I have an '85 Camaro Z28 with a 305 and a T-5 transmission. It just passed emissions and is waiting for me to put the carb and fuel line back on so I can get the throw-out bearing put on. It was once red, then white and now black. The body does not appear to have any damage or rust. I have about $2200 in it (purchase, emissions fix, and a replacement carb to replace the one I screwed up).

I just found an '87 Camaro Iroc-Z. It supposedly has a 350. It does have TPI. It is an automatic. The car has been repainted. Around the strut towers the bolts and the mounts show some rust as if something happened, and something had to be changed. It has a 140mph speedo. I didn't check how many miles are on it. The guy has it listed for $1800.

What I want ultimately is a 500hp 6-speed. It seems like the ideal would be to buy the second car and transfer the stuff I want to my car, take the stuff from my car and put it on the second car, and sell it. I don't know that I have the skill, time or energy to pull that off. In either case I have to get a 6-speed and x-member.

Open to suggestions...

Jason

 

sounds like you should just keep your car since your happy with it and are familiar with it... a new car could mean new troubles..

go to a junkyard and rip a 350 out of something, have that built n drop that engine in...

keep your 305 for a back-up, thats the route i'd take

 

That makes sense. Essentially what I was looking at was the TPI, 350 and 140 mph speedo. From what I have read to buy those parts alone could cost as much as buying this car. And everyone has advised that having the whole car is almost essential to make sure you have everything for the swap.

I am more comfortabkle with the body on my car, but I am more comfortable with the engine on the other car. Which has higher value?

I will probably go with your advice, but want to understand car selection a little better for the next time.

Jason

 

well obviously the car with the 350 and PROBABLY a 700r4 transmission (that has overdrive) is the better car blue book wise... but do u plan on selling it when u get it? lol

alot of thigns to take into consideration, body shape, how rusty is the underneath, how many miles (how the miles were put on, highway, town, how hard was it ran, etc) that makes a car worth more than the other.

the 350 prob has the posi rear which your probably does not (i dont know exactly and he may have switched some things)

even at that, 1800 is alot of money for an used car, especially a thirdgen if the body isnt in that great of shape and theres wear on the stock engine.
again I would still say stick with your car and do the work yourself