They don't make 'em like they used to... thank God

17rsvert · 10-12-2019, 11:02 AM

https://www.motorious.com/articles/n...ang-gt-in-1982

These were considered among the best high performance cars at the time. I bought a new 1984 Sport Coupe with the same V8 as that Z/28 and thought it was pretty cool at the time (what's better than a T roof?) Crappy acceleration, but it made up for it by getting almost 15 mpg.

Zaqwert6 · 10-12-2019, 11:16 AM

In '82 I was driving a big block mopar. Lol. So yea. ;-)

SteveV · 10-12-2019, 12:24 PM

In '82 I was in high school and driving a beat up 1976 Pontiac Sunbird. You remember: the mini Firebird.

I had the old iron duke 4 banger and a 4 speed muncie.

I beat the shit out of that car. Sold it 1 week before boot camp...

LT4Greg · 10-12-2019, 12:24 PM

Brings back memories for me as the first Camaro I owned was a 1982 Z28 that I special ordered thru a dealer. It was dark blue with a 305 4 barrel quadrajet, Saginaw 4 speed trans, vinyl upholstery and no radio. It was truly a stripper Z28 that had a hardtop. Think that little 305 had 140 hp which was normal for V8s back then, but I extracted every ounce of hp I could out of it. I did mod it with the air cleaner and snorkel system from a HO 305 version Z28 which made 5 more hp and I had a Kenwood cassette/radio system installed so I could listen to tunes when driving. My Z28 production date was held up due to lack of 4 speed B&W T10s availability so Chevy had to substitute a 4 speed Saginaw trans to get the car built. B&W was gearing up for the 1983 Camaro with the new 5 speed being offered. It was a fun car to drive but a real dog in the hp arena but that was the norm back in 1982!

95birdible · 10-12-2019, 12:38 PM

In 87 my buddy drove up to Moorhead, MN from Minneapolis to pick me up from college cause we had a party to attend that night. It took us just an hour and 55 minutes to travel the 230 miles. We also stopped at a McDonald's drive thru for something to eat. This was back when the interstate had a max speed of 55. Fun but scary ride home.

wjones14 · 10-12-2019, 04:32 PM

Interesting, but pathetic.

But what they said about performance starting to come back was true. In 1975, the Z28 was dropped from the lineup completely, and the late '70s Mustang II was a 4-cylinder joke.

I special ordered a 1984 Z28 with the L69 H.O. 190 horsepower engine. The standard Z28 engine in 1984 I believe was 175 horsepower. And mine had a 5-speed manual. The video said it was a 4-speed, though I think they may have been wrong.

Nonetheless, we've come a long way since then, thank God.

redcoats1976 · 10-12-2019, 05:39 PM

back in those days i was driving a 1966 pontiac tempest with a 400 and headers.i hurt a lot of guys with iroc zs feelings with that car in straight line contests.

Indy_62 · 10-12-2019, 07:17 PM

At that time I was working at a Chevrolet dealer as a line tech. Although I never owned one I was very familiar with that generation Camaro. I thought the Z28 and the following IROC Z were good handling cars. I didn't care much for the cross fire injection but the later tuned port injection was a good performer. Carburetors were good as well but could not meet the emissions standard so they were soon to disappear. As far as actual performance...there was not anything from Chevrolet that was an outstanding performer...so it was all relative....a lot of noise at full throttle...and then disappointment.

dpevans · 10-12-2019, 07:42 PM

74 Z28 and though it was nothing in a straight line you could scare the crap out of hitch hikers on the on/off ramps.

17rsvert · 10-12-2019, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpevans

74 Z28 and though it was nothing in a straight line you could scare the crap out of hitch hikers on the on/off ramps.

Were they in the car with you or on the side of the road?

SteveV · 10-13-2019, 10:42 AM

I would guess, both...

Norm Peterson · 10-13-2019, 11:15 AM

In '82 we were three years into a 33 year ownership of a '79 Malibu, needing back seat and trunk space for what had become the four of us. By that time, the 155-hp 305 had been coaxed into putting out about a Z28 amount of power, well below what it eventually ended up with when an EFI'd 350 ended up under the hood.

I remember thinking before we got the 'bu that if I didn't get a V8 in our next new car I might not ever get the chance again. Sometimes it's nice to be wrong . . .

Norm

10-12-2019, 11:02 AM	#1
17rsvert Drives: 2017 HBM 2LT RS Convertible V6 A8 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: NJ Posts: 654	They don't make 'em like they used to... thank God https://www.motorious.com/articles/n...ang-gt-in-1982 These were considered among the best high performance cars at the time. I bought a new 1984 Sport Coupe with the same V8 as that Z/28 and thought it was pretty cool at the time (what's better than a T roof?) Crappy acceleration, but it made up for it by getting almost 15 mpg.

10-12-2019, 12:24 PM	#3
SteveV Drives: 2018 ZL1 Camaro 6M Red Hot Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 1,137 View My Garage	In '82 I was in high school and driving a beat up 1976 Pontiac Sunbird. You remember: the mini Firebird. I had the old iron duke 4 banger and a 4 speed muncie. I beat the shit out of that car. Sold it 1 week before boot camp... __________________ People are a lot like slinky's: not very helpful most of the time, but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs...

