JackRs

iTrader: (2)

Does anyone have a 1982 camaro original 4 cylinder?

FireInMe17

God I feel sorry for anyone that does, haha!

Ward

iTrader: (1)

There's a few people on here who do. Also, I believe the iron duke was available until around 85.

babygrand

Have you seen the 83 on craigslist in Seattle

FireInMe17

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/1605546850.html

Haha, it actually looks really really nice, but what 90-95hp isn't even gonna cut it.....

And yes, it was available until 1985, it had 92HP, and for 85 it dropped to 88 for whatever reason....

mister_hudson

iTrader: (3)

I'd love to get my hands on one! It would be a GREAT economy car for daily driver! Too bad Seattle is so far away...

FireInMe17

Yeah I would like to get my hands on it too, its actually really nice, and I would hope that it has an interior to match that exterior. But same thing, Seattle would be one long *** drive to go get a car.

If that thing runs good it has to get like 40 mpg, my V6 as it is will get 33 and thats driving fast on the highway.

mister_hudson

iTrader: (3)

I'd bet that you could push that closer to 50 with a good tune and a few weight saving modifications - and you'd have the sexiest gas sipper in town!

FireInMe17

One of my friends was touting how their 2008 Civic got 38 on the highway, and I told them that my 1990 Camaro gets 33 and they couldnt beleive it, but so far, I think I have the sexiest gas sipper here in my town

I wouldn't doubt that in the right hands and someone who had enough determination to do it, that they could push 50 mph on the highway at cruising speeds. People can do amazing things with these cars, they have so much potential.

Krik

iTrader: (4)

I work with a guy that has an Iron Duke. He tool the motor out and has a 383 hes trying to get in. He said the old motor runs fine and is thinking about putting it back in. I hope he does!

MyFly82Camaro

I have a 1982 Camaro with the original 2.5L 4cyl engine in it that I am in the process of restoring back to showroom.

babygrand

Good for you! stock is best!

jensen73110

iTrader: (4)

Nice! Post pics. We rarely see that odd engine.

And welcome to the board.

MyFly82Camaro

thank you for the kind words...how do i post pix?...i have some..incl of the engine out of the car

MyFly82Camaro

Pix are up. I have more..I don't know if I can post my email addy in here...but here goes nothing myfly82camaro4cyl@yahoo.com... I am going to take more pix tomorrow...of the interior,exterior ( I would love to know how many of this configuration are still on the road) It's got 86K miles on it

JT

iTrader: (1)

Brief instructions are posted here:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/prob...mages-tgo.html

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

Here are a couple pics I snapped of a super low mile, unrestored 84 Iron Duke at Carlisle a few years back:

FireInMe17

Beautiful Firebird

iroczmikey1989

my friend just got one runs good but i have a 1989 iroc so i just laugh

hardon85

not trying to start an argument here but I don't think that the iron duke camaro would get 40 MPG on the highway because it would be underpowered and the motor would have to work harder which would make it use more fuel just my opinion though

CapnCrunch53

That's actually exactly what I was wondering.. I saw a thread on here in which some people testified that the 2.8 and 3.1's in the Thirdgens are actually as fuel inefficient as the 305's, because they have to work so much harder to power our fairly heavy cars. I imagine the Iron Duke would be even worse, so I'd be inclined to think its mpg would still be around the same area; however, I have no idea. Anyone who owns/owned one got any actual numbers?

FireInMe17

My 3.1L will occasionally get 33 on the highway, but right now with a messed up transmission mount its getting about 25, so those people need to do a tune up, and check their drivetrain.

I didn't think that it would cause that many issues, but if the drivetrain isn't operating the way its supposed to, or sitting at the right pitch, then its going to effect your mileage, and well its cutting off 8 mpg for me on the highway.

FireInMe17

I'm sure that even replacing the 200-R4 with a 700-R4 would give it better driveability and boost its mileage also.

mister_hudson

iTrader: (3)

33mpg is pretty respectable - with a little weight reduction and a great tune, 40mpg has got be within reason... I stand by my earlier statement of wanting to get my hands on one and seeing how far I can push it!

hardon85

I'm not saying it couldn't be done but I'm saying I think it would be very difficult because this motor is so underpowered for one of these cars. I had a 1986 cavalier with a 2.0 liter engine that would only get mid 20s on the highway at 55 but my grand prix gt with a 3800 will easily go 80 mph and get close to 30 miles to the gallon. But at that speed you don't even know it's hardly working. I would love to see you get one because I would be very interested to see what kind of mileage you could get out of one.

mister_hudson

iTrader: (3)

It would be a challenge for sure - I think that would make it all the more exciting! Could be a LOT of fun!

travis401

iTrader: (1)

I know this is old, but if you still want to get your hands on an iron duke 'bird, I found one on CL. Its an 85 and looks pretty clean. And its in DFW. http://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/cto/1733909785.html

mister_hudson

iTrader: (3)

That's not too far away from me... Too bad I've got all of my money wrapped up in the paint job of my Camaro... I appreciate the link - I bet someone on here will pick it up!

stroker_SS

I almost bought one, 1984 firebird 2.5l, it had a sunroof installed, a few rust holes but in decent running condition. The test drive was interesting as it hardly had enough power to outrun a sailboat and the seller was really trying to make it seem like it was worth more than it was. He asked 1200, I walked.

