Da Spudro

Just curious... I did a search and could not find any threads with this topic. Anyway the point of this is to see how many people have L69 IROC-Z28's (Non IROC L69's fine too as their still part of the brotherhood), or to find out if there is a registry of them somewhere to find out how many are still around.

so..... Who's got one beside me?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Updated 01-February-2014~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
85 IROC-Z L69's
Da Spudro - Need's Lots o' Love
daveb123 -
dellman83Z - RIP Due to Tow Truck a@#-hat-ery
Dueling73s -
jminton - Console Clock, Recaro Seats, Third Wiper
855speed -Modded, but still has all the original parts (except third wiper)
Rick Hendrick - Nascar Team Owner, Part of his Camaro Collection
iroc_zz - Black, Saddle interior, Ls contour seats, Gold wheels, t-tops, overhead console, mostly original.
mr.oldv8 - Build Page
mmorley1024 - Non-Posi, T-Top, PW, PL
eddietheripper - Mint, 13,000Km
HankL69 - Yellow , swapped out rear end 3.27 Limited Slip, other mods - which can all be reverted to factory if needed.

85 T/A L69's
bcp19 - Being Repainted / Restored

84 Z28 L69's
sonjaab - Auto, 3.73, 100% Stock
84Camarodriver - Auto, 3.42 Gears
FormerL69 - T5, Sold 1991-92, RIP?
drjewalton - T5
kmcn47 - Auto, 3.73 Posi, All Stock
FJA1791 - 5 Speed, Low Options, & A/C Delete
David M - Restored 97-2001, Auto, Rear Drum, Non-Posi 3.73

84 T/A L69's
Jeffs82TA - Auto, WS6, Sold 2006
84ws6ta - Auto
the209bnr - Auto, 3.73 Posi, tons of options including videos (See Post #74).
sc@hms - 5 speed, 3.73
pontiacguy1 - 2 Car which will become one, Anniversary edition, Auto, 3.73 Posi
jez3941 - Auto, 3.73 Limited Slip (4.11 currently), Disc Brakes, (350 currently installed)

83 Z28 L69's
Z28FAST1 - T5
sc@hms - 5 speed, 3.73
69-er - Original Owner, concentrated more on performance
Darth 93 - 5 speed, 3.73
jraider66 - 5 speed, 3.73
83Z28/L69 - 5 speed, 3.73 (swapped for 3.42)

83 T/A L69's
buffaloman - T5, Posi

sonjaab

Well.........I don't have a IROC but I do have a 84 Z-28 with a L-69 auto.
100% stock down to the dual snorkle air cleaner and tubes...............
It has the Aussie 9 bolt and 3:73s.
I have the window sticker.

Its got 165,000 miles and still crusin'!

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

L69 IROCs are very, very rare and it's cool that you have one. They only made 2,497 L69s in '85 and 74 in '86 due to alleged fuel boiling problems. And it's disputed whether any of the '86s were actual street cars.

Using a (likely very generous) estimated survival rate of 10%, that leaves us with about 250 85-86 L69s. And don't forget that not all of them will be IROCs. Some will be Z28s. Many others will be clapped out and modified beyond virtual recognition. I think your odds of getting struck by lightning are better than finding another nice example on here!

FWIW, it would be cool if you could post pics of this rare vehicle in this thread for historic purposes.

2007xl50

I would love to see this car myself. I have never see a L69 Iroc, but use to work with a guy back in 1996 that had a mild modded L69 Z28

paul_huryk

I have seen they - back in the day at least.

Problem is that in 1985, the TPI made the most power but was saddled with an automatic. The L69 was only slightly slower with a 5 speed and was able to become faster with the aftermarket parts available at that time, the TPI essentially had nothing speed wise in the aftermarket until a few years later when companies like SLP started making upgrades.

Plus driving a carb is no fun in cold weather, where injection is so much easier to deal with.

