Hey guys
I've always loved the look of the 3rd Gen Camaro, especially the 91-92 Z28's and the 87-90 IROC-Z's. I ended up buying a 1999 SS Convertible 6 Speed. I love the car and am thinking of starting a small Camaro collection.
My first thought was of a 1969 SS 396 Camaro, but those are crazy expensive. My next favorite is the 3rd Gen.

I'm getting ready to go back to Iraq soon (U.S. Army), but when I come home I'd like to buy one (Mush to the wife's dismay). I'm an avid manual trans fan also. I don't want the car to do a power build or for speed. I've got the LS1 for that. I want a nice, low mile, original Camaro Z-28 or IROC. I'm not going to get another convertible, one is enough.

What is the best year to get and what should I look out for? My next door neighbor has a 92 Camaro RS 25th Anniversary edition. He's had lots of electrical problems (VATTS), and it's pretty weak with the TBI 305. At a minimum I want a TPI 305. So what do you guys think?

 

If you plan on keeping the car stock but want decent speed, I would settle for nothing less than a L98 (350 TPI) or at the very least the LB9 (305 TPI).

I would suggest a 91 - 92 z28. IMO they look the best.

 

...or a b4c 1le car...

sweeet!

 

1991-1992 Z28 l98

 

Well if you want a manual, you're not gonna get a 350 unless someone did a swap. I'd look for a 91-92 Z with an LB9 and 5-speed.

 

yeah, do a 89 to 92 Iroc or Z28 L98. should do the trick. all you need to have alittle kick in the pants with one of those is make sure it has the 3.27 rear (9-bolt in the 89-90 i think) or at least 3.23 or up in the 91-92 10-bolt rears and add a 2800 stall converter and shift kit. makes an enjoyable car.

 

a lower mileage unit in great shape is fairly cheap at 4-6 grand.

 

why not buy a Bird?? a nice Trans Am or GTA is just as nice as an IROC or Z-28

 

Arent the 90-92 TPI's faster than the others?
Just thinking out loud

 

A 91-92 Z28 350 TPI hard top!

 

I believe the speed density setups are rated at like 10 HP more than the MAF ones

 

90-92 G92 305 tpi, good luck finding one, best bet will be a 91, dont think 90 iroc production was very high on em, 92 seems to be slim to none, figures seem to point at numbers most likely lower than 100, and not possible above 600, i have one of them, you've got 599 possible to search out.



Hardtop was required on them which should help you on a search looking through cars, 90-92 305 and disc brake its likely a G92, was only avail hardtop only manual and had discs.

 

worst problem is that they didnt offer the 5 spd with the 350...

thats the only problem on my car is its not manual but ill live with what i got cause i love the power it makes.

many people have droped the T-5 in the 350s and have had no problems...GM said it couldnt hold to the amount of torque the L98/350s made.

if u gotta have a manual definently go with a later iroc or 91-92 z28 LB9/5 spd. My plan sence i hate autos is to drop a T56 from a later model camaro next summer.

 

i love mine..

 

The '91-'92 Z28 305 TPI 5sp with dual exhaust was rated at 230hp. I think that will fit the bill nicely. As far as finding one, that may be tough.

 

If you are going to start a "collection", i'd look for an IROC-Z. Just my opinion though.

 

not dual exhaust, DUAL CATS

 

but YOU dont need to worry about them anymore, do ya?

 

SHHHHHHH its suppose to be a secret between you and me

 

my bad..

 

WHOA, hold on. whats up nick??

 

Nothing. what would give you the idea that anything is "up" huh? huh?!?

 

I hear that the '91-92 Z28s are pretty sweet!

 

there not that great...


ok ok...i admit...there are...but until i own one...my LG4 conquers all!

 

 

A 5 speed car is going to be much harder to find than an automatic, but they are out there. Are you up to do a conversion? I have swapped out automatics in 2 thirdgens, it is a very easy job ! I did mine first with no problems, other than the trans. finally let go. I now have a 6 speed in it....also an easy conversion. If you are game for doing the swap, there is plenty of information on this site alone to guide you through it.

Good luck!

