Spitzfiya

There seems to be alot of cars on this board with 305's in the same year the 350 was readily available...were the first owners of these cars clueless or something? female?

They are both V8's

They both suck on gas

The price couldn't of been that much of a difference...for what bigger bores?

The engine's were all options...unless the 305 was a forced STANDARD option and the 350 was an upgrade option then i guess i understand how this happened....does that also make the V6 a downgrade option? Like you would physically have to tell them to put a V6 or a 350 in it? Or was it the dealers who ordered the specs of the cars and not the buyers?

I have both a 305 in my Firebird and 350 in my GTA and i can tell the difference is there...they both pull hard but the 350 kicks up quicker and actually glues you to the seat...spooks me every time, it's great. No other way to explain it.

ryan91rs

iTrader: (1)

price....price...price...gas.....price.. and ummm.... price and TPI

Spitzfiya

Really? is there that much difference between the price and gas consumption...arn't they basically the same engine?

What do you mean by the TPI?

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

The only reason I would get the 305 is for the 5 speed tranny. Other than that, I have no idea. Also maybe T-tops, as some cars couldn't get a 350 and t-tops.

midwest

I am sure back then was just like to today. The dealers ordered stock with different options. The probably ordered quanity of options based off what gm said they should order. Then they had a stock of varity cars with multiple options. So then when the customer showed up the dealer could show them most of the popular options. Then the customer could buy the car that fit there needs and wants.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

350=Auto....to get a 5-speed you had to get the 305, except in certain years.

TPI=Tuned Port Injection...TBI=Throttle Body Injection...TBI is basically a 2 barrel fancy carburetor.

I have a 305 TBI buddy that get 23/24 mpg regularly...My 350TPI gets 15. Granted, his are mostly highway miles & mine were around town. My odometer is out, so I can't check my highway miles, now that I've moved to where I travel mostly highway miles now too.

Kevin84Z28

iTrader: (3)

Weren't buying gas back then were you. We had just come out of the worst gas shortage in history. OPEC and all that stuff. In 1976 premium 101 Octane was .65 cents a gallon. By 1984 it was 94 octane and $1.50 +/- 305's were a step above the V6 but economical in the mind of the consumer compared to the 350, which wasn't offered until the 1987? model I think.

Randy82WS7

they didnt


305 was the base v-8 engine


you have to understand how base and optional drivetrains works to understand why most v-8 are 305


most vehicles were not ordered


most were bought as is- the way they came off the assembly line

ccook-92-305

well on the camaro side you had to get the Z28 to get the 350 which was $$$ more not to mention what the insurance did between a Z28 and an RS. as well as the whole auto/manual thing and lots of city daddys bought them for their lil baby girls who had no clue what an engine was let alone V6/V8/305/350 so they got whatever.

plus they knew the whole 305/350 thing would make a great arguement platform on online forums about 10-20 years later

1991Formula350

The dealers were the ones who basically ordered the cars to there lots, not many people out there who actually went to GM and ordered their Formula. Look at the Hawks, only a few actually knew about the option and actually ordered one.

I really don't care about the gas actually, not a far driver, but a V8 is going to drink gas no matter what and if you are in a car like this that is the punishment. A/C on ALL the time too. Andrew

gcgarner

Bingo!

That, and the fact that you couldn't get a 5-speed, T-Tops or a Vert with the 350 ... except for Okfoz's 350 vert Formula. I'm so jealous of that car!

Aaron91RS

iTrader: (2)

In addition to the above.
Because people are retards.
Even today people hear v8 and think bad gas mileage. They can't comprehend how an LSx can get 27mpg and make 500HP.
They think 4 cylinder and good gas mileage.
They can't comprehend how the v6 has more torque at a crusing rpm and therefore can get better mpg then the 4cyl that's straining in the same car.

As bad as it is today, people in the 80's were used to carbs and even dumber about technology.
TPI? cruising torque? 8 injectors? Computer controlled?
Nah man all them v8's get bad mpg. It's those double pumper carbs and RV cams.

gcgarner

Oh, and Ryan91RS could you elaborate what you meant by the TPI part of the answer? It was available with 305s and 350s.

