steves

Pay the $50 have them weld it on.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Nearly done with the muffler I think. In fact, I had planned to go to a shop and install it today, but it snowed.

Motown

Looks new! Post pics when you get it on.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Sounds like a stock IROC again.

Whatever leftover mouse nest crap still left inside sure smells like it's burning up.


Pics later.......

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Here we go, some cosmetic housekeeping still required.








I need to redo the way the hanger is bolted together on the driver side. Its hard to remember exactly how things go together without a reference. The lower picture is from my untouched '89 IROC.















It's also a little bit lower on the passenger side. I need to figure that out somehow. Below that is my '89 IROC for comparison. I think that I also have to loosen the clamp and try to twist the muffler tips up a bit, to match the fit of my '89. Anyone have any tips?

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Anyway, it sounds sweet. I've always loved the mellow burble of an OEM IROC exhaust.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Son of a B, they charged me $90. They had to cut the intermediate pipe off of the OE muffler with a torch, and cut the old muffler off of the existing factory intermediate pipe, and use a pipe expander on the muffler.

No way could I have done this at home with hand tools.

Motown

$90 is still a good deal. I had a passenger side tailpipe hanger break last summer (I have aftermarket tips) and I was charged 75 for one hanger.

Any way to get a sound clip of the way a factory muffler sounds with an LB9? Sad to say I have no idea what one sounds like.

steves

At least you didn't have to pay $600.00 for an oil change.

Sean O'Hara

how rare are these yellow irocs?

chazman

iTrader: (4)

If I can figure out how to do it, maybe I can post a video. Too bad you don't live close by, I'd tell you to swing by.

The reason I spent so much energy finding an OEM piece is that I really appreciate how well the factory got these cars to sound when new. Nice, agressive tone, with no droning. Remembering them new, one of the things which made these cars so attractive to me were their distinctive sound. For me, that's a big part of the experience.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Around 10-11K were made from '85-'87.

steves

His black one sounds bad-*** when he gets on it. It'll give you goose bumps.

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

For being a single exhaust setup that wasn't quite 3", these cars did sound good from the factory. When I still had mine, people thought that I had a quieter model of Flowmaster on it. Magazines noted in the 80s that even though the 5.0s had dual exhaust, the Camaros were louder and sounded better stock for stock.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Almost everyone thinks my '89 has some kind of aftermarket exhaust on it. I spent so much time and money on my Crossfire trying to duplicate that sound, (which I never quite succeeded in doing), that this time I was determined to just go with an OE piece. I would have also done an SLP 2OTL, if I could have gotten one first.

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

What mufflers did you try? What about Dynomax or Edelbrock?

ZF6camaroZZ4

Looks really nice!! First iroc that hit the showroom floor in town was yellow. If we didnt just have a few yellow cars, we probably would have bought one. Still makes me think/wonder about it.......

Very cool find

steves

You should still look for a 2OTL for the white car.

Sean O'Hara

ah, cool..I see a yellow one every day sitting in some warehouse parking lot, probably in rough shape. wanted to see whats the deal and fix it up. but i didnt wanna **** with it if yellow was a super rare color.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

If I run across one locally, I'd buy it.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

On that car everything is new, from the L69 exhaust manifolds to the tips. Custom made to my specs. It now has a stock style replacement muffler with 2.5" tips. I had a Flowmaster, (against my better judgement), initially, and I hated it.

One regret I have, is that I didn't bring home the stock muffler/tailpipe assembly from the exhaust shop when they removed it.

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

So what brand did you settle on? What was the "stock style" muffler?

chazman

iTrader: (4)

A "no name" brand from the exhaust shop. That's how badly I wanted to get rid of that droning Flowmaster. I was on a little time crunch. I needed to get the car ready for the ride down to Indy for the '08 Camaro Gathering. No way could I drive 3 hours with that Flowmaster drone hitting my head like a ball peen hammer.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

I did some more detailing around the muffler/tailpipes. Looking much better.

I figured I'd take it for a ride today in order to blow out any more mouse poop out of the muffler. Took it on the highway for the first time.

Some obsevations: In the 3rd gen world, this car is fast. Faster than I was expecting. You can peg the 85 mph speedo in what seems like a blink of an eye, if you're not paying attention. Weird to see a speedo needle at the 6:00 position. SOP, feels like a 5.7 under the hood.
In that vein, this car needs a posi and/or new tires, BADLY. I realize that temp wise, this is not a good traction day, but you can spin the right rear tire at 30 mph, if you floor it and the trans downshifts. If they come out with repo Gatorbacks soon, I'll get a set for my '89 and transfer it's nearly new F1s to this car.

It does pull to the right a little and the steering wheel isn't completely centered. I'll get that looked at. Wouldn't be surprised if that happened on the transporter which brought it here.

eseibel67

Could be. To those transport guys, the nice long tie rods used on 3rd gens would be a convenient tie down point. In your case, they might have pulled the left side down extra tight!

Motown

Trust me Id love to see your collection if I lived just a tad closer.


Your lucky you can drive yours already. Up until yesterday our roads are still covered in road salt. No chance at driving mine until we get some rain.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Re-did the leather hanger and reused the factory bolt and washer. After I cleaned the dirt off, the center leather piece has a yellow insert.

Richboll

My first Camaro was yellow, I have always loved a yellow Camaro. Good job on this one. Awesome looking car.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Thanks. Chipping away on it.

Jason E

With it being nearly 70 out today, and having dry roads, I succumbed to the urge to get SOMETHING out of mothballs. The easiest one was my 88 TA. I will concur with what Charlie said...a strong cammed 305 sounds nice and goes down the road very nice I did a few 0-60 runs for fun, shifting around 4k or so, and I gotta say this thing hauls *** and is fun to drive.

