History / RestorationGot a question about Third Gen (1982-1992) Camaro or Firebird history? Where can I find these original parts? What is this option or RPO code? Those questions, answers, and more!
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In the Feb. 1985 popular Hot Rodding they tested a 85 IROC and it posted a 14.94 @ 92.60 and a TA that posted a 15.02 @ 91.09. I have seen a 14.7 for a 85 IROC. That is faster then a lot of the stock muscle cars.
Any of the old school guys that argue that a 3rd gen is not a "muscle car" would cringe at these numbers. I mentioned a story before about a guy saying my IROC-Z is an abomination to the Z28 moniker that it wears. The guy had a 69 Z28 and said that his car was a real Z28. We raced that day and I taught him to respect the "newer" Z28s as I just proved to him that his car was no faster. He was very humbled after that.
Outstanding article -- definitely some good information there.
Having owned both old and new muscle cars over the years, I can say that the article is spot on. Memories and colorful stories are one thing, but numerical facts tell the true story.
The older muscle cars are very stylish and cool, and I love them. I will own more of them in the future. But in stock form, they are wildly overrated in acceleration, and markedly poor in most other performance aspects. Most of the test cars from back then were ringers (as the article states).
Our "slow" stock thirdgens fall right into the midst of the older cars' ETs. And the most recent couple generations of muscle cars are hands-down among the fastest ever built. My bone-stock '99 LS1 Z28 (automatic, loaded, non-SS), with paper air filter and all-season radials, ran a faster ET than all but three cars on that list, and had a faster trap speed than all but six -- with my mediocre driving.
And yet, the old muscle are considered the "legendary" performers, unaffordable to all but a few...while clean LT1 or LS1 Z28s and Firebirds can be picked up for less than the price of a used Corolla.
Guys, the glory days of performance are now!!!
__________________ Tom
1992 Z/28 1LE, 305 TPI 5-speed
Radio delete, Red/Red leather
8K original miles
I think this gives rise to the idea that many people thought that they accidentally got a 350 instead of a lowly 305 in 1985 when they got the TPI... I know of people that bought a T/A or IROC, that were so convinced that they were given a 350 in 1985, only to find out when they tore the engine apart that it was really a 305...
I think the thing that really killed the perception LB9/A4 was the 1986 - 1989 version of that engine, I even drove a 1991 convertible Trans Am that I really thought was a dog... So impressions really give way here.
__________________ 87 FORMULA - 5.1 LB9/A4 T-tops 3.73 Modified (Yellow/Black)
87 FORMULA - 5.0 LB9/M5 T-tops 3.45 (Yellow/Gray)
89 FORMULA 350 - CONVERTIBLE 3.27 All original (Red/Gray) www.3rdgenformula.com
__________________ FIREBIRD TRANS AM : WINS THE DRAG RACE STANDING STILL.
1985 base Firebird, LB8/F41/GU6/DE1, '82 T/A wheels, CB, 153k
1982 Norwood Recaro LU5/WS4/WS6/Y84, 3466 original miles
1984 Firebird S/E HO V6, LL1/WS6, 114k, sold 5/02, repo 9/02, kennedy
(1982 Trans Am WS7, GM Goodwrench 5.7L, T-10, daily driver, 88k)
ÆÆÆ Join 82Recaro forum http://ohok.com/82recaro/forum/index.php
......many people thought that they accidentally got a 350 instead of a lowly 305 in 1985 when they got the TPI...
I think the thing that really killed the perception LB9/A4 was the 1986 - 1989 version of that engine,
2 thumbs up!!!!!!!!! When I got my low mileage 85 TPI with 3:42's from the original owner, people would look at me sideways when I told them it was a 305, like it was a sled. Yet, when bone stock with only K&N's and gutted airbox, it would easily keep up with and sometimes pull on my buddys 89 Formula 350 TPI with 3:27's....go figure
Any of the old school guys that argue that a 3rd gen is not a "muscle car" would cringe at these numbers. I mentioned a story before about a guy saying my IROC-Z is an abomination to the Z28 moniker that it wears. The guy had a 69 Z28 and said that his car was a real Z28. We raced that day and I taught him to respect the "newer" Z28s as I just proved to him that his car was no faster. He was very humbled after that.
Nice! Who actually won? You should have taken him for a ride to show him how a real Z28 handles and brakes too LOL. Light years better than his that's for sure. When the public realizes just how much better overall Thirds are than Firsts from a technical standpoint, it's gonna get more interesting.
I don't know. Since I won't drag race for long, I let off. Neither of us moved from each other until I let off. His car had the 4.10 gears and mine has the 3.27, so I was impressed with the IROC-Z that day. And yes, on a twisty road, I would have had to wait for him to catch up.
It's from the June 1984 Hot Rod magazine. 
88 Firebird Formula 350- 85,XXX miles *G92* *Ws6*
In the Feb. 1985 popular Hot Rodding they tested a 85 IROC and it posted a 14.94 @ 92.60 and a TA that posted a 15.02 @ 91.09. I have seen a 14.7 for a 85 IROC. That is faster then a lot of the stock muscle cars.