DJP87Z28

When I bought my 1987 IROC-Z, I had two cars picked out on the dealers lot. Both had the options I wanted and both colors were fine with me. I picked the 350 TPI car until the Dealer told me $1045 350 option was not included in GMs $2000 discount program, but the other car was (305 TPI). Guess what car I bought that was $4000 cheaper. Years later I did install a 350 in it.

So it easy to say why the original owner did not buy the 350 car. Only one answer MONEY.

85 T/A WS6

TPI 350 vs Carb 305, not a fair comparison at all

Pyroviking

iTrader: (4)

Very simple: no manual available with a 350.

Jason E

If you read the Camaro White Book, its shocking as to how many people simply wanted a V8, but wanted to keep it cheap...look at the # of Sport Coupe and RS V8s as an example! No 350s in those...just a relatively fuel efficient, reasonably torquey for the time 305. Mine is 17 years old and pulls down 25 MPG at 75...I can't complain!

If I had been the age I am now (27) in 1989, when my parents purchased their '89 RS 2.8, I probably would have bought the car I now own...a V8/M5/red/t-top coupe loaded with cool things like 16" wheels and leather. Not everyone is a road racer. I just registered my Z28 for the Spring yesterday, and I will say, I LOVE that good ol' LT1 snarl and torque. However, when I drive the RS, with the M5 I am never really complaining about the obvious lack of guts. The torque makes up for it. Indeed, it is pretty slow by modern standards, but back in the day? The only thing faster than a 305 TBI car was normally a 5.0 Mustang...and who the hell wants one of those Escort-look-alikes??

Jason E

One thing I will say though is that I don't understand why more people wouldn't pony up the extra $300 to buy the 350 TPI over the 305 TPI specifically...unless there was something like the $2,000 stocking allowance mentioned above that was only available on 305s. Its amazing how many cars I've looked at through the years that would've been perfect, save for the lack of cubes.

With the base cars however, there was never a choice.

884+3

Don't forget about the extra cost for insurance coverage on a 350 vs 305. I was 25 in 1989 and had to finance the car through a bank which required me to carry full coverage for the term of the loan. It cost me close to three grand a year even though i had a perfect driving record. The insurance broker told me if i were five years younger or had a blemished driving record that they would not insure me at any cost.

4mul8r

You also have to realize that $300 was much more money 20 years ago than it is today.

Also the stock performance between the 305 tpi and 350 tpi was very similair. I'd be hard pressed to tell the difference myself. 10-20hp and less than a half second over the course of a nearly 16 second quarter mile.

I'm sure that there were many 80's wanna-be badasses that got the 305 tpi and told everyone it was the top of the line 350 and no one second guessed it.

If they had offered a 305 version of the ls1 in the newer f-bodies for a discounted price they would have sold too. Keep in mind, most people buying a new car aren't intending to ever throw a bunch of additional power adders onto it.

Owl_

Back then it was also the supply and demand for the cars! I wanted an IROC with a 350, but the local Chevy dealers in the area didn't have any and didn't know when they would get any more in. They were selling Camaros fasts back then and couldn't keep them in stock. So I bought a Z28 with a 305 (the last one they had) as they had one on the lot that I liked and could buy.

Jason E

1) $300 on a $15,000 - 20,000 IROC purchase, in all seriousness, isn't that big of a deal...then or now...just my .02...
2) The stock performance of a 305 TPI AT versus a 350 TPI is significantly different. It wasn't the HP...it was the torque...50 ft lbs difference on average. I drove a pretty spent '87 IROC 350 last fall...the only one I've ever driven. The first time on the gas it was OBVIOUS it was significantly quicker than my TBI/M5, which runs nearly identical times to a TPI/AT car...
3) I can't count the # of times in the past 10 years I've gone to look at an IROC, only to find the "F" vin code instead of the "8"...despite the fact that it was being advertised as a 350...

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

TBIs have the top end, TPIs the bottom end.

$300 at (just comparing apples to apples here....minimum wage for comparison) is $3.35 then vs $5.85 now.

So your $15,000-$20,000 then, today would be almost $30,000-$40,000.

