84 z51?
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 22
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From: Richmond KY
If it has the stock wheels they are one inch wider (9.5") on the rear. 1984 Z51 equipped "Sport" steering racks yield 2-1/4 complete turns of the steering wheel while "Standard" Z52 racks allow 2-3/4 complete turns. Other than looking on the RPO code list these are the easiest ways. I have a 1984 Z51 car that I am currently bringing back to life.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Look for the Bilstien shocks, yellow, the flat rear spring and the true Z51 R&P will be 1 turn to either direction. No more.
There were sway bar differences but by only a cpl mm...hard to tell by looking.
Look under the console lid or the rear cargo doors for a sticker of the codes on that car..The fat front wheels as well.
That rear spring...only the z-51 came with a spring so hard that it has almost zero arc. The standard spring has a good amount of arc...obvious. The Z with either the 411 lb OR the 499 lb spring was/is almost flat...the ***-end sits a bit lower due to this.
There were sway bar differences but by only a cpl mm...hard to tell by looking.
Look under the console lid or the rear cargo doors for a sticker of the codes on that car..The fat front wheels as well.
That rear spring...only the z-51 came with a spring so hard that it has almost zero arc. The standard spring has a good amount of arc...obvious. The Z with either the 411 lb OR the 499 lb spring was/is almost flat...the ***-end sits a bit lower due to this.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 22
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From: Richmond KY
The *** ends of most all C4 corvettes, including mine was because of the rear dog bone link bushing failures. If your car sits lower in the rear I am willing to bet that is the issue. I have changed a number of these cars to poly bushings, I have yet to take one apart that had good rubber bushings in it.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
The *** ends of most all C4 corvettes, including mine was because of the rear dog bone link bushing failures. If your car sits lower in the rear I am willing to bet that is the issue. I have changed a number of these cars to poly bushings, I have yet to take one apart that had good rubber bushings in it.
Thats how you tell if its a Z-51 car?
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Richmond KY
Just to look and see if the car sits lower in the rear is not a good way to tell. All of these cars that I have seen sit lower because of this issue with the bushings. Just saying..... In response to the last line of your first reply.
Last edited by mechanicmattc; May 15, 2013 at 12:39 PM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 13
The dog bones are not load supporting ; they only serve to locate the spindle, forward and aft.
The weight of the car is carried by the spring and the bushes on the link from the spring to spindle . With the car sitting on the ground you could remove the dogbones completely and the static height would not change
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Richmond KY
Vettoz:
The spring mount (link) is on the rear of the spindle, not the center. It changes it. Causes the spindle to rotate forward lowering the rear of the car. If it was directly under the center it wouldn't change. The spring cushions usually are worn as well. Those links are constantly in a bind because of the design of the suspension.
The spring mount (link) is on the rear of the spindle, not the center. It changes it. Causes the spindle to rotate forward lowering the rear of the car. If it was directly under the center it wouldn't change. The spring cushions usually are worn as well. Those links are constantly in a bind because of the design of the suspension.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 42
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Thanks leesvet she is def a z51 rear is almost level and the shocks have been painted but are almost gold in color underneath. I couldnt find any stickers at all interior was a mess. thanks for your imput.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 42
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Hi yes they are missing...Im in Michigan. When I look at the rear spring there is almost no arc at all. The shocks have been painted black but it can be rubbed off and it is yellowish gold underneath.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
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From: Anaheim CA
To find out if an '84 has the Z51 suspension drive down a rough road. If it shakes your fillings out you have Z51. ;-)
If you look on the bottom of the steering rack there is a plug at the gearbox. If it has AJ, AK or YP on it then it's Z51. The standard racks are YM.
If you look on the bottom of the steering rack there is a plug at the gearbox. If it has AJ, AK or YP on it then it's Z51. The standard racks are YM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 13