History/Restoration and not here Besides, this is merely my .02...hehe.