Yeah, they weren't targeting minimum wage drivers, but as minimum wage increased, so did the average wage. Say average wage was $10/he then...Double that would be $20/hr today.

dirtywhiteZ28

Dealers qualified for production purchase preferences based on reaching goals and exceeding regional projections. Once they received there alotments for the next year they would submit new goals and receive there regional projections, they had a couple of weeks to think about it and then ordering deadlines would begin. The factory would send a projected build sequence and the dealers placed there orders, prefered dealers serviced first. The factories build sequence would be updated biweekly with conformations of order submittals made avialable after 48 hrs. If your dealership was alloted to receive 8 Corvettes for the year thats all your dealreship could get from the factory, period. That excluded dealer to dealer stock trading. Special order vehicles were expected to wait a minimum of 30 days before their order was on the sequence schedule, and it would be on all dealers info sheet listed as such in the sequence.
The base model back then was condidered to be the V6, a 305 Z28 was anticipated by the factory as the next highest selling product in the line and the dealers responded by selecting them that way, 350's were considered niche vehicles with the highest insurance rates (important if the car is financed and can't leave the lot until fully insured) used more gas per mile (not a good selling point with secretaries), and had a higher floor plan carrying cost(dealers term for lease till sold,or returned to manufacturer).Once the initial 3 months sequences were filled the factories could taylor there production of specific colors and options to fit how the cars were being sold. But remember also, the Unions pre-negotiated-in-advance just how many of which cars they were ExpecteD to build, after that the cost of every car in that line was built at overtime wages(not time and a half exactly but more than the standard hourly rate).
I bought a '98 C5 corvette black ext. black int. 6-spd with heavy duty suspension, A/C, pwr mem. pkg, windshield inset FM ant., nothing special just specific, had to pay for it upfront and insure it before the order was placed. It was placed on the sequence request for hold list and I waited 5months 3weeks and 5days before I got to watch some guy try his best to glaze over the clutch getting it off his truck.

Kevin84Z28

iTrader: (3)

That, I think, just about sums it up....

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

'Nuff said!!! Well, almost...

To some people, having the ideal engine/tranny combo meant getting a car with the most powerful engine that was available with a manual transmission. That's what I wanted, so that's what I got. And with only a 5hp difference between the two TPI engines, as in 1987(and only 10hp in later years), it made my decision of getting the 305 a pretty simple one... certainly not "clueless," and definitely not female, lol.

If the 350 had been available with a manual, then, of course, I'd have gotten it instead of a 305. But it wasn't. So I went for the one I knew I'd love driving the most--the one with a manual transmission. I love it, I've always loved it, I've never regretted it, and I'd do the same thing again.

I recently got another thirdgen, a convertible, and it has a 305/auto. Of course, it's fun to drive, too. But believe me, the only thing special about the car is that it's a 'vert. And even that isn't enough to bring its fun-factor to anything close to that of my Formula with its manual. And I'm 100% sure that even if the 'vert had a 350, I still wouldn't enjoy driving it as much as I've enjoyed driving my Formula all these years.

BTW, if you wanna be "glued to your seat," a 305 TPI/manual will do that very nicely, too.

dirtywhiteZ28

Its amazing how times have changed. Back then if you wanted a 350 you got stuck with an auto as the only trans. But nowadays with Corvette being the only rear wheel drive V8 under $90k in GM's line up till this years G8GT or the GTO from a couple of years ago, If you want a Z06 you can only have it with a manual transmission. Sticks are great, my last 3 F-Bodies and 1 Y-Body were stick, just hate not having the Option to Choose!!!!!

avro206

I gotta call you out on that one

Friend has a 91 Trans Am--rated at 205hp/ auto/2.73s

I used to have a TBI IROC rated at 170hp auto 2.73s

We raced numerous times...the TBI always jumped out in front of the TPI car to about 25mph....then the TPI blew past me hard--it was 0.8 faster in the 1/4 and about 6 mph.

Okay back to topic......reasons for 305s :

5 speed and cost would be the biggest factors. It would have been sad world if you could only get an automatic IROC/GTA/Formula.

Sure the 305 has less torque and you can feel that--but the engine comes alive and the car feels in such a way that the 305 auto can never feel.

I have owned an 87 Players IROC too--5 speed with the 3.45 rear end and it was a very fun, satisfying, rewarding car to drive.

Now I have a Formula 350--I just am not so fussy about shifting myself anymore. But when I get another one (Keeping my Formula) I really want a TPI 305

Spitzfiya

Ahh thanks everyone for clearing that up, always was curious.

not bashin 305's or anything...i love my Firebird, I do more fun things in it cause im not as worried about blowing it up

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

You're right, and that's exactly how I felt when trying to buy my thirdgens. Finding them with manual transmissions was darn near impossible, so that's why I always ended-up special-ordering my cars. It was almost as if GM and its dealers wanted all thirdgens to have automatic transmissions.

Others have mentioned cost, too, and dealers also usually thought that was an issue. And that might've been the case for some people, but I'm not so sure how real of an issue that was for many people, except for during the "dealing" process.

Dealers would often say to me, "if it's the cost of the automatic that you don't like, then we'll gladly knock that off," or, "how much do we need to knock off of the price of this car to get you to buy it?" I'd tell them, "you could offer me the car for free, and I still wouldn't take it. I want a manual transmission." It was very frustrating.

Most dealers let me walk away. But the few that got-the-point were glad to let me spec an order.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

Unfortunately, the TTAs couldn't get a 5-speed, but I don't think they woulda survived the second launch!

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

GM knew there would be a group of buyers who'd want a 350 with a manual transmission. But since it couldn't deliver such a combo, the General did provide the LB9/manual in such a manner as to satisfy those people(like me). Imagine that staff meeting back in 1986:

"Ok people, as you all know, we'll be introducing the L98 engine into the Camaro/Firebird line-up as the top-of-the-line engine option for 1987 production. But there's a major issue we'll need to address, and that's what we're all here to discuss today: transmission options.

Since our T-5's torque-handling rating shows it won't handle the higher torque of the L98, we can't comfortably offer a manual transmission with the L98. So the L98 will only be available with an automatic transmission.

This will be ok with most buyers, but there will probably be some hardcore enthusiasts who'll be very upset that they can't get the L98 with a manual transmission. So what can we do for those people?

To start with, we can't introduce another new engine. Since it's already well-known that the F-Body will be discontinued after the 1992 model year, we can't spend money on anything major like engine development, because it just won't make financial sense. So we have to work with what we've got. So... what do we have?

How about this: for manual transmissions only, let's give the LB9 power that's equivalent to an L98. This will be simple because we already have the basic formula for the engine, our original, 1985 LB9, which made 215 hp. And with nearly 300 ft-lbs of torque, which, though not as strong as an L98's, is still excellent by all standards, its rating is within the T-5's handling capabilities. So our T-5 will work with it. Then to make those LB9/T-5 cars "feel" like they're making the torque of an L98, let's lower the rearend gear ratio to 3.45, which will help provide that powerful "push.""

And there you have it: an "L98"/manual combo, without actually hooking-up an L98 to a manual transmission.

I don't know if it happened like that, but I'd bet I'm not far off. So as far as I'm concerned, GM got it as right as it could, at the time. I know I've been satisfied with mine for 22 years.

avro206

^ intersting story--you have an imagination.

However I think your wrong----maybe

I don't believe the 5 speed LB9 was made in response to an automatic only 350.

They were always going to build a 5 speed LB9---just chicken about doing it

(thats what they said in 85-86--the 5 speed can't handle the power of the 305 TPI---but Ford was doing it with a similar output)

MNformula350

iTrader: (2)

Why are people so Prejidiced against the 305?

Maybe some people only care abotu having a nice looking/riding car, and could care less about how fast it gets up and goes?

When I get my vert project, I WANT a 305 TBI for it, as it will be my daily driver.

It was just like when I had my 84 Firebird V6 Daily Driver, all people said to me was, "why don't you put a 350 in that thing?" and I would respond with, WHy when I have a 350TPI car (my Formula) at home? Then they usually responed "Just cause"

Close Minded Morons

avro206

have you had a 305 TBI? I have---and I never want one again. Truck engine. Of course I guess you can mod it....

MNformula350

iTrader: (2)

Yes, my Formula was originally a 305 TBI car, and a friend of mine has a 92 RS with 305 TBI. NOthing wrong with em for a daily driver.

Fast355

iTrader: (2)

I've had one, bone stock in a fullsize van. 0-60 in 11.5 seconds pulling around 5,500 lbs.

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

I dunno... but I'm still liking my story, lol.

Yes, I'm sure they'd always planned to put the T-5 on the LB9, but the timing for it couldn't have been better for such an introduction, could it? I think they saw that, and they jumped on it. Or maybe they'd even planned for it to be this way all along.