And indeed, it sounds pretty sweet too! It makes me wonder how good it would be with a bigger exhaust...at the same point, being the original GM one, why mess with it? I have both TAs up for sale at the moment, but admittedly I'm not trying very hard to sell either one, and will probably end up just buying a lift to park the IROC over the SS, and keeping both TAs...

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Atta boy......

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, until another one that you really want comes along!

Jason E

Hey, listen...yeah, I got nothing

In all seriousness, I am beyond done buying cars. The only reason I got the SS was because my father really wanted to unload it, and I have chased the car since 2003. The 86 was supposed to go when I bought the 88, but then Norwood came up. Damn Norwood

I fired up the 86 last night after hibernating all winter. I didn't move it...damn, I miss not driving it Even with having the 88, I still love the 86...the color, that creamy smooth automatic, the smoother ride. Maybe they both need to stay, after all. I'm actually really looking forward to pulling the 86 out this Spring and driving it some...I've only put about 1,000 miles on it since the paint job.

(Yes, I know I have a problem)....

KMK454

I was looking at the GMMG exhaust online... it looks like you could buy one, cut it and make it into a "GMMG 2OTL" exhaust.

1MeanZ

iTrader: (9)

A good friend of mine locally has an 85 Z28 that has been well cared for mechanically. It runs treally strong for what it is too. In an impromptu stoplight confrontation with my stock(at the time) 5.7 GTA he kept up better than I thought he might. I've driven the car a fair amount as well and even thought I HATE the stock automatic, it really is an awesome car for what it is. It is deceptively quick. I'd say the 85s have all of their 215hp factory rating and them some.

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

Haha. Neither does Charlie. You are both officers of the Third Gen Buyers and Preservation Club. Only those with 3 or more mint or near mint Thirds need apply.

1MeanZ

iTrader: (9)

you couldn't be more right. Every time I feel like a nut case for having 2 nice thirdgens, I just log on here and all of a sudden I'm not quite as crazy!

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

That's why TGO is here.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Yeah, that's why Jason can't sell any 3rd gens. If he does, it'll make me feel self concious.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

So, the steering wheel leather was showing some wear. On some spots the dye was worn off exposing some brownish leather. I was considering ordering a leather restoration kit for about $60 to try and freshen it up.
Anyhoo, I'm at Wally World picking up afew things, and I see a bottle of Kiwi "Scuff Cover" in black. I figured for 3 bucks I'll check it out on my steering wheel, worse comes to worse, I can still use it on my shoes.

I apply it to steering wheel leather and let it dry, holy smokes!!!, it looks brand spanking new again. I put some on the shifter and parking brake handle leather too while I was at it too.

Jason E

Yeah yeah, don't worry about it While I haven't pulled the TAs off the "Firebirds for Sale" page here just yet, I am working on a plan to likely keep them. Can you say 2 Direct Lift 8,000 lb lifts, one next to the other, in the garage?? I sure as hell can

From my rough measurements, 2 lifts will fit just fine. Because my garage is "double deep," I will have the IROC parked on top of the SS in the RF spot, one TA over the other in the LF spot, my truck parked in the RR spot, and the Z28 in the LR spot, as that one is driven the most. So, for about $4,500 and a bunch of sweat labor, I can have 2 lifts, 5 F bodies, and a wife that will be expecting SOMETHING for all this madness...

All so you don't have to feel self concious Happy now??

Jason E

Dude, be proud. Seriously. I saw a beautiful black GTA on the way home earlier, and I gotta tell you...there is something about a 3rd gen Trans Am with just the parking and fog lights on, coming down the road at you....soooo mean. I would be proud if I was you...a beautiful IROC and a beautiful GTA would make me happy. I feel lucky to have my dream IROC, and 2 beautiful TAs.

And at the end of the day, at least you can be comfortable knowing I am way crazier than you

chazman

iTrader: (4)

See. I don't ask for much.

1MeanZ

iTrader: (9)

I am very blessed and thankful for what I have. I have to admit that where I'm "guilty" is in the engine department. My IROC surprises no one, if the roll bar and race seat don't communicate business the exhaust note and rolling 2nd gear burnouts close the deal. My GTA is a beautiful survivor with original paint and 90k on it now. It was supposed to be the mild comfy one. I found engine problems and so in a few weeks I'll be dropping in a 383 that will make every bit as much or more power than my IROC does. It will be coupled to a T56. It will be appropriately muffled and ALL the creature comforts will remain in place, no cutting and no mods that can't be reversed, but did I really need to build a 480hp and 525ftlbs engine for it? OF COURSE I DID!

Jason E

Sounds nice! I admit because of my lack of tech skills, and desire for comfy cars, I don't mod much...but I can appreciate the work of those who do.

Charlie,
Should we take what IZ28 had to say and expand on it? Start our own club of preservationists? NO PARTING ALLOWED if we have a forum

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Count me in!

I'm really impressed by 1MeanZ's ability to work on his own cars the way he does. And his stuff is all done so properly.

Jason E

I can't say I've seen his work, but any man that can stuff an IRS in an IROC has my vote for quality work

Hey IZ28, can we get TGO to add a Buyers and Preservationist's section? I'm sue Charlie and I can moderate...ourselves

(Seriously...would anyone else qualify to show up????)

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Like I said, I'm in.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Anyone ever use this stuff? http://www.metalrescue.com/home.aspx

Looks like cool stuff. I wish I ran across it before I killed all of those Scotchbrite pads on that muffler.

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

ROFL, that's funny. Though I look at this board as a preservation type of board already and a place where people can get information before a purchase concerning originality and such. Body and Interior are somewhat included in that. But no, we cannot make a board for you two. Yet.