I'm interested in an '82 CE. What engine did they come with and what's its Horsepower rating? I've heard 190 HP and 220 HP. Which is correct ? Thanks.

 

L83 engine, a 350 CID SBC with cast crank, x rods and forged single valve relief TRW made pistons, same as used in L82.

The induction is the Cross Fire Injection system which consists of 2 throttle body injection units, basically 2 monopoint injection systems, a wet flow design, not multiport dry flow like the TPI system from 85 and up.

Power rating is 200Hp. 205 for the 84 engine (also L83)

 

Thanks 'Twin-Turbo' - Just what I was looking for.
Would you say that it is a 'reliable' engine - no known 'flaws' that would cause one to hesitate purchasing an '82 CE with, say, 30K to 50K miles on it ?
Thanks again.

 

yes, it's very reliable and the CFI system is reliable too. If not messed with by unskilled people then it shoudl run smooth as silk and trouble free.

 

This is why I never touch mine!

 

82 CE is a great car.Very reliable.I use to own one wish I had it back.

 

I've owned an '82. Take down notes as to the cross fire.....

1. You can not find parts to it
2. Maybe it's me but I spend over 700.00 to tune it and no one could I sent it to the biggest Chevrolet Dealerships in N. Texas and they couldn't and all the speed shops in N. Texas and no one could.
3. MPG Sucks
4. Bad pick up
5. No one has the software to tune the TBI
6. Rochester is who made it, and who is out of business and I believe Holley took them over once the went under and I called them and they knew nothing of that or of even heard of it
7. Soft plastic which means the major parts where melted.

So I pulled the block and redid it ALL.

Opinion; opinions. I never saw ANY good in it, but maybe others do. I think it's the worst design GM every came out with, but what do I know.

Sincerely,
WGC

 

1. You can not find parts to it

I have found every part I have needed so far.

2. Maybe it's me but I spend over 700.00 to tune it and no one could

Tuning is easy, Me and a friend did it in less than an hour, if you need some help, we have a website devoted to the CFI http://www.crossfire.homeip.net:81/

3. MPG Sucks

I get 22mpg regularly

4. Bad pick up

The stock L83 has tons of torque when properly tuned.
Torque (lb-ft) 285 @ 2800 rpm

5. No one has the software to tune the TBI

in 1982 no one had or needed to tune the ECM yet. But now we are light years ahead. http://prominator.homeip.net/

7. Soft plastic which means the major parts where melted.

My CE has been in Southwest Arizona for years, and so far nothing has melted.


No Comment!!!!

 

This guy is 17 and has owned a cfi before???? MODEL cars don't count here


Parts are easy to find and mostly pretty cheap as most people have heard the hearsay BS you obviously have too.

The reason you couldn't find the parts is probably because toys-r-us is not the place to go for vette parts


[Modified by Twin_Turbo, 3:13 AM 7/6/2004]

 

I've owned two crossfires, both 1982 cars. The first I drove for five years amassing over 150K miles on it. She still turned 23 MPG and had enough torque to spin the tires off the line. My second car consistently turns 22 MPG has great torque (can really break the skinny 225/70 R15s free) and is an awesome cruiser. IMHO, the car is the most refined of all the C-3s, you can drive it 250 miles and it seems like you just drove around the block. Also, I have no problem finding parts.

If your looking at a CE take your time to assess what will need replacing, assuming you will want to keep her original.

My biggest concerns with a CE (not flaming her guys) is the expense in restoring one. If the car needs paint, replacement decals are very expensive, the seats, door panels and other interior parts have unique color combos that cost a premium. Also, the wheels are unique to the car, so replacement center caps are very expensive as well...the list goes on. The other major concern I would have is the back glass is prone to leak because the hinge joints stretch over time. The back glass lifted on the CE's only, not the other 18K some odd "regular" '82's. Good luck in your search!

 

I want to thank you all for the most informative feedback to my '82 CE "Questios" (i'm over 17 and still can't spell!).
The Crossfire web site will no doubt come in handy should I decide to take the plunge. This will be my First Vette and I want it to be a good experience. Frankly, I'm undecided between the '82 CE and a C5 Verte. At this point, it seems like a choice between "class" and "technology." Thanks again for all your help. Greg; Rochetsre Hills, MI.

 

Twin,
Can I say something and put in my two cents?

If you go back and look at my reply it says quote "I never saw ANY good in it, but maybe others do"

As in I didn't know what I was doing when I worked with the Cross Fire, and ha your so funny!!! Toys R Us, did ya make that up your self?!

What I find more humor in is this, this forum is to help people out. Not to degrade people to make your self A: feel better or B: make other people think your cool! Or a combination of both.

It is people like you who discourge younger vette owners.

But as big as your ego sound's you probably already know all of this.

The reason I joined this forum is to help other's out from what little information I know, and to learn. Which I have a lot of doing.

Thanks,
Bill

 

Don't get your panties in a bunch, lighten up. You are commenting on stuff and putting the CFI system down when you obviously don't know anything about it. Actually it's people like you who scare people away from 82 & 84 corvettes. 84s are about the cheapest vettes out there so a lot of "young" corvette guys start off with one of those.
Look at what the dawg posted, he reduced all your comments to rubble and he actually owns an 82. If you post incorrect info expect to get a reply on it.

And as for helping people out, that's some mighty fine help you provided there, all incorrect info...sure helped a lot

 

 

I have an '82 and love it. I have not have any problems getting parts or tuning it. It runs great & gets 22 MPG. It won't snap your neck but it sure does turn heads.
Good Luck,

 

In all fairness to wgc_3 final comment of his initial post regarding the Cross-Fire Injection:
...I think it's the worst design GM every came out with...
it is his opinion, one that he's entitled to, and he may be correct in his assesment.

If it was so good, why was it only used for a few years of production?

Pre-'82, all Corvette power-plants were very simple to modify for performance; carb, intake, cam, and heads would give you an easy 350+ HP:
post '84 Vettes offered more power right off the bat, and the after-market offers pieces and parts, making the TPI cars easily to modify into the same HP range.
Both the pre-'82, and post-'84 are easily made into hot-rods by most competent Corvette-owners;
getting either of these cars to run mid-13 second quarter-miles isn't hard to do.

Because of it's (the CFI) short life-span, the after-market never really got involved in Cross-Fire technology; even the CFI / N2O kit, offered by NOS, was dis-continued last year.

To get real performance from the Cross-Fire, you'll need to re-bore the TBs, re-do the fuel system, re-wire the car for a later-style, programmable ECM, only the X-RAM is a true 'bolt-on', the SY-1 requires even more mods and fabrication.....

For this much trouble, you could adapt to the TPI induction system, where more hi-po parts are offered, and serious power levels are possible, or just build a carbed/blown motor.

Shortly after I got my '82, I began thinking of getting it to run like a 'real' Corvette should, keeping the CFI, but it is in such nice condition, and the CFI offers limited performance potential, so I decided to keep the '82 as-is (for the most part), enjoying it for what it is:
one of the best-looking cars on the road, with nice creature-comforts, that delivers decent fuel economy, while lacking in the 'go'-department.

I have since starting tearing-apart an '80 to build into a race-car with a 'traditional' drive-train (carbed V8/3-speed automatic), and will enjoy the '82 as my 'road'-car.

Corvector, if you can 'live' with a great-looking car that offers limited performance potential, have a 'thing' for C3s, and find a nice '82 CE, go for it;
otherwise, the C5 offers un-beatable performance opportunity, outstanding handling over most any C3, and the rag-top would be nice, too.

Just my $.02 worth...

 

Damn Ricer's always coming around and messing things up.....Hi Glen :wave:
===============================

Bill,
If you stick around awhile, you will see that (Marck) Twin Turbo is the greatest bank of knowledge on the crossfire system there is.
I have yet to see him stumped by someone else's problem.

About once a month, someone comes on here and bash's the CFI, we feel it's our right to get defensive, and fight for what we believe in. You just happened to step up to the podium this month. Don't take it personally, just step back and see what you can learn from this about putting down something on a public forum.

 

I've had my CE for about 4 years now, and it's been reliable and dependable since the day I owned it.

I'm working with Greg on trying to convince him that getting a CE is the way to go! He's mish-mashing between a C5 (EVERYONE has a C5 for God's sake!) and a CE. You want cavernous trunk space for your gym back or groceries? Get a C5. You want to turn heads? Get a CE!

 

ego??? Twin doesn't need an ego with his years of real experience. He's seen and worked on more CrossFire engines than anyone here. So he speaks from vast experience of many different 82/84 Vettes... not just one single car.

When I had my 1982 CE, people would go crazy when I opened up the hood. Usually they would ask if it had dual 4 barrel carbs; and as I told them no... I would take off the top cover and air cleaners, and let them watch the dual injectors fire at idle. They were amazed !!!

My 1982 always ran like a top, never had any problems with it. I did not attempt to modify it though. And I think that is important when buying a 1982/1984 with the CrossFire engine; don't buy one that has been modded - unless your intentions from the onset are to pull the motor and re-do everything.

 

Hi guys,

Well, I have no problems with my 82 CE and I even race mine. Do some track and 1/4 tracks. My fastest top speed was 124 mph. Burned alot of civics and alike ricers on the track. Maybe they were begainners.... On the 1/4 track I got 16.2 at 85.3 mph. Not bad for an 22 year old vette!!
I still enjoy my Shark and get 23 mpg on the highway and 16 mpg in the city.
I'll never trade my 82 CE for anything.

IRON 82