1984 CORVETTE

  • The eagerly-awaited sixth-generation Corvette for the '80s missed the 1983 model year completely, but arrived in spring 1983 in an all-new form.
  • An aerodynamic exterior featuring an "acute" windshield rake (64 degrees) covered a series of engineering improvements.
  • A one-piece, full-width fiberglass roof (no T-bar) was removable.
  • It had a transparent, acrylic lift-off panel with a solar screen optional.
  • At the rear was a frameless glass back window or hatch above four round tail lamps.
  • Hidden headlamps were featured, along with clear, integrated halogen fog lamps and front cornering lamps.
  • The dual sport mirrors were electrically remote controlled.
  • The unit body (with partial front frame) used a front-hinged "clam shell" hood with integral twin-duct air intake.
  • The sole 1984 V-8 was L83 350-cid (5.7-liter) V-8 with cross-fire fuel injection.
  • Stainless steel headers led into its exhaust system.
  • The air cleaner and the valve train had cast magnesium covers.
  • After being unavailable in 1982, a four-speed manual gearbox returned as the standard Corvette transmission (although not until January 1984).
  • A four-plus-three-speed automatic with computer-activated overdrive in every gear except first, was offered at no extra cost.
  • It used a hydraulic clutch.
  • Overdrive was locked out during rigorous acceleration above specified speeds and when a console switch was activated.
  • Under the chassis were an aluminum drive shaft, forged-aluminum suspension arms, and a fiberglass transverse leaf spring.
  • Power rack-and-pinion steering and power four-wheel disc brakes were standard.
  • Optional Goodyear 50-series "uni-directional" tires were designed for mounting on a specific wheel.
  • Inside, an electronic instrument panel featured both analog and digital LCD readouts in either English or metric measure.
  • A Driver Information System between the speedometer and tachometer gave a selection of switch-chosen readings.
  • At the driver's left was the parking brake.
  • Corvette's ample standard equipment list included an advanced (and very necessary) theft-prevention system with starter-interrupt.
  • Other standard equipment included: air conditioning; power windows; electronic-tuning seek/scan AM/FM stereo radio with digital clock; reclining bucket seats; leather-wrapped tilt/telescope steering wheel; luggage security shade; and side window defoggers.
  • Body colors were
    • White
    • Bright Silver Metallic
    • Medium Gray Metallic
    • Black
    • Light Blue Metallic
    • Medium Blue Metallic
    • Gold Metallic
    • Light Bronze Metallic
    • Dark Brown Metallic
    • Bright Red
  • Two-tone options were
    • Silver and Medium Gray
    • Light Blue and Medium Blue
    • Light Bronze and Dark Bronze
  • Interior colors came in Carmine; Bronze; Graphite; Medium Blue; Medium Gray; and Saddle

I.D. NUMBERS

  • The serial number [Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN] was stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.
  • The Serial numbers ranged from 1G1AY07*2E5100001 to 1G1AY07*2E5151547
    PositionCharacterDescription
    11US built
    2GGeneral Motors product
    31Chevrolet Motor Division vehicle
    4AType of non-passive passenger restraint system
    5YCorvette car line series
    6 & 707Body style number: two-door hatchback coupe
    885.7-liter Cross-Fire Injection (CFI) Chevrolet V8
    9?A check digit that calculates the characters in the serial number and gives it a single digit code and can be used to verify that the serial number is legitimate
    10EThe model year 1984
    115Bowling Green, KY
    12-17100001 and upproduction sequence
  • Engine serial number began 0001001
  • Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block just ahead of the cylinder head on the right-hand side combined with a three-letter engine code suffix
  • Also cast into the top rear of the block is a four-symbol code indicating when the engine was built
    • The first letter of the date code shows the month the block was cast
    • The one or two numbers shows the month
    • The last digit shows the year
  • Engine suffixes:
    CodeEngineHorsepowerCompressionTransmissionFuel SupplyEmission Control System
    ZFCL83 350-cid205-hp V-89.0:1THM automaticcross-fire fuel injection 
    ZFDL83 350-cid205-hp V-89.0:1manualcross-fire fuel injection 
    ZFFL83 350-cid205-hp V-89.0:1THM automaticcross-fire fuel injectionCalifornia
    ZFHL83 350-cid205-hp V-89.0:1THM automaticcross-fire fuel injectionfor export
    ZFJL83 350-cid205-hp V-89.0:1manualcross-fire fuel injectionfor export
    ZFKL83 350-cid205-hp V-89.0:1THM automaticcross-fire fuel injection 
    ZFML83 350-cid205-hp V-89.0:1THM automaticcross-fire fuel injectionCalifornia
    ZFNL83 350-cid205-hp V-89.0:1THM automaticcross-fire fuel injectionCalifornia
    ZFRL83 350-cid205-hp V-89.0:1THM automaticcross-fire fuel injectionCalifornia
  • The 1984 Corvette exterior colors were:
    • 10 = White
    • 16 = Bright Silver
    • 18 = Medium Gray Metallic
    • 19 = Black
    • 20 = Light Blue Metallic
    • 23 = Medium Blue Metallic
    • 53 = Gold Metallic
    • 63 = Light Bronze Metallic
    • 66 = Dark Bronze Metallic
    • 72 = Bright Red
    • 16/18 = Silver and Medium Gray
    • 20/23 = Light Blue and Medium Blue
    • 83/66 = Light Bronze and Dark Bronze
  • Upholstery Codes
    ColorCloth & Leather UpholsterySport Cloth UpholsteryLeather Upholstery
    Green12C12V 
    Medium Gray15C15V152
    Medium Blue28C28V 
    Saddle62C62V622
    Bronze65C65V652
    Graphite  122
    Carmine  742

