Raysur

My brother and myself are restoring his '84 Corvette. We have a buildsheet coming in a few weeks but we need to get this off our minds. When the car ran it rode rough. I liked how stiff it was though. On choppy roads my head would hit the targa top. I can't find the buildsheets on the car so I looked for stampings. I can't find a Z51 stamping anywhere. So I tried measuring the sway bars. Since I don't have calipers at my house I took an adjustable wrench, closed it on the sway bars and measured it. I came up with 25MM front and 23MM rear. Is it a Z51? Are there any more ways of knowing. The car is on blocks right now. The engine bay is almost finished.:cheers:


[Modified by Raysur, 11:12 AM 3/16/2003]

CarAteMyMoney

Did it come with a power steering cooler, oil cooler, etc... Also are there extra braces up front? There should be a good article about it on corvetteactioncenter.com and if you do a search on here, you should find something - if all else fails check the cargo compartments in the back for RPO codes but im sure you did that already - good luck! :cheers:

blkmagik85

All I know is that mine has an RPO code list under the rear deck lid that lists the Z51 option. You might check the shocks to see if they are the stock Bilstein brand just for the heck of it. But they could have been changed I suppose. You also might turn the wheel lock to lock and I think it should be 2.5 for Z51 and 3 if not. Not possitive. Hope that helps.

RedZR

I think the 84 Z51s also had puller and pusher cooling fans, that is one fan on each side of the radiator.

Even the base 84s rode very rough...very rough but they are a great autocross car because the corner as if they were on rails.
Dan

VetteRacer282

Your in luck 25/23 IS the 84 Z51 sway bar sizes. Base was 24/20... the front I could see the wrench measurement being iffy, but the rear (3) is too big to mistaken...

So YES your car is a Z51. You said you liked the ride... but if you change your mind and want to sell your springs shoot me an email :D
I dont pay much attention to the forums anymore, so I may have missed it, but post pictured or a link to pictures of your car, I would like to see what kind of stuff people are doing in restorations of these...

Matt

AGENT 86

I would check for the rpo codes. Mine were on the center console door.Look for Z51. I believe the base sway bar in front is 26 mm. As for power steering coolers,oil coolers,heavy duty rad,twin fans, i have that but they were all options without having the Z51 option. Good Luck!!


[Modified by AGENT 86, 3:02 PM 3/16/2003]

Raysur

Thanks for the replies. I can't even find the rpo codes in the compartments. I'm happy it's a Z51.:cool:

Matt,
I'll post pictures of it soon. It's looking better than new. :smash:

If anything our springs will magically swap eachother... while i'm at it I'll take his rearend too. It has somewhat low gears.:D


[Modified by Raysur, 11:20 AM 3/16/2003]

Ironcross

Thats easy if the original wheels are still on the car. It was the only car produced except the AAR 1970 Cudas. That had different size wheels up front than the rear until the ZR1`s. You cannot swap the tires and wheels. Each wheel and tire has to remain on that corner of the car because the tires are directional. Most 84`s were rough riders however and that may not be a clue. The rear wheels are wider than the front on original cars. :thumbs:

Raysur

The wheels do have stampings on them that say left rear only, right front only and such. So the answer was easier than I thought.:crazy:

Thanks :cheers:

Ironcross

Your welcome! :cheers: One other thing, all other Vettes had a rake in front. {Front lower than rear} The Z51 optioned cars set level, no rake. Probably due to the front spring. :D


[Modified by Ironcross, 6:45 PM 3/16/2003]

VetteRacer282

The springs wont fit your car. 84-87 is different in the front then 88-96, rear would fit, but wouldnt balance the car well. As for the rear end, your better off finding a D44 to slap in there ;)

The wheels up front on the 84 Z51 were 8.5 wide, rear were 9.5. All 84-96 (except 5 spokes) are left/right specific.

Matt
P.S. Still battling my power steering system :(

CFI-EFI

The base 1984 had 8.5" wide wheels, front and rear. I bought my car when it was only two years old, and have never found the option sheet. It is NOT in one of the storage compartments, like the owners manual shows. I have yet to look on the top of the gas tank. Try there. Good luck and...

RACE ON!!!

wcarpen

on my 84 there is a rpo code sheet under the storage door behind drivers seat

WVZR-1

20 years and 8 months late maybe to be of any value to the thread. OP had his answer I believe the same day 3/16/2003

LiveWire1

Steering is 2.0 turns lock to lock in a Z-51. Base cars are about 2.5 turns.

Magnet

HD / Z51 / FE7 Front Stabilizer bar (1984) part# 14048992

HD / Z51 / FE7 Rear Stabilizer bar (1984) part# 14060110

😎👍

Phobos84

Maybe he just wants to re-live 2003. I know I had more hair then and a lot less stress. Maybe the same is true for the OP

WVZR-1

I doubt HD ball joint rather the control arm had different bushings. The Z51 I believe was just to make the selection easier on the assembly line.

Joe C

sorry, deleted the post. ..whatever the reason, they stamped the control arm identifying it as z51. side by side, the ball joints are clearly different. from the parts manual, there is no difference in part numbers between a z51 car and the non-z51 (which includes bushings and ball joints). if there's no different in p/n's you got to wonder "why" stamp them - ??????