Jay90IROC

I have been looking for this car with a 5-speed for a few months.I am surprised to find only a handful scattered across the country, and all I have found were automatics. Is the 5-speed car an especially rare car or...? If so, why is that? Does anyone know of one for sale?

Thanks all in advance.
Jay

okfoz

As for popularity I would say the following would be reasonaly true
From common to unusual:

Lo3 cars are quite Common
LB9 Autos
L98 (350's)
and finally the mysterious LB9 M5

Other than that you get into TTA's, Firehawks HO cars etc for rarity. But as far as finding an LB9 M5 car, they are out there, but I don't see many. I think GM was pushing away from the Manual market in the 80's on the F-body because the 5 speed they were using was substandard for the eingine they were using, being that the 305 TPI almost has the Max HP/Torque recommended for the M5 design and reliability.

Edit: I see either a) you are looking for a 90 IROC, OR you have a 90 IROC, the 90 Iroc was only a 1/2 year production, and ther ewas never a 90 IROC made in 1990 if that makes sence (Production stopped Dec 31 1989...)

I think this thread would be well served in the History section tho...

John

Jay90IROC

okfoz,

Thanks for the info. I am looking for one, sorry for the confusion. I owned a 91 RS w/ 305 TBI a few years back and have missed driving a 3rd Gen F-body ever since. I want a 5-speed (previous car was manual) because I feel it brings a more "driving experience" to going down the road.

I was hoping to find some sort of production numbers for the 90 IROC w/ 5 speed, but haven't had much luck with that so far. That will tell the true tale of how rare it is. If anyone knows of one that can be had, please let me know.

Thanks all,
Jay

nick418

no offense, but your not gonna have much luck findin a 1990 IROC. I mean theres a chance, but its very slim (esp findin a 350 or a 5 speed lb9).. That was the last year of the IROC. And they only made like 4,213 Irocs. And they only made 28,000 RS which is small due cuz RS had very high production numbers over the years. This should be on the History board tho, good luck

Steve89GTA

Keep looking you will find it. I almost bought a 88 350TPI auto GTA but didn't cause I really wanted the 5speed. 2 months later and regretting my decision BIGTIME over the 88, I found a wicked white 89 GTA ttop with the 5speed LB9 combo much to my suprise, even up here in Canada. It is one of 308 made out of a possible 8,000 GTA's.

'87 IROC VERT

iTrader: (4)

I know of a guy with what looks like a clean 1987 Trans Am, 305 TPI with a 5 speed and t-tops. The car has rips in the drivers seat, etc. but looks pretty clean, no visible rust. The car is located in Nova Scotia. I talked to the guy several times, but passed on it because I had too many T/A's already. If you are interested I can dig up his contact info.

Hopes this helps the person looking for a nice LB9/5M.

Jay90IROC

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. TransAM90210, thats sounds like a real needle in the hay stack, but I am really just interested in a 90 IROC. I like the IROC styling a little bit better than the Firebird/TransAM, and the updated interior or the 1990-1992 Camaros, so those are my main reasons for wanting only a 90. I appreciate all who are keeping an eye out for me.

Jay

nick418

hey Jay your better off looking for a 91-92 5 speed 305. More of them are out there then 1990 iroc. Plus the 91-92 Z28s have nice gfx, pretty cool wing, imo the best looking thirdgens out there.. Just my 2 cents

DuronClocker

iTrader: (1)

Agreed, the 90-92 Camaros are the best lookin 3rd gens out there...then comes my style Trans Am Why are you looking for a '90 IROC 5spd/LB9? Why not a '91-92 Z28 5spd/LB9? Get some WS6 swaybars, a TDS Wonderbar, and some IROC stickers, and your Z28 is even better than an IROC...

87350IROC

iTrader: (2)

Some people like the IROC styling more than the the 91-92 Z28s. I like the rockers and such but the spoiler just doesn't look right to me with the wrap around tail lights. I also perfer the IROC whels. Also the IROC had a stiffer suspension.