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

Not according to this video test. The L69 was actually quicker even rock stock. An L69 TA ran a 14.7 at 89 MPH, beating a TPI IROC...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y0tOZco-jg

Now THAT's rare, an L69 '85 Trans Am. I wonder how many of those were built. Anyone know?

daveb123

I've got one! PO ran a 14.85, and he weighs 285-300#

Da Spudro

never dragged mine, but i'm about 280-ish. i love to drive her, but she is slow as hell. even still i get a huge grin every time i get behind the wheel. i went looking online to see if i had some pics i posted previously and no joy. Owned her for about 13 years now. was driven daily for my college car, then parked it in my garage when i graduated and it's been waiting for a restoration since. i'll have to get pictures later. that being said mine is probably not the best example for historic purposes. the previous owner put 91-92 Z28 hood blisters on it as well as removed the factory rear spoiler and put on a 91-92 Z28 high rise. i've debated on putting it back to factory, but i like the blisters and spoiler. the previous owner also misplaced the duel snorkel setup so it's missing that and i haven't been able to find a complete setup for a reasonable price. otherwise it's stock, original with roughly 180K+ miles. black with the custom black and purple interior (supposedly a rare factory option), 4 wheel discs, t-tops, rear security roll, power driver seat, overhead console, and power everything. i had a video of it running somewhere.....nothing wrong with an 84 Z28 sounds clean, would love to have seen mine brand new, but you did confirm something for me. i thought all l69's were 5-speeds, a buddy said he knew a guy with an 84 L69 with an auto, i called BS, guess i need to go apologize now.

Edit*** - found one picture from about 10 years ago.... sorry it's not the best.

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

Cool thanks. Personally I'd take it back to stock but that's just me. It's a very rare car and sounds mostly intact. Fortunately, it should be easy to find your missing parts as over 50,000 1984 L69s were built.

Yes, L69s could be had with an auto, in 1984. In its other years it was 5-speed only.

paul_huryk

Never even seen that test - until now - thanks!

I have two road test books (from magazine articles) and the TPI IROC typically ran 2 tenths and 1mph quicker than the L69. But we are talking motor trend type of testing, lol.

dellman83Z

iTrader: (9)

Unfortunately, my other donor car(whats left of it) is an 85 L69 IROC. It was a restorable car when I got it, no rust, but needed a lot of TLC because it sat for 8 years under a pine tree. The sad thing is that when the tow truck driver was pulling it out of where it was, he hooked it to the plastic bumper to try to get it out of the ground because it was sunk down. Well, tore that right off. Then, to add insult to injury, he finally hooked it underneath by the a arm and started pulling it VERY hard I guess to get it out. You can imagine how that twisted the subframe, about three inches up and wrecked the fender, door, cracked windshield from stress. Unfortunately, I was not there to witness all of this, but at least I had pics. You can imagine my face when he brought it to my dads house and seen it. He claimed that it was like that before he towed it and accused us of lying and trying to get him fired. Then he proceeded to unchain the car and just lower the bed and let it go. We managed to prevent that. After a talk with the owner of the company, we got paid 3000 and the car to simply keep our mouths shut about the whole situation. Glad I only paid 500 for it originally. From what I gather, the kid that did the tow was a relative of the owner and did not know what to do. I really hope he never towed another car. Anyways, I really had no choice to part out a lot of it because of that, such a loss though.

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

Sadly, more of these cars have fallen prey to idiocy than any other type of vehicle I'm afraid. I hope this poor '85 T/A wasn't an H.O.!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVvjB4csdzw

Jeffs82TA

iTrader: (1)

Rare or not I would have taken the Mustang in that era. Why it was faster.

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

It was also a lot cheaper, but didn't handle as well and wasn't built as well. Still, for the money, the 85-86 GT's and 87 and up LX 5.0s were great values. Hard to argue with mid to low 14s for what is today's equivalent of about 20k. Now, new minivans and Accords can run that but, back then, they were among the fastest new cars on the street.

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

GM teamed the L69 with most of the go-fast options that were available for the years that they were produced. I'm not sure of what the rear-gear options were in '86 (the last year of the L69) though. From what I have read I think I saw a figure like only 74 were made. I don't know if that exact figure is true but, I know it was a small number compared to the LG4 and LB9 engines that were produced that year.

Here goes what I remember about L69 production – please correct me if I am wrong:

In '83 the L69 was only available with a 5-speed and 3.73 rear gear in the Z28. GM introduced the option mid-year in production so there were not a lot of '83 L69 cars produced.
In '84 the L69 was available with a 5-speed and the 700-r4. I'd like some clarification here. I know you could get an L69 in '84 with 3.42 gears and the 700r4. Could you also get the L69/700-r4 combination and 3.73 gears? I am assuming that you could still get the L69/5-speed/3.73 gear combination in '84 as well.

