i dont really know if this is the right place to put this but i will try. what magazine has the most thirdgen articles?

well it's kinda of hard to say, GM High Performance had some of the best articles on a Thirdgen build up, But it only comes out like 3 or 4 times a year or something like that. You can order back issues, from them online. They took a stock TA or Fol. and did a build up of the motor. Also There's some good ones in Super Chevy every once in awhile, And some in the Firebird mags also, can't remember their names though. But go to the GM High Performance website and order some of there back issues, on the thirdgen buildup, that's been the best so far.IMO

Right now, High Performance Pontiac has been running 3rd gen stories every month for at least 5 issues (they do 12 issues a year). Interior resitfication, headliner repair, sagging door repair, next out will be a 3rd gen buyer's guide. Since they're all the same under the skin, that might even be interesting if you have a Camaro.

GM High Tech actually does 7 issues a year. They did an '88 stroker 383/700r4 formula buildup, covered a lot of good stuff on aftermarket FI controllers, and are now doing some simple bolt on's on a 5 speed 305 Formula. It just depends on what you're looking for.

Super Chevy and Chevy High Performance have done some limited coverage of third gen cars, but it's basically considered to be the least popular of all the F-body generations, so they don't get much attention from the big magazines. When they become classics and people start spending money on them, they will see increased attention.

Judging by the number of web sites and magazine articles, I'd say the second generations are the Rodney Dangerfields of the F-body world. And not undeservedly so considering the wimpy motors that were used from '73 to '81.

On the other hand,... seems like every month that another magazine touts thirdgens as "THE Budget Performance Choice" or "The Next Big Thing(aka The Next Shoebox)". All this does, of course, is artificially inflate the asking price from those selling complete cars or parts.

High Performance Pontiac (HPP) has the most 3rd gen articles I've seen.

About the later second gen and third gen cars not getting nearly as much attention as the first gen and fourth gen cars (Rodney Dangerfield, I love it!) in magazines, a big part of the problem is that the editors of all the large magazines (Super Chevy, Chevy High Perf, Hot Rod, Car Craft, etc.) are here in the Los Angeles area. They have not paid much attention to 74-later F cars, or any cars of that era for that matter, because hot rodding them created such a huge hassle with CA smog, and compared to the "classics" they started life pretty slow. Here in CA, a 73 Camaro or firebird is worth significantly more $$ than a '74, just because you don't have to smog it. And in regards to HP output, please remember the 73-74 Super Duty Trans Ams were some of the fastest F bodys, either stock or modified, ever produced.

Personally, I like all the gens of F bodys, but each generation was an improvement on the preceding in almost all areas excepting horsepower. The state of the art of either the SB Chevy or the Pontiac engine is awesome now, if the Smog ***** would leave us alone, lots of horsepower isn't that hard to get out of these engines no matter what the generation. To me, being into cars isn't about buying the best, it's about building the best the way you want it.

Now the 4th gen cars have proved that there is horsepower and emissions compliance, so the magazine guys are waking up to the potential of the 3rd gen cars. You just have to be a smarter hot-rodder. In my opinion, the 3rd gen cars are lighter, better handling and better looking than the second gen cars and even 4th gen cars (I have all 3), plus are more practical in day to day use. Fuel injection and overdrive trannies just ad to the advantages. But they will always have the stigma, with the later second gen cars, of being the "smog cars". Remember, the third gens were the only ones that came with a 4 cylinder!

we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming...

I'ld like to add that it was pretty much '75 - later fire birds that sucked HP wise as '75 was the first year cats were installed on the exhaust, it was also the first year that you could'nt get dual exhaust ,on the intake side, they no longer use the hi-perf hi-rise intake they now used the low rise POS, '75 was the first year to have a large restrictor cast into the back bores of the 4bbl intake( they restricted 1/3 of the bores flow , '75 was the first year for a discustingly small peanut cam, the compression was lowered from 8.2-8.0 down to 7.6:1,'75 is pretty much the year that you started to see ALOT of smog equipment andvacuum hoses that cluttered the engine compartment, and as a final insult about 200 lbs of 5mph bumper bull $#!+ was added to the front of the car.

'67-'74 firebirds and TAs are great cars.

Solid Lifter took the words right out of my mouth. To go along with what he said about the Firebird here is the Camaro:

74 was the last year for powerful Camaro's. it had no cats, true duals, leaded gas, and 245 RWHP which is what 4th gen LT1's put out.

In 1975 the Z28 went away and there was cats, unleaded gas and like 150hp.

Engine masters is doing an L98 build.
The thing runs like a dog.