'87 IROC VERT

iTrader: (4)

I have to agree, the IROC's are simply a better looking car. To me, at least, the later RS and Z29 models looked sort of 'fake', like someone took a V6 Sport Coupe and tried to make it an IROC or a Z28. And that stripe?

Those of you who love the 90-92 models, don't blast me, it's just my opnion. They are still great cars, and cosmetics aside, newer and I'm sure in some way better than cars like my '87 T/A.

Still.... you gotta love the '85 up and IROC's, T/A's and GTA's

(something about the last year or two of the T/A with those funny bumpers and ground effects looked odd to me).

If only they made the IROC and T/A's of those years in a 5.7 TPI 5-speed... I used to pick up the brochures and look for that combo, and was sure the missing option was just a misprint!

Jay90IROC

87350IROC and TransAm90210 took the words right out of my mouth. I just like the styling of the 90 IROC better. I don't like the updated ground effects and I think the 91-92 Z28 Wing is the ugliest part of the car. I'm not trying to insult anyone, that is just my taste. The 90 is the best of both worlds to me. The old styling and the new interior, plus the stiffer suspension.

TransAm90210, about the missing combo of the 5.7 & 5-speed...I was really starting to wonder about that when I first got into Camaros. At first I thought that it must have been a super rare option, but then I found out that it wasn't available. I just don't understand the thinking behind that one. Why not put your best engine with a 5-speed transmission???? Doesn't make sense to me..

Thanks all,
Jay

'87 IROC VERT

iTrader: (4)

JAY90IROC,

I haven't seen a '90 IROC, but I have always loved the IROC's, so I can imagine how sweet an updates interior would look in that body style. You'll have to post or send a couple of photos if you have any.

Yeah, that whole 5.7/auto thing was weird. Some people used to claim they didn't have a strong enough 5 speed for it - total BS. Have you seen how kids used to drive these cars back in the 80's? Oh my ***, they were just HAMMERED on. And the tranny's usually survived just fine. Besides, the 5.7 was only a little stronger than the 5 liter, not enough to harm the manual trans.

A friend's dad was a GM exec, and he told me there was (or is?) some kind of rule that no car could have more power than that years Corvette, or something like that. . Probably why the Grand National/Turbo Trans Am's were always rated FAR lower than the actual HP they had.

So, it was probably GM protecting it's baby, the Corvette. I suppose there is some dimented logic to it if the rumor was true - I mean, would you want to pay $35,000 or more for a Corvette just to have your *** whipped off a stoplight by some kid in a $17,000 Z28?

If I weren't so into keeping my car 100% stock, I would swap otu my 700R4 for a 5 speed in a second. Not that I don't like my auto, it's great - but I do like the full control that a manual gives you.

DonP

The reason they didn't put a 5 speed behind their best engine (L98 350) is that their best engine had too much torque for the 5 speed and would destroy it.

The was never a 350 5 speed combo. Period.

Aftermarket, I've seen many 350's behind 5 speeds, but I wouldn't touch buying them with a 10 foot pole, unless the can prove to me they really beefed up the tranny.

The T56 six speed is a lot stronger tranny, and that is why you see it behind LT1's and LS1's.

BTW I love my 1990 GTA with a LB9 5 speed. Good luck to Jay90IROC on finding a 5 speed - don't give up. If your heart is set on a 5 speed (like mine was) you will never be happy until you get one. Don't settle for less.

cdartz

Good luck in your search. It took me years to finally find a 90 IROC with a T5, and boy did I luck out. I found one that happens to be a convertible. Your patience will eventually pay off. Here's a pic of mine.

'87 IROC VERT

iTrader: (4)

That is probably the nicest third gen I have ever seen.... NICE

cdartz

Thanks

nick418

yeah Cdartz, your mad lucky that you found that beautiful 90 Iroc. Man they only made 1,294 of em! *** knows where most of them are (prob junked) So consider yourself lucky, i die and drool for a 1990 Iroc convertable esp if its a T5

Synapsis

I had to go a thousand miles to get mine. Took 2 months of searching.