TOM-1LE

Transmission, gearing, and aerodynamics have a big impact on MPG. Was your Cavalier an automatic? If so, it was probably a 3-speed with no overdrive. The GP would have had overdrive. An '86 Cavalier is also not as aerodynamic as a newer Grand Prix. So I can see a newer V-6 car with better gearing and aerodynamics trumping an older 4-cyl.

I have no personal experience with the Iron Duke, but in theory I think mid-high 30s on a 55-mph highway would be possible in an F-body with an Iron Duke and overdrive transmission. The F-body, especially the Firebird, is very aerodynamic (even by today's standards). Therefore it wouldn't take much HP to move the car down the road at a steady 55-60 mph. The car's weight is not really relevant in steady-speed cruising. It would certainly use more fuel getting up to speed, since it's heavy and underpowered, but once at speed the car would have enough power, unless you live in the mountains.

A lot of it is how you drive, too. I've averaged as high as 26 mpg with my Z28. I'm able to get 34 mpg on highway trips with a 2007 4-cyl Ford Ranger pickup, for heaven's sake.

1MeanZ

iTrader: (9)

my 89 S-10 with Iron Duke power and a 5 speed and 4.10s would only muster 19mpg. I don't know what other S-10s got with the 2.5 but thats what mine always did. Obviously the aero on an f-body is better, but the weight is about the same. Not sure if a 2.5 would get great highway economy or not.

crazy_hotrodder

I have an 86 Fiero with the duke. I have no idea how you could get more than me in a heavier camaro, the most I have clocked was 30mpg exactly and that was all highway. I have the isusu 5sp in mine with gearing that puts this thing at 2k rpm at 70, and od is geared so high that in fith all it can do is maintain speed without accelerating much at all, so the gearing is as open and free as they come. It is in perfect running condition with under 100k on the odometer. I have done a full tune on everything from bushings, ball joints, to cv's, clutch, hoses, filters and motor mounts, and still I average 28 mpg.

BLUETA

Had a 83 Iron Duke for several years. Mileage was 25 at 60 mph straight highway driving. It was a 4 speed, no overdrive. Fun to drive around town. Snappy out of the hole, picked the front end right up in second and third. Then you put it into fourth, looked at the speedo, and you were doing 45. Had to replace the starter once per year as my son was a real estate photographer in college and would start it 25 times in 2 hours when working. (The starter is on the wrong side, the drivers side. I believe it was Rambler that also had a design that way and all the old mechanics tell you they also burned up starters.)

sonjaab

I also had a 87 s-10 with the Iron Duke 4 speed stick I bought new.
It barely got 20 mpg but served me well !

NOW I have the bad boy truck with the 6.0 and it get a big 16 mpg.
hiway....................Not to mention my 84 Z 305 HO and who cares
about mpg!

mikey88firebird

I wish I did instead of the 2.8 auto firebird i have now !

-srs-

The ony way you're gonna get 40mpg out of a Duke is to push it off of a cliff!

Gumby

And post like that are why iron duke owners don't come here, the V6 guys get enough flack as it is, plus the forum doesn't even have a duke section like they are kept chained in the basement like Sloth.

scottmoyer

The weight and underpowered do play a major role in the mileage you will get out of a vehicle. Back in 94, I bought a full size extended cab GMC 4x4 with the 4.3 liter engine. My driving was mostly highway so I wanted to get the best mileage. I sold the truck within the 1st year because it was so bad. As a comparison, a friend bought a 94 Chevy extended cab with the 5.7 liter. He was constantly breaking 20mpg highway with his and I couldn't get that V6 over 16 no matter how hard I tried. It was too underpowered for a vehicle of that size.

In the same line of thinking, I have a 2006 5.3l Z71 crew cab pickup. I have not been able to get better than 18.5 with this truck at 70 for highway cruising. A friend has the 2 wheel drive 6 liter vortech max and he gets 20 highway all the time. His truck doesn't down shift on minor slopes like mine does. Granted, I have more rolling resistance with the 4x4, but the bigger engines don't work as hard.

I'd bet that a honda civic would get even better milage with an LS1 than with that 4 cyl it comes with!

