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From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
Yep, somewhere in the vehicle are the build codes. My 89 is inside the top of the console lid. All are 3 digit/letter codes. If not in console check storage areas etc. If yours is a Z51, Z52 etc. it will be in that list of codes.
It's an '84. You will lose most of your teeth whether it's a Z51 or not.
Originally Posted by hip
The easiest way to tell a Z51, the stearing is 2 1/2 turns lock to lock
NOPE! If the "stearing" has 2 1/2 turns, lock to lock it must be a Caprice or a Camaro. The standard equipment, 1984s had a steering ratio of 15.5:1, which resulted in 2.36 (approx 2 1/3) turns lock to lock. The fast steering, standard in the Z51 equipped 1984, had a steering ratio of 13.0:1 making it 1.96 (2.0) turns, lock to lock.
This assumes someone hasn't changed one steering rack for the other
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
Yep, I guess they dropped 2 turn steering in early 1989 cause I got lucky and have that and the 3.54 gears. There are some rebuilt '88 units still floating around I guess.
A previous poster has indicated in the past that he has knowledge
of some shortcomings with the chart Mr. Halverson put together
and he may be able to contribute here.
If you cannot find documentation, according to my Black Book, 84 Z51's had a radiator boost fan, eng. oil cooler, as mentioned fast st. ratio, HD stabilizer bars, 8.5 in. front and 9.5 in. rear wheels, HD shox, springs...
The easiest way of "seeing" if it is a Z51 optioned car, is to look for the front boost fan,the thick 30mm front anti-sway bar and the wheel widths.....
I am not convinced about the 23mm rear anti-sway bars....every Corvette that I have seen has had a 21mm, incl. Z51's.
I suppose if he has the 15" wheels, this would indicate with
a fair degree of confidence that he does NOT have a Z51.
It would also indicate, with a fair degree of confidence that he does NOT have a have a C4. Despite plans to the contrary, and publications that relied on those plans, all the 1984s had 8.5" X 16" (standard) or 8.5 and 9.5" X 16" (Z51) aluminum wheels.
Originally Posted by CorvAdel
If you cannot find documentation, according to my Black Book, 84 Z51's had a radiator boost fan, eng. oil cooler, as mentioned fast st. ratio, HD stabilizer bars, 8.5 in. front and 9.5 in. rear wheels, HD shox, springs...
I believe the Black Book is mistaken. 1984, Z51 owners, speak up. The B4P, auxiliary fan and the KC4, engine oil cooler, which were available on other years, as separate options, are NOT necessarily indicative of the Z51 package. And I believe neither were available on the 1984, with or without the Z51 package. The wheel equipment on a 22 year old car, subject to wheel up grades, would be an unreliable indication.
Just so we are all on the same page, my '84 is 100% original, (except for tires, wiper blades and battery) 16" wheels, 15500 miles. I would surmise that the only way to check the width of the wheels would be to unmount the rears. The reason for this inquary has to do with the vanity plates I want to order and I do not want to be mistaken so perhaps I should just purchase the build sheet.. I really am enjoying this discussion! Thanks to all who are participating. When I have determined the actual option package I will post. Please keep the suggestions coming!
PS. I did go test the turning ratio and the wheel has no more than two revolutions! Where would the aux fan and engine oil cooler be located?
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
You shouldn't have to dismount any wheels. Write down the size of both your front and rear tires and post it. If your rear tire size is wider ie 275 then you probably have a Z51, if they are the same front and rear ie 245 you probably don't. Why can't you find your rpo codes?
BTW the oil cooler does't prove anything at least in 1989.
You shouldn't have to dismount any wheels. Write down the size of both your front and rear tires and post it. If your rear tire size is wider ie 275 then you probably have a Z51, if they are the same front and rear ie 245 you probably don't. Why can't you find your rpo codes?
Tires front and rear are: P255/50ZR16
I have looked under the arm rest and in the rear compartments, no rpo codes..
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
If your wheels are stock I would say not Z51. On my 1989 Z51 It has Bilstein shocks which are painted blue and gold. Lift the hood and look at the front shocks for color. I am going for the most obvious things. If you have a caliper you can measure the front stabilizer bar. If you don't have a metric caliper, inch is O. K., I can convert!
The depth of the inner dish on 8.5 and 9.5 wheels are noticably different. If they are original, you will either have 8.5 all around (non Z51) or 8.5 front and 9.5 rear(Z51). Tire size is meaningless. Original is 255/50R16, regardless of Z51 or not.
They do have the dimensions stamped on the inside of the wheel, if you want to be sure.