'87 IROC VERT

iTrader: (4)

DonP,

I don't know if I can beleive the reason was lack of a strong 5 speed. Corvette's had manuals and 350/5.7 engines a long time before the IROC and GTA offered a 5.7

I suspect it was more of a marketing choice than not being able to find a good enough tranny. What other reason could there be?

nick418

Some of the early C4 vettes came with the Dough Nash 4+3 manual (option) By 1989 the Corvette came with a new 6 speed manual (option as well) Now of course GM coulda built a stronger 5 speed for a 350 TPI fbody. But they worry worried that its performance was gonna be near the Vette. They already had the 89 TTA kickin the Vettes ***. So they didnt want the Fbody either. I mean there can be many reasons why

'87 IROC VERT

iTrader: (4)

Yeah, that's basically what I meant, that they didn't want a budget (?) coupe to jump the stop lights equal to or even ahead of a 'vette. Especially bearing in mind that many more IROC's and GTA's got exhaust mods, etc. when fairly new compared to Corvette's, which usually are bought first by more mature (?) adults, and get modified as they get older.

Imagine how mad some 35 year old sale exec would be if his new 'vette got smoked off the line by a kid in a new IROC with a 5 speed/6 speed!!!

Yeah, I have to beleive it was marketing.... 4+3, 6 speed, whatever - GM could have done it if they wanted to - they didn't want to!

cdartz

Thanks for the compliment Nick, and Synapsis your car looks great too. That's a great find with the 350.

DonP

Whatever the reason, the T5, even if a World Class, was never found behind a 5.7 in an F-Body. Just couldn't handle the torque. It wasn't lack of a strong 5 speed, it was a lack of the 5 speed they were using.

As far as marketing Corvettes vs. F-Bodies, who cares? We have the better looking cars.

okfoz

AMEN! Brother...

406-IROC

But Jay, what are you're intensions? Are you looking to find a 90 IROC, and keep it a trailer queen? Or are you looking to have some fun with her?

Aftermarket companies have suspension kits that make the stock 90 IROC's look pathetic. So I take it you want a 90 IROC just for the sake of having one (so long as the title 'says' 1990), and you want to keep it stock, right?

If you've ever driven in a more common 88 IROC, with a 454 TPI (small block), linked to a six speed... you'd understand my point. Plus, the 90's interior can always be installed in the 88's.

What are you're goals?

Jay90IROC

cdartz & Synapsis,

Those are 2 awesome looking cars. I am so jealous.

406-IROC,

My intentions are to modify it a little, but not so far that it cannot easily returned to stock (new engine, paint if needed). I like the stock look a lot and really don't want to change it. I want to swap out the 305 and put in a 350 crate motor. I want to see what it will do with a 5-speed, and also be one of the few with the combination. I like the 90 because of the new interior and the old ground effects. Plus I am a big Earnhardt fan (was at Daytona when he tragically died), and he won the IROC Championship in 1990. I know that I could piece together the car that I want, but it just wouldn't be the same as having the real thing. I'm gonna keep on looking until I find it. Hopefully someone will want to sell me theirs, but in case not, I will be actively looking until I find one. Again, if anyone knows of one for sale, please let me know. Thanks all for keeping this thread alive.

Jay

'87 IROC VERT

iTrader: (4)

Jay,

Look on www.cars-on-line.com - I've seen some pretty clean, low mileage cars there. I haven't looked for an IROC there, but you might find what you're looking for if you keep checking the site.

Good luck!

Andy 91GTA

iTrader: (2)

That is a gorgeous car. I hardly see any convertible thirdgen's in SK. I've only seen one blue IROC vert but I am unsure what year it is but it's between an 88-90.

'87 IROC VERT

iTrader: (4)

I talked to one of the engineers for GM this weekend at a car meet in Southern California.

My suspisions were confirmed, it was indeed GM policy regarding the Corvette's place in the pecking order that led to the decision to only offer the 5.7 with an auto.

Selling the IROC and Trans Am's with a 5.7 and an auto forced those who wanted the 5 speed to buy a Corvette.

Or, as GM later discovered, a Mustang 5.0

Funny how only a couple of years later GM offered the Z28 with a 5.7 and a 6 speed...