In '85 you could only get the L69 in the IROC. It was also only paired with the 5-speed and 3.73 gears. It was the same pairing of drive train components that came out in the '83 Z28. With the '85-'86 Z28's you were only allowed to pick the between the LG4 (both 700-r4 & 5-speed available) and LB9 engines pared with the 700-r4 only.

Was a posi-rear mandatory with the L69? I've seen many Z28's and IROC's from '85-'86 with the LB9 that didn't have posi-rears.

Dueling73s

iTrader: (4)

Here is Mine

84Camarodriver

i have a L69 84 Z28 thats awesome that you have a L69 IROC what does everyone think of the l69 compared to the other 305'S?, my 84 has no posi : (

Da Spudro

yaj15 - Mine came with a Posi, Can't speak for all.

Dueling73s - Very nice.

84Camarodriver - I think mine is slow as hell, but it's a blast to drive, and the cam is just aggressive enough that with the right exhaust the causal pass by thinks it has alot more power then it really has.

i have true dual straight pipes with cherry bombs inside 3.25" chrome tips. (something i failed to mention earlier was the computer controlled carb was replaced with a electric choke non computer controlled Q-Jet off a 425BB Caddy - tried going back to stock, but couldn't afford it at the time and it's been parked until i get around to restoring it, or resto-moding it). i have the carb tuned to idle around 650 RPM, anyway to most people it sounds like a drag car. to the trained ear you know it has all bark and no bite, but i have gotten out of alot of Rice-r races because i just looked at them and said "you're kidding right" and they tucked their tails.... sadly if they called my bluff i would have been obliterated.....the power of suggestion.

i've thought a couple of times since mine is already not completely original going to another motor, i was thinking of an LQ9, but i wanted to keep the car true to it's nature, so i would buy the carb kit for it and do the LSX Carb thing to it as well as try to find a comparable cam to give that little bit extra that the L69 cam offered to the standard 305. i would of course mate it with a T56.

FormerL69

iTrader: (2)

You are are correct. I had an '84 L69, 5-spd with a 3.73 posi -- all factory. Sadly, it was a midwest car and was already rusting badly when I got in in '89. Thinking back, it's hard to believe how much rust was already setting in when the car was only 5 years old. My dad and I repaired the body rust and repainted it at that time, but by the time I sold it in '92 or '93 the t-bar was in pretty bad shape. I did VIN search recently and it the last registration was sometime in 2010 so it's either been abandoned or scrapped by now.

84Camarodriver

Awesome post man!, i have hedman 1 5/8th header's to a y-pipe, high flow cat 2.5 inch exsaust to a magnaflow muffler with dual 2.5 outs, the exsaust it came with sounded more beefy but i think thats because it was full of holes, i took the computer controled carb off and mated a non computer controled one with a vacume choke, street fire HEI ignition, lunati 60101 cam it idle's around 625-650rpms will rev to 6000, stock 700r4, i would like to get the shift kit for it and aluminum drive shaft, not to highjack the thread what do you guys think of that set up?

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

Good post. Not much needs correction from what you've said. Here's what I know (I'm not perfect either so someone correct me if I'm wrong too)...

GM teamed the L69 with most of the go-fast options that were available for the years that they were produced.

It was pretty much supposed to be a package deal. Instead of trying to get extra power through the fancy and troublesome Cross Fire system, GM used traditional hot rod tricks on the 305 to make the L69 -- L81 Corvette cam, 9.5:1 compression ratio (compared to 8.6:1 on the LG4), Rochester 650 CFM carburetor, aluminum intake, dual snorkle air cleaner, lightweight flywheel, electric cooling fan and special accessory pulleys for les drag, and a large diameter exhaust with free flowing catalytic converter. Gears were 3.73 on manuals and 3.42 on automatics. This was pre-oil cooler and dual cat exhaust.

I'm not sure of what the rear-gear options were in '86 (the last year of the L69) though. From what I have read I think I saw a figure like only 74 were made. I don't know if that exact figure is true but, I know it was a small number compared to the LG4 and LB9 engines that were produced that year.

According to GM literature, 3.23 gears were standard and 3.73 gears were optional (with the G92 package) for 1986 L69s. And yes, only 74 were built. A very, very small number compared to LG4 (68,293) and LB9 (46,374).

In '83 the L69 was only available with a 5-speed and 3.73 rear gear in the Z28. GM introduced the option mid-year in production so there were not a lot of '83 L69 cars produced.

Correct. 3,223 were produced in MY '83, a small number compared to the 52,457 L69s built the following year.

