My "new" 83 Z28
#1
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My "new" 83 Z28
Ouch.
I just picked up this beauty. It deserves to be saved. Needs a full interior, and a lot of body work. I'm keeping it stock.
#3
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Car: '84 Z28
Engine: L69
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: My "new" 83 Z28
Glad to hear you have plans to save it. These are the original design and IMO the cleanest most attractive thirdgen. They don't get love because of the motors. And as such the styling is overlooked. Nice to see it's complete and not been modded beyond saving over the past 33 years.
#4
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Re: My "new" 83 Z28
I couldn't find the RPO sticker in the console. It has power mirrors and from what I can tell, a power antenna. It has rear disc brakes and a rear locking luggage compartment. I can't wait to get started working on it, however, 2 things that scare me is the dent on the A-pillar and the crossfire injection system.
#7
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Car: '84 Z28
Engine: L69
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: My "new" 83 Z28
The RPO label started in 1984. Found a build underneath my passenger bucket seat, between foam and springs. If there you'll need to remove the seat to reduce potential for destroying it. Often part is between foam and steel seat frame, and all will be stuck to rusty metal and old foam. They also been found under carpeting below rear seats or footwells. Or beneath carpeting in rear stowage well. Pretty much any place in the interior compartment is game, if one exists.
Fun info is located here:
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-...tion-kits.html
Fun info is located here:
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-...tion-kits.html
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#10
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Re: My "new" 83 Z28
Thanks for the encouragement. I purchased a shop manual off e-bay.
The car starts right up and idles fine. It has good oil pressure but has major oil leaks from every seal. I plan to pull the engine anyway and inspect the moving assemblies.
What do you guys recommend for paint to duplicate the factory e-coat gray??
The car starts right up and idles fine. It has good oil pressure but has major oil leaks from every seal. I plan to pull the engine anyway and inspect the moving assemblies.
What do you guys recommend for paint to duplicate the factory e-coat gray??
#11
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Re: My "new" 83 Z28
T Tops looks like a great car have fun
#12
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Re: My "new" 83 Z28
I was able to take some more pics. This car needs some serious TLC. I found what remains of the build sheet underneath the rear passenger bucket. I was hoping for something more substantial.
#14
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Re: My "new" 83 Z28
I've got a blue tarp over it, hence the bluish hue. I'll need a full interior including plastics, which are scratched, gouged, and terribly faded. I'll get some underbody and engine pics soon.
My garage is almost complete----then the fun begins.
My garage is almost complete----then the fun begins.
#18
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Car: 89 Firebird
Engine: 355 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt.Posi-3.73s
Re: My "new" 83 Z28
Cool car! Glad you are saving it and good luck. You don't see many CFI engines anymore.
#21
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Car: '84 Z28
Engine: L69
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: My "new" 83 Z28
Gonna take some work. Keep at it. Will take time and work, but rewarding. The Z28s and IROC-Zs are so bada** to drive. I feel like a million bucks driving my past and current thirdgen Camaros. And if it doesn't feel bada**, then easy enough to make a few mods to get it there.
#22
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Re: My "new" 83 Z28
Gonna take some work. Keep at it. Will take time and work, but rewarding. The Z28s and IROC-Zs are so bada** to drive. I feel like a million bucks driving my past and current thirdgen Camaros. And if it doesn't feel bada**, then easy enough to make a few mods to get it there.
Thanks for the encouragement. I agree, these cars are fun to drive.
#23
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Re: My "new" 83 Z28
I'll be the one to rain on the parade here, that car is going to require a lot more time and work then you think. There is rust present in the areas that are the most time consuming to fix. I don't know your level of expertise but it looks to me like before you start this project you should reassess the vehicle. It looks like you are in the time vs money vs cost of a good body predicament that Thirdgens have been in for the last decade.
#24
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Re: My "new" 83 Z28
I'll be the one to rain on the parade here, that car is going to require a lot more time and work then you think. There is rust present in the areas that are the most time consuming to fix. I don't know your level of expertise but it looks to me like before you start this project you should reassess the vehicle. It looks like you are in the time vs money vs cost of a good body predicament that Thirdgens have been in for the last decade.
Thanks for the concern, Tibo. Fortunately, time is on my side. This car is exactly what I wanted----enough work to give me a challenge, but not too much that would warrant discarding the body. I've looked it over closely, and I knew the rocker was rusted when I purchased the vehicle. I've had a previous Thirdgen and know where the rust likes to hide.
#26
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Re: My "new" 83 Z28
Not enough lip for the seal. Let's do this the right way.
Last edited by lonesomeloser; 05-16-2017 at 11:33 AM. Reason: ...
#30
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Re: My "new" 83 Z28
I am jumping between projects. Waiting for a rear lower quarter patch panel--repairing wheel well rust rot---removing nasty undercoating---waiting for the t-top channel piece. Lots to do.
#31
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Re: My "new" 83 Z28
I've located a base Camaro quarter panel. I know I have to drill the holes for the GFX. These things are quite scarce around here.
Last edited by lonesomeloser; 05-20-2017 at 06:16 PM.
#39
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Re: My "new" 83 Z28
Engine/transmission should be out soon. This thing is an oily, nasty mess. Is the brake line supposed to be inside the exhaust manifold tube like that?
#40
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Re: My "new" 83 Z28
Thanks! I wouldn't have had the guts to do this 10 years ago....lots of research, watching videos, talking to people at car shows, and of course, the forums!
#48
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Re: My "new" 83 Z28
Long overdue update: I had sprayed the clearcoat last year and wasn't happy with it, so I re-cleared it. Now just waiting for it to cure before sanding again. According the body tag, the Code for interior trim is light sand. I don't think I've seen it much on the forum. Also, the tag says the lower paint code is 19--which is black. But it should be 15, silver, right?
Last edited by lonesomeloser; 06-15-2020 at 07:52 PM.
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