I'm looking at getting another camaro, just want opinions on it. It has everything I like including the t-tops, tpi, year, b&m shifter, etc..... I really want another project car. Its just hard to find the right one at the right price. Anyways, check it out:
http://buffalo.craigslist.org/cto/1692187822.html
If its truly a rebuilt motor then its not a bad price. Ask for receipts. Almost every car on craigslist has a "rebuilt" motor. No receipts no work. Who spends all that time and money rebuilding an engine and trans and doesn't have receipts?
If no receipts then low ball him.
Thats true I was thinking that too. I just can't wait to have a project car again. I sold my 84 z28 for my fiances wedding ring. The ring was $5,000, sold the Z for $2400, and paid off the rest. So....time for another Z!
That year was bad for electronics in the TPI system. Slower computer and more problems. First thing to look into is a computer from a newer year (up to 88) I also do not believe the iroc had a 350 its first year, but I am rusty on my third gen info. Check the t tops for any leaks, move the rubber t top gasket and look for rust in the roof. For 2900 I would take off the plate where the t tops slide into and make sure. He is asking a good amount for the year, so should be ok with it. If you need anything for it go to thirdgen.org
not worh it. To me a Camaro is not worth getting unless it has a LS1 or better.
FU Tuning
They pretty much bolt in nowadays, those pesky LS1's More room to work with and there are many 4th to 3rd mods available. Or for the price difference make the 350 a vortec stealth ram combo and no ls1 needed
There is a lot you can do with that old TPI. One advantage is that most all old-skool SBC stuff directly interchanges. If the TPI system and computer just annoyed you, you could toss a carb/manifold/distributor on it and have a ball for cheap money.
Bill Hahn Jr.
Hahn RaceCraft
World's Quickest and Fastest Street J-Bodies
Turbocharging GM FWD's since 1988
www.turbosystem.com
Despite my love of 3rd gen firebirds I detest the Camaro. However if your looking to get one this isnt the year to get, look for a 91-92 350 they are cheap and make quite a bit more power as well as less road noise, the most refined of the generation. The 305 isnt worth dog @!#$ esp in 85 which is the first year for the TPI
Removing the TPI to put a carb on is downright stupid and inefficient. Not to mention I think it kinda kills the look of the engine, the TPI was a good looking engine with those big intake runners. There are soooo many bolt ons for the TPI that pretty much any novice can do. If your going to change the intake manifold you can do a holley stealth ram, TPIS, the list goes on. You can even just swap out the runners with Edelbrock or SLP, throttle bodies, intakes, chips are burnable (check out moates.net), if your doing headers with the 350 you can do long tube with the bigger primaries. If its the 305, you need shorter and thinner tubes, they dont make better power with the bigger headers. The 305 can be swapped with alot of aftermarket 350 heads and they do benefit a bit more from that than the L98 350.
Check out high tech gm performance on the web and thirdgen.org, theres alot of info out there to sift through. I've done quite a bit of research on GTA Trans AMs of the era since I'm thinking of trading the TTA for one.
1989 Turbo Trans Am #82, 2007 Cobalt SS G85
What I'd REALLY like is an 86-88' Iroc Z, black or white, t-top, with the TPI, and with a rebuilt motor. I was never much of an engine guy, so I'd be better off getting something that was already rebuilt. I probably wouldn't buy this one unless it was in realllly nice condition, but it is pretty damn close to what I'm looking for, and much closer than my 84' Z28 was.
Rodimus Prime wrote:Removing the TPI to put a carb on is downright stupid and inefficient.
Well, heh, I don't know if I'd go THAT far, lol! It can be done with great results and extremely efficient cost factors. Keep in mind, this is merely one option of many to consider.
Never underestimate what a SBC can achieve in power per dollar with a decent carb and manifold combo, especially when compared to the very dated stock TPI.
Bill Hahn Jr.
Hahn RaceCraft
World's Quickest and Fastest Street J-Bodies
Turbocharging GM FWD's since 1988
www.turbosystem.com
It's worth the money as long as it isn't a rust bucket. 2nd and 3rd gens seem to rust from the inside out. I would run the casting numbers on the motor to make sure it's a 350, because just about everybody that has a 3rd gen says they have a 350 . Check www.mortec.com for info. 350's didn't come out in 3rd gens until 87 anyway.
Putting an lt1 intake on a tpi motor is the cheap way to go if you want to keep the efi and add some performance.
Theres not much of a cost difference if any to go with the 350. These days though its hard to find a car with original everything, esp a 3rd gen. I think these are the most abused generation of F-bodies out there.
1989 Turbo Trans Am #82, 2007 Cobalt SS G85
i think thats a better deal^
1989 Turbo Trans Am #82, 2007 Cobalt SS G85
^ I'm going to see it tomorrow, if all goes well that baby is mine
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