83LX Coupe

[Sleepin83]

Hey everyone, I'm new here. Yeah Yeah i know. Anyway i picked up a 83LX Coupe last fall and am just getting to trying to get it ready to go. Its just a roller at the moment but, I have been putting together a fairly decent parts selection so far.

Here's what i have so far.

89 donor car, drive train etc
Five lug swap

What i need.

5.0 top end, prefer gt40 or better
Interior, thought about swapping to sn95 but like the original interior as well


The day i brought her home


What she looks like now, not too much different


Original thoughts are stock 89 short block, gt40 top end, 150 shot.
This one is going to stay an automatic, aod for now, eventually C4

I'm in need of a nice interior, prefer black but gray would work too. As long as its not porno red.

[TopGear85]

Looks like a straight car you have there, a great foundation. I'd go with the 83 interior if it was me, but the sn95 would look nice as well. What color interior did the car originally come with? Anyway, welcome to the site and congrats on a great looking 83. I'm sure you will have no problem getting all the parts you need to make your vision come to life, and this site will definitely help you with anything and everything along the way. Post more pics if you get some time...she looks great!!

[Sleepin83]

The seats in it were charcoal gray, specked black and gray. Dash is black. I'm thinking of staying with the original interior too. The sn95 would be cool but it would take way to much work i think. And the original would accept aftermarket gauges better. As soon as i get further with the build i'll post more pics for sure.

[FoxChassis]

Welcome to FEP. You should be able to source almost everything you need from the FEP classifieds. Stick around and keep us up-to-date on your project.

Not to be nit-picky but the "LX" model/series debuted in the '84 model year.

2-dr sedan (coupe) models/series:
'79 = [base], Ghia
'80 = [base], Ghia
'81 = [base], Ghia
'82 = L, GL, GLX
'83 = L, GL, GLX
'84 = L, LX
'85 = LX
'86 = LX

[Sleepin83]

I'll have to run the vin, but thanks!

[FoxChassis]

The VIN won't tell which it is (L, GL, or GLX). The body code (26) and engine options (A, 3, or F) are the same for all three.

[Sleepin83]

So how do you tell?

[FoxChassis]

Exterior and interior trim are your biggest clues. Some examples are...

L = black mirror(s), no rocker molding (bright molding optional), high-back bucket seats (L only), 2.3L only
GL = black mirror(s), black rocker molding
GLX = bright mirrors (black w/ T-roof), bright rocker molding

If the car had high-back bucket seats or a four-cylinder engine code, it would be an L model. If it had a mirror on the driver-door only, it would NOT be a GLX. If it had no rocker molding it would be an L. If it had black rocker molding it would be a GL.

The trim code on the door tag would tell you for sure, unless the "sport" seating was ordered (same code for GL and GLX). Each of the standard and optional seating had a unique primary code (secondary code is for interior color)...

A_ = vinyl seating, high-back front buckets (L series)
B_ = cloth & vinyl seating, high-back front buckets (L series)
C_ = vinyl seating, low-back front buckets (GL/GT*/Turbo GT* series)
D_ = cloth & vinyl seating, low-back front buckets (GL series)
E_ = leather seating, low-back front buckets (GLX/GT*/Turbo GT* series)
F_ = cloth & vinyl seating, low-back front buckets (GLX/GT*/Turbo GT* series)
H_ = cloth Sport seating, low-back front buckets (GL/GLX/GT*/Turbo GT* series)

*The GT and Turbo GT series wasn't available on the coupe body.

[Sleepin83]

Wow! Thats alot of info. Problem being is i got it pretty much empty. It did have both mirrors, and black molding i believe. I'm also unsure on the interior, not sure if its what came in the car or not. But they aren't hi back seats. At this point i guess i have to assume it was a GL then. Thanks for the info.

[oldford_69]

welcome aboard, is the garage it's in at your home???

[Sleepin83]

No garage at home. My shop is up the road from the house. LOL!

[FoxChassis]

The "rocker molding" I posted about is on the very bottom of the side of the body, between the wheel wells only. It is a metal trim panel clipped to the rocker panel. I'm not talking about the body-side molding that runs along the middle of the whole body.

[dburdyshaw]

Looks right at home there. Lotsa good potential.