traksta15

What's up guys, i've been gone for a few years but I used to be a member a few years, but the car (90 rs) got totaled and i've owned a truck ever since.

So now im back on the hunt and i'm wanting to restore a 3rd gen! So here's my questions:

What are the best camaros (not firebirds/trans ams) to restore as far as options go (power windows/leather seats, small conveniance items like that)

as far as engines go i'd like (i.e. love!) to get a 350tpi (these started in 87 and were in the iroc-z's and iroc-z28's right?)

Here are the main things im looking for:


power window/locks
no t-tops or convertables
a factory v8 would be nice
ground effect kit would be good, but could always add on myself.

So what looks to be my best option (year and trim) for a restore? Any help is greatly apprececiated guys! Thanks in advance!!

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

1. 1991-1992 Z28's (Speed Density and PBR brakes)
2. 1989-90 Irocs (Maf, and PBR brakes) I think the 90's were Speed Density though too, not sure.
3. 1987-88 Irocs (Maf, and Ac delco calipers)

traksta15

which is better between the maf or speed density? Can you tell a difference performance wise?

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

SD is better for tuning... Some MAF people convert to SD. I would like to convert to SD if I keep this engine, but at this point I am not sure what my plan is motor wise. LsX is looking pretty good right now, but my engine right now is pretty stout.

I think the 91-92 with dual cats got like 15 more horse power and torque. Not sure though.

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

1990 is SD, first year. Plus the new interior. A 1990 IROC is pretty good choice becaue of the half production year and the last years of the IROC.

cIaRmOaCrZo

a maf is way more forgiving with mods. its parameters can be more forgiving than sd. for instance, if throw in a cam, or exhaust, or intake ect., without a tune, speed density will not be able to make adjustments to allow the change done to the engine, so it will run like crap. hence smaller parameters. maf has much less trouble making changes due to mods

okfoz

1987:
-350 was introduced
-305(LB9)/M5 was also introduced
-only IROC was available with the 350

1988
-The manual trans was improved
-The cam was made a bit hotter for the L98 and the LB9/M5 with G92
-Z28 was dropped, only Z28- "IROC-Z" remained
-1LE was introduced to public (only 3 made)

1989
-Dual cats became available on
-Rear shoulder seat belts were introduced
-All F-bodies came with the VATS
-T-tops with the 350 was overwhelmingly available for 1989.
-Rear Brakes were improved for 4 wheel brake optioned cars, which was taken from the 1LE cars. Mid year the rear brakes were improved even more with a new proportioning valve.

1990
-SD was introduced
-Airbags were introduced
-Interiors were updated
-Last year for IROC
-Very short production run as production stopped on Dec 31, 1989.
-T-tops with the 350 was NA
-Cam was degraded slightly, but with the new SD compensated for the decreased cam profile.

1991
-Production resumed for all models in Feb of 1990 as 1991 models
-Body panels were updated
-Z28 was reintroduced as top model.

1992
-Heritage edition was introduced that included special stripes.
-There were some structural adhesives which were added to all models, this was to aid in the new model process' which was to be introduced for 1993.

traksta15

sweet, thanks for all the info guys!! If I can't find the exact car I want and end up putting in a built engine, whats a good engine to start with? Im wanting to get around 350hp in the end, to be faster than todays modern cars (mustangs/camaros/hemi's, etc) and above all, making it more fun to drive than stock.

What do you guys suggest? I was looking at a 350tpi, or even a LT5 would be sweet! What do you guys suggest?

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

The LT5 will be unique, however insanely expensive to swap in. GM did it and I think it's been done once beside that, but bang for buck is horrible.

I am not sure what you mean by start with? Any GM V-8 is a good start... for first gens start with a 350. LT1 or LS1, doesn't matter much. Nice thing is that you can swap in a stock LS1 and make 350 HP and be dead nuts reliable AND get 25+ mpg. If you mean in the car... if you want an Auto a 350 is a good start, if you want a manual a 305 is a good place... if you are interested in engine swaps go read the engine swap section.

okfoz

To really compete the easiest, quickest, no brains way to go would be to get an LS2 engine and drivetrain, then stuff it into a 3rd gen... Here is a link to a Supercharged LS1 that really kicks butt:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...ld-1989-a.html

If your going to go through all the trouble, why not start with a lesser LG4, or LO3 or LB9 IROC and then go from there... much less expensinve up front, if your changing the engine anyways, why modify a car that would potentially have value?

John

traksta15

thanks again for all the info guys, this forum rocks! Looks like i've got a few decisions to make lol, I need to get with my dad and decide whats the best bang for my buck, he's a pretty big fan of the 350's (him and my grandpa both have them in their show cars) and they get pretty good results. I don't really care about mileage as long as it's not gallons per mile lol. Will any 350 fit, or does it matter what it came out of? My grandpa has a 396 with less than 50k on it just sitting in his shop, wonder if I could talk him into selling it to me (or donating lol), what kind of horsepower do you guys think I could get out of this? If I could snag it for free, i'd have a good 2-3k ish to throw at just the engine.

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

The 396 is probably a big block, that is a very different swap then a Small Block (350).

My suggestion to you is to go read Wikipedia on Small Block Chevy engines, and then go from there.

traksta15

yeah ive been all over wikipedia, especially in the camaro section. Its just a lot of info to remember all at once, at least for me it is lol. Im positive I can get 350+ hp out of a 350, im just wanting to know what other options are possible, and what options are possible for those engines lol. Sorry for all the newb questions guys, the 350 will prob be it for me, they're very common, and easy "modable" (sp?).

John in RI

iTrader: (167)

I restore 2-3 cars a year..... The best Camaro to restore is one without ANY body problems. By that I mean rust or damage to the vehicles structure. As long as the structure is rust free and undamaged; It can be rebuilt.

WE can all suggest what the best Camaro is...... but only you can PIC the Camaro your gonna' restore. Take your time and be sure to pick "the right" one !

traksta15

i've been browsing craigslist for the past few days, looks like I can get one running for around $1k, found a couple for less but theres no motor or tranny, which is fine. I think the main thing im worried about is im wanting a fuel injected engine, but most of the ones I see in my price range are all carbed, i've been browsing the engine swap section and im just trying to find out what all i'll have to replace. Thanks again for all the help and info guys!!!

p.s. i found an 84 z28 that says it has no a/c or radio, is this the 1le? Or just a busted up z28? lol

Iroctopless

No. 1LE's weren't around until '88. Likely either that car simply didn't get those options or they're removed or don't work.

traksta15

lol thanks for clearin that up. It's been pretty hard trying to find a decent camaro in my price range. My dream would be an iroc or a z28, but what going to end up happening (I think) will just be a big carbed 350 in the best camaro I can find (i.e. not an iroc or z28).

Iroctopless

Just FYI . . . If you do find a 3rd gen Camaro with a carb'd 350, it won't be stock. They never had one. The only 350 they did get was the L98 TPI available only in the Z28 & IrocZ. The very rare exception was the RS with the RPO B4C police package.

So if you want a Camaro with a 350 carb'd, you'll need to find one that was swapped in. Be sure to verify it's actually a 350. Many guys try to pass off 305's as 350's. Or you could do it yourself, but you might risk ending up spending as much to do it as a Camaro with an L98 already in it. Depends if you have a carb'd 350 kicking around and can do all your own labour.

traksta15

Me and my dad had a talk tonight, we talked about what I could expect as far as price goes for a decent camaro (body wise), we both agreed a carb setup will be my easiest route, plus this is what his camaro and my grandpas belair have, he said i can get 350ish horsepower easily out of one.

We also talked about me just buying a 350, tearing it down and rebuilding it while im on the hunt for my camaro, that way when I find it I can immediately start on the body work and restoration process.


What kind of mods do you guys recommend? So far my list (off the top of my head) is:

headers/true dual exhaust setup
aluminum heads
cam
bore it out
performance carb


what else? My budget is prob going to be 3-4k for the engine, less is def better.

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

True duals are a bigger pain for most people then they are worth. A single 3" will support 350 hp. Generally 1 hp per ci is pretty easy. Go read the exhaust board to learn about good Thirdgen exhaust systems. As far as alum heads and other things, well, a lot depends on what your plan is. Getting some crappy alum heads will be worse then a set of Iron Vortecs. Boring the engine out isn't going to gain you much. The block may need 30 over which will give you a 355, but realistically it isn't going to ad any power.

Your cam needs to match your heads which need to match what you want for a power band. Throwing a bunch of random parts together will no perform near as well as a well matched head/cam/intake combo...

okfoz

Interestingly Iron heads which are identical to Aluminum heads outperform Aluminum... slightly... the benefit is the Aluminum heads are lighter and the added weight of the Iron typically does not offset the gains made from them, so most people go with the Aluminum heads when looking for power...