In '84 the L69 was available with a 5-speed and the 700-r4. I'd like some clarification here. I know you could get an L69 in '84 with 3.42 gears and the 700r4. Could you also get the L69/700-r4 combination and 3.73 gears? I am assuming that you could still get the L69/5-speed/3.73 gear combination in '84 as well.

You are correct in that manual L69s came with 3.73 gears and automatics L69s came with 3.42 gears as standard. As to whether 3.73 gears could be had with the automatic, I don't think so. GM literature does not list an optional gear ratio for the L69 automatic, which is a bit odd given that the Monte Carlo SS had those gears with the 200-4R the following year.

In '85 you could only get the L69 in the IROC. It was also only paired with the 5-speed and 3.73 gears. It was the same pairing of drive train components that came out in the '83 Z28.

This is true. GM literature lists it as IROC only for 1985.

With the '85-'86 Z28's you were only allowed to pick the between the LG4 (both 700-r4 & 5-speed available) and LB9 engines pared with the 700-r4 only.

No. There's at least one picture floating around on this board somewhere of an '86 Z with 5.0 Liter H.O. markings, and GM literature shows it as optional on both the Z28 and IROC for 1986. To get it in the Z28 in '86, you had to order the P235/60R15 tires. For 1985, you're right. The only engines a regular Z could have were the LB9 or LG4.

Was a posi-rear mandatory with the L69? I've seen many Z28's and IROC's from '85-'86 with the LB9 that didn't have posi-rears.

I'm not seeing it listed as mandatory option in GM literature so presumably it was optional.

IMHO, the L69 is a great and overlooked engine. It was the first credible GM performance motor in over a decade, and provided the base for subsequent LB9s and L98s. It's camshaft, for example, continued on in similar format in the L98 and hotter manual transmission LB9s until the end of the run. It was also rated at 27 MPG highway! It would be nice to see at least a few of these preserved.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

If I remember correctly, no posi was available on the L69 in '83, due to durability concerns.

Jeffs82TA

iTrader: (1)

I bought a brand new 1984 trans am ... 305 h.o. with 700r4, I am not sure what gears might have been standard but this one had optional 3.73 gears. Mine was a spectra red with gold on bottom, ws6/4wdb/ had every possible option on it.

cIaRmOaCrZo

i stumble upon a guy who had an 85 L69 iroc. it was blue, 5spd trans and it ran and drove. but the guy had no title for it and he ended up just yanking out the trans to put in his TA, then scrapped everything else. i even offered him scrap price at the time but he wouldnt do it. but does anyone know the engine code on the VIN (8th digit)to tell if it had or has the L69?

drjewalton

I have an 84 L69 5-speed with 3:73 gears. Untouched original right down to the CC quadrajet and A.I.R. pollution control. I feel your pain on power...this was top of the line in 84 with only 190HP?! Still fun as hell to drive though!

Manic Z

iTrader: (1)

The letter would be `G`in the vin if it`s a legit L69 car.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Nice!

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

Thats great information! Ha ha this is like a masters class on the L69. All the books and magazine articles that I have read and kept on thirdgens has paid off!

I still didn't get why all the IROC's and Z28's didn't have a posi rear end. I know it was cheaper to make a non-posi rear so I am assuming thats why GM did it.

I agree with you the idea behind the L69 gave way to the LB9 and L98 engines in later years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y0tOZco-jg

Check out the video. Its a good comparison test between an '85 L69/5-speed combination in a Firebird an a '85 LB9/automatic combination.

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

I like the video. The mustang is just a hair faster than the L69 Firebird and the LB9 IROC. I know the Mustang should have had a real problem keeping up with an L98 or LB9/5-speed/G92 combination, especially one that is modified. With many of the common exhaust and intake mods that many off us have done, that Mustang would easily be beaten.

I also like how they show that Mustang go all over the track in the handling test. To me (even by todays standards) our thirdgens are very stable, and very up to the chanllenge in the handling and over all road holding ability. Yes the brakes could be improved and power could be added but the thirdgens are still the best handling Camaros made.

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

Hmm, that’s kind of strange. I would have figured that with all the available Z28 engines, posi should have been an available option.

That doesn’t make sense to put a high strung engine like the L69 paired with a 5-speed and 3.73 gears and no posi.