IDENTIFICATION

ModelModel No.Body/Style No.Body TypeFactory PriceShipping WeightProduction Total
Corvette1YY07
2-dr. Hatch Coupe - 2 passenger		$21,800308851,547

ENGINE

FeatureStandard Engine (RPO L83)
TypeV-8, 90-degree Overhead valve
BlockCast iron block
Displacement350 cid (5.7 liters)
Bore & Stroke4.00" x 3.48"
Compression ratio9.0:1
Brake horsepower205 @ 4200
Torque290 lb-ft @ 2800
Main bearingfive
Valve liftershydraulic
Fuel supplyCross-fire fuel injection (twin TBI - throttle body injection)

TRANSMISSION

Automatic Transmission
  • Four-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic (TMH 700-R4)
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 3.06:1
    • 2nd = 1.63:1
    • 3rd = 1.00:1
    • 4th = 0.70:1
    • Rev = 2.29:1
  • Final drive ratio: 2.73:1
Manual Transmission
  • Four-speed manual with overdrive
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 2.88:1
    • 2nd = 1.91:1
    • 3rd = 1.33:1
    • 4th = 1.00:1
    • overdrive = 0.67:1
    • Rev = 2.78:1
  • Final drive ratio: 3.07:1 (optional 3.31:1)

CHASSIS

FeatureCoupe
Wheelbase96.2 inches (2.443 m)
Overall length176.5 inches (4.483 m)
Overall width71.0 inches (1.803 m)
Overall height46.7 inches (1.186 m)
Front tread59.6 inches (1.514 m)
Rear tread60.4 inches (1.534 m)
Standard Wheel size15 x 7 inches
Optional Wheel size16 x 8 inches
Standard TiresP215/65R-15
Optional TiresP225/50VR-16
Steeringrack and pinion (power assisted)
Front suspensionSingle fiberglass composite monoleaf transverse spring with unequal-length aluminum control arms and stabilizer bar
Rear suspensionFully independent five-link system with transverse fiberglass single-leaf springs, aluminum upper/lower trailing links and strut-rod tie-rod assembly
BrakesFour-wheel power disc
Body constructionUnibody with partial front frame
Fuel tank20 US Gal (16.7 Imp Gal) (76 liters)

OPTIONS

RPO AG9Power driver seat$210
RPO AQ9Sports cloth seats$210
RPO AR9Base leather seats$400
RPO AU3Power door locks$165
RPO CC3Removable transparent roof panel$595
RPO D84Two-tone paint$428
RPO FG3Delco-Bilstein shock absorbers$189
RPO G92Performance axle ratio$22
RPO KC4Engine oil cooler$158
RPO K34Cruise control$185
RPO MM4Four-speed manual transmissionno-cost option
RPO QZDP255/50VR-16 tires and 16-inch wheels$561.20
RPO ULSRadio delete$331 credit
RPO UM6AM-FM stereo radio with cassette$153
RPO UN8AM-FM stereo with Citizens Band$153
RPO UU8Delco-Bose stereo system$895
RPO VolHeavy-duty radiator$57
RPO YF5California emissions certification$75
RPO Z51Performance handling package$600.20
RPO Z6ARear window and side mirror defoggers$160

HISTORICAL NOTES


  • Introduced: March 25,1983
  • Model-year production: 51,547 (in extended model year)
  • Calendar-year production: 35,661
  • Calendar-year sales by U.S. dealers: 30,424
  • Model-year sales by U.S. dealers: 53,877 (including 25,891 sold during the 1983 model year)
  • Car and Driver called the new Corvette "the most advanced production car on the planet."
  • Motor Trend described it as "the best-handling production car in the world, regardless of price."
  • Heady praise indeed.
  • During its year-and-a-half model run, orders poured in well ahead of schedule, even though the new edition cost over $5,000 more than the 1982 version.
  • The body offered the lowest drag coefficient of any Corvette: just 0.341
  • Testing at GM's Proving Grounds revealed 0.95G lateral acceleration-the highest ever for a production car.
  • Only 6,443 Corvettes had a four-speed manual transmission and only 410 came with a performance axle ratio, but 3,729 had Delco-Bilstein shock absorbers installed.

1984 CORVETTE PHOTOS


1984 Corvette 1984 Corvette 1984 Corvette

LITERATURE & LINKS




email me: