wvabreeze

Well I just trailered this little creampuff in tonight It's not too bad I have had worse projects.Guy I bought it from says it's an 87 but VIN comes out as an 88 I will know for sure when I pick up the title tomorrow.The car is in a lot of pieces but pretty much everything is there.I know the purists will hang me but this thing is so hacked up already that a stock restore is out the window. It has a 30 over 350 and a T5 tranny that all needs hooked up and running, after that it will be the electrical rats nest.I will probably have lots of questions and hopefully be able to find answers with the search tool.Last Camaro I had was a 69 and lots have changed since then.My first question is an 88 vert always considered an Iroc? I am getting conflicting info at the few places I have read. Anyway here are some picks if they show up.

91z 2 8

hey thats pretty nice for being a project. good luck with it all

my82roc

You could get an 88 vert in Sport coupe trim or Iroc.

Iroctopless

Welcome.

In '87 (VIN's tenth digit is an H) you could get the vert in a Sport Coupe or it's variant the Sport Coupe LT and the Z28 or it's variant the IrocZ.
In '88 (VIN's tenth digit is a J) they simplified things and you could get it in either a Sport Coupe or the IrocZ.

So in reference to your question, is an '88 vert always an IrocZ? No not always. It's either of the two models mentioned above. Since it's obvious that the engine has been changed (typically no stock 350 verts) and that badges, graphics, and emblems can be easily changed, how can you tell if it's an actual IrocZ?
A few ways to tell. Look back at the VIN. If the eighth digit is an F, then the car originally came with the LB9 305 TPI. It was only available on the IrocZ vert, not the SC vert. If the eigth digit is an E, then it originally had the LO3 305 TBI. That engine was available on both models so that would then be inconclusive.
Does your ride still have the original SPID sticker (it's VIN matches the one on the car) in the console or year storage compartment? Then in '87, if it has the RPO code B4Z, then it's an IrocZ. If it's an '88 it would have the RPO Z28 to be an IrocZ.

Good luck on the project. Keep us updated.

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1989 Iroc-Z, 305 TPI, 5 spd, 3.08 diff My Car Domain Website

wvabreeze

My eighth digit is an E thats why I couldn't find a straight answer.There really isn't anything on it original.The guy I bought it from found it in a field on blocks stripped.Interior completely gone except the rear interior side panels.All the drivetrain was gone,doors and hood too.Guy still had a clear title though.He gathered parts for a couple years, of course the parts are from many different years.I couldn't pass it up though, I have only seen maybe two vert 3RD Gen's.
I got the engine fired up today(sort of).The carb is shot,gas was coming out everywhere and way too much down the engine.I only have shorty headers on it and actually caught the garage floor on fire for a second from the raw fuel igniting out the headers. I have another carb to try tomorrow.Got tired of fighting with it today.

Iroctopless

I'd put money on it that it's an '88. But is it an SC or IrocZ, that's a little more difficult to tell. Your right. It's doesn't have to much original on it. And what is is also hard to tell. Things that make it difficult to determine . . .
- The headlight pockets would normally be black on the IrocZ as well as the plate in the grill opening and body colour on the SC, but it looks like the whole nose cone isn't original.
- No stripes or door decals.
- Wheels are aftermarket. No clues there.
- Hood is louvered like an IrocZ but the tailights are single split like the SC.
- The rear bumber badge is Z28 like an '87. An '88 would say IrocZ.
- The ground effects are body colour like and IrocZ (the exception being the nose cone).

Looks like a fun project though.

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1989 Iroc-Z, 305 TPI, 5 spd, 3.08 diff My Car Domain Website

wvabreeze

Yea it will be an interesting project.The Jeep beside it in the pic was bought as a basket case two years ago.When I started driving it I wanted some sort of a street toy again.The nose and doors came off the same car.The guy had a choice between the SC tailights and a set of Irocs he chose the SC's.I told him he's an idiot.Hood is from an Iroc just not this car.I think he may have put the Z28 badge on the rear bumper just because he had one.Thanks for the input so far.I will probably always call it an Iroc just cause I like the name and it will never be an original anything.

wvabreeze

Had a productive day today.Put a better carb on and straightened out 2 plugs wires I crossed.Fired up and sounds good.Pulled the rearend out and removed the support bars.Dropped the fuel tank and took out the electric fuel pump and made a pick up line in it's place then put the tank back on.Lowered the t5 down cut a hole in the floor for the shifter and put the crossmember back on properly.Kind of at a stand still now though,some genius cut the shock mounts off the rearend,cut the e-brake cables and cut and removed the brake lines off the rear housing.May just take the day off tomorrow and try to located these items and the clutch-brake pedal assembly.

Matthew91-Z28

I love to see a once-was-magnificent camaro restored to her former beauty and made better than stock.

Kudos to you for saving her.

Make us proud!

Kat

Looks good! Thats about where mine was when i got it.

Jaysz28

I think thats in better shape than mine when I picked it up. At least your interior looks useable

Good luck with it!