I have read some places that GM had a lot of warranty complaints when the L69 came out. Just gives more reason for why GM started using the 9-bolt for later higher performance thirdgens. It also lends a hand to why GM upgraded the 10 bolt (although it was a small) with a little larger gears and higher spline count axles.

buffaloman

iTrader: (5)

MY 1983 L69 5 speed has pois rear from factory and 3.73 gears.
Also the engine vin number for the L69 in 1983 was a 7.
And only 662 cars made with the L69 in 1983,

84ws6ta

I bought my T/A new in 1984. It came with the L69 engine, 700R4 transmission and 3.73 limited slip rear axle.

yo soy el warg

The Camaro White Book has the L69 production number as 3,223 where did you get the 662 number?

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

Two L69 T/As now with auto/3.73. How did one get that? Was it an option? We'll make this thread the definitive authority on all that's L69!

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

Yes this is turning in to a big education for all things L69 related.

Ok, I have a question. What would be the fastest factory stock L69 car?

How would the L69/700r4/3.42 rear gear car compare to an
L69/5-speed/3.73 rear gear car?

Do you think that an '85 IROC L69/5-speed/3.73 rear gear car or an
'83-'84 Z28 L69/5-speed/3.73 rear gear car would be faster?

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

Same engine so it would just depend on weight. Which one's lighter?

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

Wouldn't the IROC's wider wheels help put the power down? In a handling situation I would think that the IROC's wider wheels and upgraded suspension would help.

In a drag race maybe it would be more off a toss up between the two cars.

Da Spudro

Very Nice car drjewalton! - still wish i could find the snorkel duct for the passenger side....

I have no issue with the education on all things L69, but the true purpose of this post was to find out how many were still around and more or less so I could reach out and say "wassup" to my Fellow L69 owners / Lovers. That being said i'm good with the education ... All this talk just tells me more and more why my IROC-G is my baby, so keep going.

as for which is faster..... it depends on the type of race. off the line the auto will win, every day. but from a rolling start say 30mph the 5 speed should school the auto in it's stock config.

buffaloman

iTrader: (5)

The 662 number is for 1983 T/A's with the L69 5 speed.

yo soy el warg

You never mentioned if your car was a bird or camaro and since the thread was originally on Irocs I thought it was a camaro?

84Camarodriver

I LOVE MY L69!, once again i have an 84 z28 L69/700R4/3.42 no posi id like a better rear end like a 3.73 with limited slip

Da Spudro

Here's a Few pics as proof (not that i think i had to do that) i blurred out a portion for protection, but you can clearly see the 8th digit "G" along with the options installed.

Jeffs82TA

iTrader: (1)

Mine was purchased brand new at a dealer in Minnesota called swanby pontiac/buick. Sadly the car just was worn out after I had it until somewhere around 2006. The car was a Van Nuys built car 1G2AW87G3EL273013 I had purchased the car after a deal fell through on a privately owned 84 recarro trans am and yes I would have preferred the recarro. It was all black with tan leather, 5 speed, N-24 gold rims.

My 84 like said before was red with gold trim and stripes and gold rims N98 I believe is what they were called. The interior was tan and brown two tone, had the stereo with equalizer, t-tops, leather steering wheel and shifter, I think the only thing it didn't have was the rear wiper.

Brand new if memory serves me right it was 16,xxx out the door. After purchased it was taken to California where it spent the rest of it's life.

burnout88

Awesome L69 IROC! Is it all original, what's the milege? Are the red decals originals?

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

With all due respect to these cars, we ain't dealing with enough power for traction be an issue with either 215-15s or 245-16 unless we're doing the race on ice, LOL!! I bet the 83 and 84 cars would be a little quicker due to the lighter and smaller tires (unsprung tire weight has more of an impact on acceleration tban other types of weight). Plus, IROCs tended to come with more options and on average will be heavier than an average early Z.

jminton

To add to the list, I have an 85 IROC, 305 HO, manual tranny and 3.73 rear. It is the lighter color blue, and has the original working console clock. It currently has 42xxx miles.

Motown

Jminton I beg you to post a few pics of the car and under the hood. I can't get enough of the L69 IROC-Z's

chazman

iTrader: (4)

That's interesting. All the '83 L69s I've seen were non-posi, and I remember GM saying something about durability concerns at the start of '83 production. What month was your car built?

jminton

As requested, pictures! There are a few things to be done with it, so please excuse the mess and the things that are wrong with it.

Yes, the tailpipe is mucked up. Transmission locked up and I haven't had to opportunity to pull it yet and check it out. Been working on the wife's Taurus recently.

jminton