The dashboard features becomes smaller and sharper because of complaints about the design quality and look. Aside from the new transmissions, base coupe and Berlinetta carried on as in 1982 with very little change other than newly available colors. The automatic overdrive was also available on the base coupe and Berlinetta, but was not available with the L69 H.O. The 3-speed automatic transmission in the Z28 was replaced by a 4-speed unit with overdrive.
The camaro white book manual#
A 5-speed manual transmission replaced the previous 4-speed. Transmissions were also improved for 1983. Due to the late introduction, only 3,223 L69 V8s were sold this year, making one in good condition a rare find today. This engine was only available with manual transmission in 1983. The Camaro had a significant change in the Z28 engine lineup: the lackluster and trouble-prone LU5 Crossfire 305 V8 was supplanted in April 1983 by an all-new simpler 5.0 L L69 4 bbl 190 hp (142 kW) High-Output (HO) V8, giving the Z28 a much-needed power boost to be competitive with the 5.0 Mustang GT. However, the car that actually paced the event was equipped with a highly modified all aluminum 5.7 L V8 not offered publicly, although there are rumors that four were actually produced. Engine choices in the pace cars were the same as the regular Z28.
The pace car edition featured special two-tone silver/blue paint and special striping, orange pin-striping on 15-inch Z28 wheels, and a silver/blue interior with six-way Lear-Seigler manually-adjustable seating. The Camaro Z28 paced the Indianapolis 500 in 1982, and over 6000 replicas were sold through Chevy dealers. Z28 badges appeared on the right rear bumper, and on the side valances. Standard were new 15x7 cast-aluminum five-spoke wheels accented with silver or gold. Just above the valance was a two-color lower body stripe that encircled the car. The Z28 had a different nose, a three-piece rear spoiler and front, side, and rear lower body valances in silver or gold. Performance enthusiasts of the day gave the new Camaro rave reviews for its styling and handling, but also made critical remarks about the relatively low power ratings and lackluster performance compared to Ford's Mustang GT, with the High Output 5.0 Litre(302 cubic-inch) V8 and Top-Loader four-speed manual transmission.Īll Z28s came with lightweight fiberglass SMC hoods with functional hood air induction flaps on RPO LU5 cars. The carbureted engine was available with either a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission and put out a 145 hp (108 kW), while the optional Cross Fire Injection 305 was rated at 165 hp (123 kW). The Z28 came standard with the 5.0 LG4 4bbl V8 or the optional LU5 twin TBI `Cross Fire Injection' 5.0 L.
The camaro white book full#
It also came standard with additional body insulation and full instrumentation. The interior came standard with custom cloth interior, a rear storage well cover and additional carpeting on rear wheelhouses. The tail lights got a gold and black horizontal divider bar. Its own lower body pinstriping, gold "Berlinetta" badging, and headlamp pockets were painted in an accent color. The Berlinetta came standard with its own unique 14x7 finned aluminum wheel with gold accenting and `Berlinetta' center cap. The Berlinetta came standard with the 2.8 LC1 V6 or the optional 5.0 LG4 V8. Dog dish-style hub caps were standard wheel covers were optional as were steel, five-spoke 14x7 body-colored rally wheels. The Sport Coupe came standard with the 2.5 L 151 cid LQ9 four cylinder engine. Third generation Camaros also had a suspension system that was much more capable in corners than the previous generation. Three models were available: Sport Coupe, Berlinetta, and Z28. The Camaro Z28 was Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year for 1982. The 1982 model introduced the first Camaros with factory fuel injection, a hatchback body style, and a four-cylinder engine (due to concerns over fuel economy in the wake of the 1979 energy crisis). The Third-Generation Camaro was released for sale in January 1982. The third-gen Camaros would continue through the 1992 model year. These were also the first Camaros with factory fuel injection, four-speed automatic transmissions, five-speed manual transmissions, four-cylinder engines, 16-inch wheels, and hatchback bodies. It continued to use General Motors' F-body platform and would produce a "20th Anniversary Commemorative Edition" for 1987 and "25th Anniversary Heritage Edition" for 1992. The third-generation Chevrolet Camaro was introduced for the 1982 model year.