Besides, they could've just put the T-5 on the peanut cammed LB9 and been done with it. But instead, they put it on the "beefed-up" LB9 that used the same cam as the L98. Coincidence?

Then 1989 rolls around, and the L98 got a performance enhancing dual-cat exhaust. Did any other cars besides L98 cars get that option? Why... yes, they did! LB9/manual cars got it, too. How about that! Another coincidence? I don't think so.

I'm liking my story even more now, lol.

avro206

I never said I didn't like your story--hehe

Got me thinking....why did they ever put that POS peanut cam in the 305 TPI automatics?

Lost 25hp--it did pick up some TQ but still slowed the car down.

GM dropped the ball 85-86 with no 5 speed LB9 (and the peanut cam in 86) What were they thinking?

Make up a story for that!

DJP87Z28

Since you were to young or were not born yet. Here are some of the reason for some of the idiot questions about the 80's car markets.

1) Inflation with high intrest rates.
2) Federal gas & emission regulations.
3) High unemployment.
4) Low car sales, due to tight credit money.
5) High Insurane rates for buyers of high HP V-8.
6) Import sales
7) Auto Mfg were not building cars for future resales of performance car to the then non-existence teens.
8) and on and on....

bryan89

I agree. My Firebird is 305 TBI is just what I was looking for. When I was looking for a F body my requirements were Ttops, v8, and a good body which is hard to find in CT. All Im going to do is use it as my cruising car. I dont need a 350. I think thats why most people bought a 305 because they didnt need a 350. Not everyone who bought these cars were going to race them.

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

Ok, how about these stories... some might even be true, lol.

Some reasons for the peanut cam might've been to help with meeting gas and emissions regulations, insurance, etc.

But the suspected real reason for the peanut cam was because, for 1986 production, GM had been planning on the release of the L98, which was only going to make 220 hp. So they dropped the LB9's hp to make the L98's rating seem more impressive. Afterall, the L98 was going to be the "flagship" engine, so GM wanted a wider hp spread between it and the 305. But then, as we all know, the L98 never made it to release-to-public status until the 1987 model year.

As for why the manual hadn't been available with the LB9 before '87, an official source(a real one ) told me the reason was because the combo wasn't meeting emissions regulations. It had nothing to do with torque ratings.

But then in '87, since GM couldn't provide an L98/manual combo, it decided to go ahead and bump-up hp again for LB9's, but only for those that were to be matched with manual transmissions. Why then? Maybe it was to fill the void... which would fit with my first story.

So everything sure seemed to workout "conveniently," and very positively, for the ultimate release of the LB9/manual combo, making it the counterpart to the L98/auto... IMO, of course.

avro206

oh don't worry I was very much alive BEFORE the 80s. Thanks for asking though

So why are you calling my question idiotic?

gatorcola

In June of 1988 I decided on an IROV vert. Too late to order and only a 5.7 auto around here, so I flew to Ft. Worth and bought my loaded out 5.0 tpi, 5 spd on the lot. After 20 years I still have passion and the shear joy of shifting her.

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

871LEIroc, your questions were the same ones everyone was asking back in '85 and '86... perfectly normal, nothing idiotic about 'em.

Cool story, gatorcola. And wow!!! That must have been an exciting first drive in your new IROC 'vert! A couple thousand miles back to Florida, people's heads turning like Linda Blair's in "The Exorcist," lol, and you feeling very proud! ...another satisfied LB9/T-5 customer!

RS305

i just recently got my 92 rs 305 tbi in the winter, and i absolutely love it! its going to be my daily driver since its my only car, but until i get my license, my brother has been driving it around (since he doesnt want to beat up his vette). so far, the car seems to be unbreakable! it lasted through the winter with no problems at all, and still has no problems to this day. although i would like the power of a 350, i definitely wouldnt mind keeping the 305 if i have to. no matter what, i can still beat all the imports around here lol

okfoz

I think some of you have hit the nail on the head.

Lets face it, a $300 option is just that a $300 option, when you start adding up all of the little things, Power WIndows, Power Locks, Cruise Control, Leather seats etc, things start going south really quick for a price. To offset all of this GM could have offer them only two engines, a V6 & 350 and sell only a few cars, OR they could entise people with multiple V8s and sell more cars as it would fit better within their personal budget.

