OK, I've got a dumb question. We just bought an 82 and it came from the factory loaded with every option possible, most of which are pretty obvious even to me. How do you tell if it came with the gymkhana option? It has a pretty hefty sway bar at 1.123" and the ride is stiff but since this is my first vette I have nothing to compare to. Any dead giveaway signs?

I believe on my 78 the gymkhana option was a rear sway bar. I don't have that option and there aint no sway bar under my back end. Don't know if it consisted of anything else or is any different for an 82.
Still can't figure out how they came up with that name?

Jeffm2007-07-23 17:38:58

FE7(gymkahana) suspension was just a larger front bar, and stouter springs at all 4 corners...
The larger front bar was a bit over 1" diameter, so yours would be right. If you can look at the front springs, up where they fit into the "pocket" of the frame, you may be able to see a tag on them, with a part number. This would tell you for sure, IF the tags are still there. a lot have not survived over the years, but...if they were placed far enough up on the spring, they are protected better, and the survival rate increases as a result of the protection from the elements.Adams' Apple2007-07-23 20:05:14

You can purchase a biuld sheet and a window price sheet for your '82 from the National Corvette Museum. That will tell you for sure.

Great information everybody! I suspect that the gymkhana option exists on this car (why would the original owner not get that $61 options when he got everything else!) I'm gonna look for tags next ime it's up on the lift. The car looks pretty well untouched underneath except for some new mufflers so maybe I'll get lucky and find tags.

Yes, '82s with the optional Gymkhana (FE7) suspension option will have a 1.12" front sway bar, a nine-leaf steel rear spring pack, and a 9/16" rear sway bar.  In contrast, stock (non-Gymkhana-equipped) cars have a 0.875" front bar, monoleaf fiberglass rear spring, and no rear sway bar.

I didn't know about the sway bar, but on mine, the papers said it was ordered and I have 9 leafs on the rear spring.  I'm guessing it's good!  Else it would be 7 leafs I think.

The big-blocks all had the rear bar. The heavy-dooty(FE7-ZO7) springs were 7 leaf on your car, Stephane.

I've always wondered what this hard to pronounce word ment:  Gymkhana