10-12-2019, 12:24 PM	#4
LT4Greg Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,813	Brings back memories for me as the first Camaro I owned was a 1982 Z28 that I special ordered thru a dealer. It was dark blue with a 305 4 barrel quadrajet, Saginaw 4 speed trans, vinyl upholstery and no radio. It was truly a stripper Z28 that had a hardtop. Think that little 305 had 140 hp which was normal for V8s back then, but I extracted every ounce of hp I could out of it. I did mod it with the air cleaner and snorkel system from a HO 305 version Z28 which made 5 more hp and I had a Kenwood cassette/radio system installed so I could listen to tunes when driving. My Z28 production date was held up due to lack of 4 speed B&W T10s availability so Chevy had to substitute a 4 speed Saginaw trans to get the car built. B&W was gearing up for the 1983 Camaro with the new 5 speed being offered. It was a fun car to drive but a real dog in the hp arena but that was the norm back in 1982! __________________ ZL1 Coupe, PDR, Exposed carbon fiber hood insert, My Link with Nav, M6 6 speed and Silver Ice Metallic. Mods done: ceramic window tint, GM Accessories Camaro floor mats and Roto-Fab CAI.

10-12-2019, 12:38 PM	#5
95birdible Drives: 2012 1SS Camaro Convertible Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Blaine, MN Posts: 1,674	In 87 my buddy drove up to Moorhead, MN from Minneapolis to pick me up from college cause we had a party to attend that night. It took us just an hour and 55 minutes to travel the 230 miles. We also stopped at a McDonald's drive thru for something to eat. This was back when the interstate had a max speed of 55. Fun but scary ride home. __________________ 2012 1SS Crystal Red Convertible "Cherry Bomb" Winner of the #NameThatCamaro Spring Special Edition "Green Flash"

10-12-2019, 04:32 PM	#6
wjones14 Drives: 2021 BMW M2 Competition Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Niantic CT Posts: 775	Interesting, but pathetic. But what they said about performance starting to come back was true. In 1975, the Z28 was dropped from the lineup completely, and the late '70s Mustang II was a 4-cylinder joke. I special ordered a 1984 Z28 with the L69 H.O. 190 horsepower engine. The standard Z28 engine in 1984 I believe was 175 horsepower. And mine had a 5-speed manual. The video said it was a 4-speed, though I think they may have been wrong. Nonetheless, we've come a long way since then, thank God. Attached Images __________________ 2021 BMW M2 Competition 6MT 2011 Candy Lime Green Kawasaki Z1000 (1/4 mile - 10.38 @ 129.61 mph - stock) ---------- Previous: 2018 Summit White 2SS 1LE; 2015 MINI Cooper F56 6MT; 2015 BMW M235i 6MT; 2003 MINI 5MT; 2005 Mustang GT 5MT

10-12-2019, 11:16 AM	#2
Zaqwert6 Drives: 2SS Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: USA Posts: 396 View My Garage	In '82 I was driving a big block mopar. Lol. So yea. ;-)

10-12-2019, 05:39 PM	#7
redcoats1976 Drives: LT W/2LT,blue metallic Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: central florida Posts: 4,915	back in those days i was driving a 1966 pontiac tempest with a 400 and headers.i hurt a lot of guys with iroc zs feelings with that car in straight line contests.

10-12-2019, 07:17 PM	#8
Indy_62 Drives: 2017 2SS / 2003 S10 Crew Cab Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Rogers, AR Posts: 43 View My Garage	At that time I was working at a Chevrolet dealer as a line tech. Although I never owned one I was very familiar with that generation Camaro. I thought the Z28 and the following IROC Z were good handling cars. I didn't care much for the cross fire injection but the later tuned port injection was a good performer. Carburetors were good as well but could not meet the emissions standard so they were soon to disappear. As far as actual performance...there was not anything from Chevrolet that was an outstanding performer...so it was all relative....a lot of noise at full throttle...and then disappointment. __________________ Never say never!

10-12-2019, 07:42 PM	#9
dpevans Drives: 2024 Riverside Blue 2SS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,208	74 Z28 and though it was nothing in a straight line you could scare the crap out of hitch hikers on the on/off ramps.

10-13-2019, 10:42 AM	#11
SteveV Drives: 2018 ZL1 Camaro 6M Red Hot Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 1,137 View My Garage	I would guess, both... __________________ People are a lot like slinky's: not very helpful most of the time, but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs...

10-13-2019, 11:15 AM	#12
Norm Peterson corner barstool sitter Drives: 08 Mustang GT, 19 WRX Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Eastern Time Zone Posts: 6,990	In '82 we were three years into a 33 year ownership of a '79 Malibu, needing back seat and trunk space for what had become the four of us. By that time, the 155-hp 305 had been coaxed into putting out about a Z28 amount of power, well below what it eventually ended up with when an EFI'd 350 ended up under the hood. I remember thinking before we got the 'bu that if I didn't get a V8 in our next new car I might not ever get the chance again. Sometimes it's nice to be wrong . . . Norm __________________ '08 GT coupe 5M (the occasional track toy) '19 WRX 6M (the family sedan . . . seriously)

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