What is probably the most interesting factoid is for the most part the higher the horsepower the average engine got the less they made of them. Even thru the 4th gens they sold fewer of those than they did for just about any year 3rd Gen. It boils down to MONEY MONEY MONEY...

With a larger faster engine, you get the following:
A LARGER PAYMENT!
A HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUM!
MORE TROUBLE WITH THE LAW (we all know that most of us can't resist the chance to get on it once in a while) Ok the last one probably does not apply, but you get the point.

Another little factoid is Dealers get books every year and they have the previous years sales for most options per model. For example they know how many cars for a particular model had power locks, power windows, cruise control, basically telling them what was being ordered. This helps them to determine what they want to order for their lot. CARS are not just rolled off the end of an assembly line and randomly sent to dealers to have them sold, This is not Frito Lay where the truck drivers decide to stock store shelves. Dealers BUY each of these cars from GM to sell to the public, instead of having to special order cars and have the customer wait to recieve the car they prefer to have something on the lot for their customers to buy NOW!. Heck we live in a microwave world where we want it all and we want it now!

Have you ever gone into a dealership and ask if they had a particular car? I just bought a Buick Rainier V8, I went to one BUICK dealership and asked if they had any with a V8, he said that he did not think they came with a V8. Basically Dealers would rather sell what they have before ordering you another car, if they have a LO3 sitting there they will do almost anything to sell you that instead of having you order a L98. I had a friend who bought an "Extreme S10" the ones with the special ground effects. When he went to a dealership to look at them he was told flat out that they did not make them with the V6, so he bought the one on the lot with the 4 Cyl. Only to find out later that they did come with a V6 AND get ridiculed by his neighbor kid who pestered him about "What is so extreme about that?"

Basically MOST cars are DEALER ordered for their LOT. DEALERS do not want extra money tied up in their inventory, so in our case they opted for lesser engine options to keep the price down. Then they can still advertise "V8" and sell the car for less. It kind of makes you wonder, all of these dealerships state "We will sell for less Garanteed" Heck they can't ALL sell for less, there has to be somthing were missing or different with the cars to sell for less.

In the end, no matter what it is, or what it appears to be... follow the money, and you will figure out why corperate America does what they do. From the cars creation in 1982 thru 1992 GM cut corners, cheepend up their assembly process just to save a few bucks. Most of the time these things were passed off as being styling, or things that would make you wonder why did they change that? In the end it was to decrease the time it took to assemble the car, OR to decrease ther bottom dollar. Have you ever wondered why after 1988 the Cowel area in front of the windshield was painted body color instead of black like the 1982-1988 cars... Money, have you ever wonderd why the air dam on the 89+ Formula and non GFX firebrds were Black and not body color? COST, Have you ever wondered why they eliminated the 9th injector in 1989 and went to SD in 1990 PRICE, pure and simple. How about packages, After a point instead of offering Power windows seperate from power locks they combined them into one package for a better price, its not them being nice, it a way to cut corners. It all boils down to the price of the car and how they can make it appear better but in the end make it cheaper.

I hoe you all learned something.

John

Codename 47

iTrader: (4)

Had nothing to do with the fact that you couldn't get a 350 and a manual transmission.

This fact is supported by evidence that around 15 percent of Camaros came with a 5 speed. The majority of 305 cars are automatics, and that's because it's what GM made the most of. If GM made more 350 cars, there would have been more 350 Camaro sales. People go to the car lot to buy a car, and the dealer also tries to sell what they have on the lot. Works out perfectly.

FEW people actually special order a car with everything they want.

Bottom line: Dealers push to sell what's on the lot. People buy/want to buy what's on the lot. What was on the lot? 305s.

Fast355

iTrader: (2)

Why were 305s on the lot... CAFE standards set by the Federal Goverment. The manufacturers were looking for every 1/1000th of a MPG they could get for CAFE to avoid paying HEFTY fines.

gatorcola

Incredible, 50 post on such a subjective topic. IMO the performance levels between the engines were meaningless to the vast majority of drivers BUT price was foremost. In the 1989 IROCs the cheapest engine won out more than 2 to 1


Liter Injection C.I.D. H.P. Code # Produced
B2L/L98 5.7 Tuned Port Injection 350ci 230hp 8 12,370
LB9 5.0 Tuned Port Injection 305ci 195hp F 8,925
L03 5.0 Fuel Injection 305ci 170hp E 46,715