chazman

iTrader: (4)

So, GM supposedly stopped using the yellow Delco-Bilstein rear shocks on IROCs in 1989 replaced by the all black Delcos. However, my Dec 1988 built '89 still has the yellow shocks and my May 1989 built '89 has the non-discript black Bilsteins. I have also just seen a '90 IROC with the yellow ones.

Which ones did your cars have?

LiquidBlue

Not sure if Firebirds where also using Bilstiens, but my 1990 WS6 Formula had black. But pretty sure they say Delco on them. Still have them. I have Bilsteins on my BMW and LOVE them! (they are yellow)

There was a low milage IROC 89 or 90 on BaT and it had yellow, will see if I can dig it up.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

I'm fairly certain they were an '85-'90 IROC item only.

LiquidBlue

A trip to the parts books may be able to clear that up.

LiquidBlue

Guess it was an older Z, but throwing in the pics anyway, they are great,





it was very low miles

LiquidBlue

Here are the Pontiac part numbers for the front struts.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Pics of my May '89 build IROC.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

ray jr

iTrader: (2)

the 89 iroc with 440 miles that sold on BAT has a date on the door of 10/88 and they appear to be black

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Any pics, ray?

I'm curious now. I just looked at a few undercarriage pics of 1LEs, 1989-1992 and they all have black shocks.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

After discussions on the Players FB page, it appears that all '89-'92 1LE/RU7 got the black Delco rear shocks instead of the yellow Bilsteins. I noticed my '89, G92 hardtop, (rear shocks pictured above), sat .75-1.00" lower than my other non-G92 '89, when I needed to make room in the garage and pushed them together.. When I checked the 4 spring codes on the G92, they are the same as used on some 1LEs. Still trying to determine how my car got these black Delcos instead of the yellow Bilsteins.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I know in 89 GM improved the strut and shock internals for better control/handling. Have seen videos and a couple mag articles about it. Maybe they decided that the bilsteins were no longer needed? Maybe the contract with bilstein expired?

chazman

iTrader: (4)

I had always believed that GM switched to the black Delcos in '89 and figured my 12/88 build '89 'vert was just using up leftover Bilstein parts, since my black G92 was built on 5/89. Then someone mentioned that his 4/89 built IROC had the yellow Bilsteins. Then I saw someone's 10/89 built 1990 with factory yellow Bilsteins.

So, I'm not sure what to make of all that.

Maybe the Delcos were matched with shorter code springs, instead of the Bilsteins????? I don't know, I am very curious now.

okfoz

I believe there were differences between the Factory Firebird (FE2/WS6) and the Camaro FE2 shocks. The Firebird was supposed to be a softer ride, so they got the larger sway bars initially, and the Camaro got the "wonderbar".

I may be wrong, but I was under the understanding that the Camaro got the oil filled shocks/Struts and the Firebird got the Gas shocks/Struts. At least from the factory... This does not mean that replacement parts were not the same in the parts catalogs either. I do remember reading articles which reviewed the Camaro and Firebird mentioned that the Firebird had a better ride and the Camaro was more harsh...

okfoz

So in connection with my previous post, thanks to Liquid Blue
FIREBIRD
85-92 Front FE2 Struts Firebird: 22064121
82-92 Rear FE2 Shocks (Exc 1LE): 22064414

91-92 Front 1LE 22064153
91-92 Rear 1LE 22064149

CAMARO
88-90 Front FE2 22047999
91-92 Front 22064121 (Includes B4C w/1LE)
89-92 Front 1LE 22064153

85-90 Rear (exc 1LE) 22064030
91-92 Rear (Exc 1LE) 22064414 (Inc B4C W/1LE)
89-92 Rear 1LE 22064149

It is interesting to note that in 1991 when the wonderbar went away, the Camaro started using the same shocks as the Firebird.

John

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Thanks John. Interesting that the part number of my rear shocks don't appear there. 22082373

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

Bilstein shocks were an IROC-only thing, beginning in 1984, with the 1985 IROC-Z; that's understood. So when GM's contract expired with the I.R.O.C. at midnight, December 31, 1989, and no more 1990 IROCs were produced going forward, the contract with Bilstein probably also would've expired, hence the rear shock change for the 1991 model year.

Then, simply, GM, knowing the 1990 IROC run was going to be short, believed/hoped its stock of Bilsteins would last through 12/31/89. But it ran out, or, at least, thought it had, during 1989 production, so it began phasing-in its own Delco brand shocks, rather than trying to procure more stock from Bilstein. Then at some point during the timeline, "HEY! I FOUND ANOTHER CASE OF BILSTEINS!"

So any overlap involving Bilstein shocks and Delco shocks during the 1989 and brief 1990 production runs was, most likely, due to some manner of Delco phasing-in its own brand, while expending its stock of Bilsteins. Doubt it was more complicated than that.

LeonardS

Everyone knows that Firebirds/TransAms were made for girls, so they had to have a soft ride🤓

okfoz

Firebirds were more for those who were discerning, had a higher expectation for quality. Interestingly the 91-92 Camaro got the Same setup as the Firebird...

okfoz

IT may be more of the fact that the service numbers could be different than production numbers.

The numbers on your shocks were production part numbers, the production part number could have been a replacement at one time, it could be they phased out the number and my book being from late 1992 early 1993 would have used the later replacement number.

John

okfoz

Was the underside of your car painted black? The reason I ask is even the fuel lines are black, and normally those are Silver (aluminum) coated...

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Mine? No, everything is gray sealer from the factory.. My fuel lines aren't on that pic, that's the passenger side shock.

EDIT: Oh, never mind. You weren't talking to me.

okfoz

I should have specified Liquidblue

LeonardS

Hopefully you know that I was joking.

LiquidBlue

That isn't my car, a real low mileage Camaro on BAT that I saw. But yeah, it had been undercoated.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

It'd be interesting to get pics of the rear shocks of some of the original '89/'90 IROCs here and see what's what.

Dougs91Z

iTrader: (1)

Just did a fuel pump swap on my '89 G92 IROC and it also has the black Delco shocks in the rear. Its a 3/89 build date.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Cool. The only thing I know for sure is that none of the '89 G92 or 1LEs I've seen have had the Bilsteins, they all had the black Delcos.

We need a larger sample.

okfoz

As was I

JT

iTrader: (1)

You was?

From Pontiac's 1987 dealership sales book. Established status symbol:




I'm sure I seen that same "discerning" term used in the sales literature but maybe I'm thinking it's for a different car of mine.

okfoz

Indeed, back at one time a Chevrolet was for the "hoi polloi" (Common people) and Pontiac was for the "poor but proud". That sentiment did carry over until they ceased production.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Let's bump this one back up.

LiquidBlue

I'm hoping to get over to my garage next week if all goes well. Will try to remember to get some photos of the factory shocks from my 90.