Strange combo
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 888
Likes: 4
From: Ridgecrest Ca
Strange combo
I have a 1990 coupe. Lots of options but confused a bit.
Mine has the adjustable shock option but it has been disabled. I was under the impression from the www research that in order to have the adjustable shocks the car had to have the Z51 suspension although it has no RPO for Z51, but does have the RPO for the adjustable suspension. In addition I've read that if you have the Z51 the 1990 came with 13" brakes but mine has 12" brakes. It sure rides like it has Z51.
Am I confused or is there a lot of misinformation floating around?
Mine has the adjustable shock option but it has been disabled. I was under the impression from the www research that in order to have the adjustable shocks the car had to have the Z51 suspension although it has no RPO for Z51, but does have the RPO for the adjustable suspension. In addition I've read that if you have the Z51 the 1990 came with 13" brakes but mine has 12" brakes. It sure rides like it has Z51.
Am I confused or is there a lot of misinformation floating around?
Pro
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
Pretty sure a '90 can have FX3, Z51, or both. I looked at a '90 last year that was equipped with both, and was told it was an unusual combination. If it doesn't have Z51 on the tag, the car likely does not have the Z51 option.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 888
Likes: 4
From: Ridgecrest Ca
That's what I though. It has FX3 but apparently no Z51. Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 800
Likes: 2
The FX3 was a stand alone option and could be had with the base suspension or Z51 suspension. Sounds like you have the FX3 with base suspension. Having the fx3 and z51 has the potential to be a very rough ride, I know my Z07 '93 which essentially is the Z51 and FX3 is fairly rough.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 888
Likes: 4
From: Ridgecrest Ca
Yup, I have the FE1 suspension with the FX3 option. It also has RPO 1AY meaning dealer ordered. Heated mirrors, sport pwr driver and passenger seats, electronic a/c, KC4 oil cooler, LPTWS, Black interior and seat belts, Leather steering wheel, Option pkg 2 (whatever that is), G44 and G92 diff. It also shows AQ9 which means passenger reclining seat? Not sure where it's supposed to recline to. Ha Ha.
Option package 2 must be the cruise control, tilt steering, and other little bits like the leather covered shifter ****.
One confusing RPO is 191 which means secondary exterior color black. The car is white with that black bump strip around the car, could that be the 191? I thought they were all black for 1990.
Option package 2 must be the cruise control, tilt steering, and other little bits like the leather covered shifter ****.
One confusing RPO is 191 which means secondary exterior color black. The car is white with that black bump strip around the car, could that be the 191? I thought they were all black for 1990.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,162
Likes: 4,171
From: Kannapolis NC
The 191 is secondary INTERIOR code black. (plastic trim)
Option package 2 is the 1SB preferred options group, but I don't know which options were included. I read that it was the base group that the car was built with and then other options ordered as wanted, but no specifics on what was included.
Option package 2 is the 1SB preferred options group, but I don't know which options were included. I read that it was the base group that the car was built with and then other options ordered as wanted, but no specifics on what was included.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,178
Likes: 15
From: Montreal Quebec
Z51 was available on manual coupes only in 90, FX3 available with coupe or convertible regardless of transmission...
In 89 Z51 was available with FX3 as a separate option limited to manual coupes only and FX3 could be ordered only with Z51.
Performance Z51 was replaced by Z07 suspension from 91 to 95 that included Z51 AND FX3 in the same package for coupes only but FX3 was available as a stand alone option on other model too.
Z51 was back in 96 and FX3 was replaced by F45 and both option cannot be combined...
Z51/Z07 AND FX3 was included on every 90-95 ZR1
Hope this clarify your suspension dilemma
In 89 Z51 was available with FX3 as a separate option limited to manual coupes only and FX3 could be ordered only with Z51.
Performance Z51 was replaced by Z07 suspension from 91 to 95 that included Z51 AND FX3 in the same package for coupes only but FX3 was available as a stand alone option on other model too.
Z51 was back in 96 and FX3 was replaced by F45 and both option cannot be combined...
Z51/Z07 AND FX3 was included on every 90-95 ZR1
Hope this clarify your suspension dilemma
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 888
Likes: 4
From: Ridgecrest Ca
Z51 was available on manual coupes only in 90, FX3 available with coupe or convertible regardless of transmission...
In 89 Z51 was available with FX3 as a separate option limited to manual coupes only and FX3 could be ordered only with Z51.
Performance Z51 was replaced by Z07 suspension from 91 to 95 that included Z51 AND FX3 in the same package for coupes only but FX3 was available as a stand alone option on other model too.
Z51 was back in 96 and FX3 was replaced by F45 and both option cannot be combined...
Z51/Z07 AND FX3 was included on every 90-95 ZR1
Hope this clarify your suspension dilemma
In 89 Z51 was available with FX3 as a separate option limited to manual coupes only and FX3 could be ordered only with Z51.
Performance Z51 was replaced by Z07 suspension from 91 to 95 that included Z51 AND FX3 in the same package for coupes only but FX3 was available as a stand alone option on other model too.
Z51 was back in 96 and FX3 was replaced by F45 and both option cannot be combined...
Z51/Z07 AND FX3 was included on every 90-95 ZR1
Hope this clarify your suspension dilemma
Can you imagine the poor salesman explaining that to a customer? Since I don't race or use all the performance available in my car I'm kind of glad I don't have the Z51. I hear it's pretty uncomfortable under certain road conditions. Mine with the FE1 certainly is no softie in the spring department.
Thanks for the info.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