-jason

dukie

Keep us posted on the rebuild.. That is awsome that you have the skills to do that.
If you are going to turf the rims.. PM me I would be interested in a set I can refinish.

wvabreeze

I will be keeping the rims for a little while.That will be the last thing done.Pretty sure a guy I work with wants them for his S10.I am starting at the rear and working forward.Past few days I took the rear end out and cleaned it up and painted it,as well as the under side around the gas tank and rearend cavity.Got the fenderwells and support bars as well.Put some Lakewood control arms on and a 1inch sway bar.Also put some KYB shocks on.Oh yea bent some brake lines for the axle too.That was a first,hope they don't leak.If I can ever get the parts monkeys to get the correct park brake cables in,that would have gone on tonight as well.I will try and get some pics tomorrow of the progress.Thanks to all for the interest shown on this old beater.

Jaysz28

If you need some drum brake parking brake cables, I have a set sitting beside my house from my disc brake swap. All you need to pay is shipping.

Good luck with it

-jason

wvabreeze

Thanks Jason for the offer.I put a 9bolt unit with disk brakes in it.Thats what is throwing the parts guys off.If it's not listed specifically in their computer most time they can't get it or figure it out.I looked online last night at Napa.One cable has the correct end.According to what I read it looks like the same part number works on both sides.Their in store system didn't say anything about that.

wvabreeze

Well this is what it looks like so far.I have heard it gets worse before it gets better.

Got the torque arm reattached had to makeshift a mount out of two auto tranny mounts.

Not sure about the swaybar,may have to use the longer factory links.A blurry shot of the fabbed up shock mounts that someone cut off!

Overall not bad so far.

Work is going to slow down now I need to gather parts for the T5 swap since the car was originally an auto.Starting on the electrical gremlins now as all wires were unhooked everywhere.Got the engine started with the ignition switch after bypassing the auto shifter stuff.That made the day worthwhile.(It's the little things that make you feel like your acomplishing something)Anyway thats where I'm at so far I fugure most of the wiring will be leaving just need to find an ignition source for the HEI and most other stuff can go.

Kat

Hopefully you're replacing the pan hard bar. That is nicely bent!

Other than that, it looks good so far.

DCOWBOYS1975

Very nice car bro!! Let me know how that wiring thing goes. I need to do it on my car but I think I will rip it all out and buy a painless wire kit.

__________________

Don't ever forget who invented the term Dynasty!!!

wvabreeze

It's on the list of things to find.Most I have seen look similar.It mounted up easily so I used it for now.Will probably just go aftermarket eventually.
I am going to do what I can with the wiring but if it seems the least bit like it's going to go up in smoke then it's outa there.

DCOWBOYS1975

Thats is a really clean project. My projects never start that clean. Nice job in finding that.

__________________

Don't ever forget who invented the term Dynasty!!!

wvabreeze

Thanks.A few people have said this.I just about passed up this car but for $600 I figured I couldn't go wrong.It looks worse in person.The interior pics won't come out very good it's really bad.All the loose engine parts and various other parts were piled inside.I located some good parts cars yesterday,no verts,but they have a lot of the little stuff I will need.What I want to know is if this a real good base to start with,what nightmares have you guys started with?

DCOWBOYS1975

The only real nightmares I have had with my camaro is wiring. I traded the stock engine with a crate 350 not fuel injected. So alot of extra wires zip tied everywhere. I live in a condo and they are about done with wrenching on hot rods and big muddy trucks. So that nightmare gets to wait. I heard rust is a big trouble with some people. If you want to sell that right now I will give you 600 cash within an hour. Just sayin. Carpet and interior is pretty easy. plus when you rip all that out wire the whole back of your car with everything you need. Wanna sell the Jeep. I need a new wheeler.

Trey

__________________

Don't ever forget who invented the term Dynasty!!!

mario82z28

I got mine from a field too, it almost went to the crusher but i loved the car and the desire to wake up the dead and that I did. Yours is in better shape than mine was and looks like a good find good luck with the build

wvabreeze

Uh no,on both.The Jeep was last years project.It was a lot of fun to build,they are such simple vehicles,at least the old ones are.Two weeks after I finished it an old woman pulled out in front of me and basically totalled it.Spent another month or so fixing it back up. I never get rid of anything the Toyota truck in the first pictures has had the hood up for three years.Needs an engine and those are hard to find in these parts,a good one anyway.Even have a 280Z from about ten years ago,just lost interest in it.

DCOWBOYS1975

So how much for the 280Z? I will have that on a semi on the way back to Washington if the money is right!!!! I am the same way but I end up gettin things just tits and sellin them for a loss..

__________________

Don't ever forget who invented the term Dynasty!!!

wvabreeze

I actually have some local guys interested in the 280Z.Priced it for $400 but it's in pretty bad shape.Some of the front subframe is rusted and floorboards are in bad shape too.I have an 1983 turbo engine in the garage I was going to put in it.They aren't getting it for that price.I think you would be disapointed after unloading it from a cross country trip,it wouldn't be worth it to buy and ship.It's one of those projects that would have to be seen to be sure it's worth it.