-srs-

It was a joke Gumby. Relax. For all of the Duke owerners out there, please PM me if I offended you and I'll render a full apology.

I do agree that there ought to be an Iron Duke section though.

JT

iTrader: (1)

For those suggesting there should be an Iron Duke section, it's been suggested a few times over the past several years but there has not been sufficient support to suggest such a section is warranted and will be active. We only have forums where there's enough activity to justify them. Not having an Iron Duke section has nothing to do with what the staff may, or may not, think about the 4 cylinder. It's purely based on amount of activity.

Krik

iTrader: (4)

Do not discount the value of a transmission. A third gen with a 4th gen 6-speed can get even better mileage. That 6th gear is such a sweet sweet cruising gear. 65mph at 1800rpm. Booyeah!

Gumby

Thats the old chicken and an egg thing or the car and job problem.

You need a job to buy a car, but you need a car to get to a job....

Waiting for enough iron duke folks to show up first, will never happen.

If there was no V6 section here, I never would of joined, activity or not.

Duke owners show up, see no section and go elsewhere.
Just like I would have done.

JT

iTrader: (1)

Part of the point is the lack of Iron Duke forum does not indicate any personal opinions of the engine by the staff, despite it appeared to be suggested.

We have no problems making forums when required, but adding forums has always been based on amount of activity to justify them. It's been this way for years. If we were to add forum just to add them, then we'd have people suggesting/complaining that there is too many forums to navigate and they have to scroll further past them to get to the sections they are interested in.

Just because there isn't an Iron Duke section, does not mean people will necessarily go elsewhere. Besides the engine itself, the rest of the car is covered well on this website as it's a Third Gen. Is there a lot of modifications, by owners, to the Iron Duke? Are there questions about the Iron Duke that cannot be answered in the Tech / General Engine forum?

We don't have a Berlinetta section despite they use a unique digital cluster and radio system. Doesn't mean owners cannot find support here for them.

I'm not saying no to an Iron Duke section, or any other ThirdGen specific section. I just need some reason to justify it.

hardon85

that would be cool to see and not just for the mileage that would be a ***** I would definitely I would respect

Gumby

fuel economy, engine efficiency & power just isn't scaleable like that.

http://www.viragotech.com/fixit/Fuel...encyPower.html

mikey88firebird

An Iron Duke forum would be cool but on the same token I understand why there isnt one, even though they are "the last pontiac powered Firebird"! and if i could afford it I would pull my v6 out and put a 2.5 back in it way more luck with them then the 2.8 v6

hardon85

I can understand why there isn't one. I can't imagine there isn't to many left for 1 and #2. if people have one they probably aren't doing to much to mod them. Also I don't think people should be upset about not having a forum for a specific car when they don't even have one of those cars, I haven't seen one Iron duke owner saying there should be a forum for their cars. Also unless I have missed it there isn't a forum for crossfire cars (which I know is basically TBI but they seem to have a lot of problems from what I hear) and there isn't a specific forum for turbo trans ams either.

Gumby

A Duke section will just need time to grown, but till ya got one it can't grow.
And I bet it would take several years, if there was one when I joined 9 years ago, id bet it would be well used by now.

Course it may take longer now since most end up at s10 or fiero forums for help.

hardon85

Does anyone know how many were actually made? I looked and couldn't find how many iron dukes were made. But regardless of how many were made, how many are left? I have never seen one and my brother told me he went to high school with a guy who had one (and he graduated in 1994) other than that I have never seen or heard of one outside of the internet. The original post asked for anyone having an iron duke and only 1 person had 1 (and his last post activity was in Feb.) 1 person saw 1 and had pics and 2 other people knew someone who had one (and 1 had the motor out to put a 383 in), and someone else said there was a few people on here who had them but they never chimed in. These were only available in sport coupes from 82-85 and had to be the cheapest 3rd gen Camaro you could buy brand new, and usually people don't take care of something that is cheap as well as they would something that was more expensive, so I would guess they would have been the first cars to be scrapped without being wrecked due to lack of maintenance. Also the ones that did survive how many of them had their motor ripped out and something else going in? I have never seen 1 for sale and 2 people posted up seeing craigslist ads 20 years ago maybe more people would have liked an iron duke forum. But I highly doubt there are very many 3rd gen Camaros left that have an iron duke sitting in their engine bay.

yo soy el warg

1982: 21,802
1983: 10,376
1984: 10,687
1985: 3,318

Total: 46,183 4 cylinder camaros were built.


Only 46,183 4 cylinder camaros were built from 1982 to 1985. Thanks to hardon85 for pointing out that the totals I had included V-6 and V-8 sport coupes. After subtracting those I got these numbers for total production of 4 cylinders in camaros.