Jason Aschle

 

Thanks for all the responses. A T-56 swap isn't out of the question, although I am leaning towards keeping the car basically stock/original. A guy I know in the Kansas f-body club has a black 1991 Z28 with a T-56, I'm not sure if is a 350 or 305, but is is a TPI engine.
Would you guys consider an IROC-Z (1987-1989) or a 91-92 Z28 more collectable? Like I said, this car will mostly be to look good, not go that fast. I'd have to sink a lot of money into the TPI engine to get it as fast as my 99 SS was stock. I'm not sure if these cars will ever be collectable, but I think they will in 5-10 years, especially the sought after models/option packages.

 

For me, it's hard to answer that question. Around here, I see WAY more IROCs than I do 91-92 Z28's. I've had a hand full of people ask me "where did you get that spoiler, what kind of body kit is that, where are your IROC decals"...all kinds of crazy questions because there are no 91-92 Z28's in my area. I had to travel to another state to pick my 91 Z28 up...and it wasn't in very good condition either. Just depends how popular they are in your area I suppose

 

You can find production numbers here

A 1LE wouldn't be a bad investment for ya

 

id say that the 91-92 Z28 is gonna be more collectible. 1. I OWN one 2. They made Less 1991-92 Z28s then they made IROCS

 

A '90 IROC is pretty rare, since the 1990 MY was a very short one, especially if you can find a G92 car...

My personal preference would be an 85-90 IROC....they look much cleaner (smoother) than the 91-92 Z28s.

 

I would also agree the iroc is by far the best looker for camaro's. If i bought another thirdgen it would be an iroc without a doubt.

 

If you want a collection, find a 1LE, no doubt about it.

 

1LE is rare yup

90- 62
91- 478
92- 705

But like i said, seems nobody around here even realizes how few G92 5 liter 92s were made, take a look at production numbers for 90-92 cars and the rules they were built by, a 350 car was supposed to automatically have G92, a little research and you'll find out how little were made

I've quite possibly got the only black / red striped G92 5 liter heritage

 

:werd:

I do not want to start a pissing match or anything between Iroc’s and 91-92 Z’s. But I believe the Iroc’s are the most sought after thirdgens.

 

Without a doubt, your right, but alot of people just want the "IROC" name. You could take a..lets say a 1987 Z28, put an IROC-Z Decal on the door and people with not much knowledge about 3rd gens will think it's an IROC....not knowing about the different options the IROC has over the base Z28. To the public that don't know much about the 82-92 Camaros...they will just about call every base Camaro, RS, IROC, Z28...whatever an IROC because of what type of car it is Which is cool....I just hate it when people tell me "to bad it's not an IROC"

 

BTW, there were only 175 1991 Z28 1LE's equipped with the 5.7 TPI/G92
And a friend of mine has one...and recently totalled it

 

i wish mine was a G92. its an 89 with the 9 bolt and 2.77 gears. the G92 had dual cats and 3.27's i believe for the 5.7 liter cars.

i thought all G92's were 1LE's????

 

nope... My G92 isnt 1LE

 

I hear ya.


I like the 91-92's alot myself My buddy has a 92 B4C

 

Get a 1990 Iroc Z with the 350 TPI. Not only was this the last year of the Iroc, but the 350's were also still available with T-Tops. Then put on the 91-92 ground effects and 5in. spoiler and call it a day...

 

For The Camaros, 1989 was the last year that the 350 was available with t-tops..not 1990.

 

157,000 IROCS vs. 17,000 91-92 Z28s... go figure get a 25th ann one, that should be a collectible later, but its true that an IROC might be more valued than an 91 z28 later on... the fact remains however that there are not many 91-92 z28s at all in existence today... if they only made 17,000 of em.... a good chunk must be totalled or totally wrecked.. in a decade or two, we all might end up owning a piece of history much in the same way those 69 camaros are... plus, if they reintroduce the camaro into production, it can only make our cars more and more popular.

 

Get a '92 25th anniversary heritage Z-28. It's a bitchin car and a nice investment.

 

i agree

 

87-90 Iroc will hold it's value better than the 91-92 Z28's.
How is old Fort Riley? I was stationed there 1983-85.

 

Fort Riley was established in 1853. I've been here since July 2002, but I've only actually been physically here about 1/2 the time due field exercises and a deployment. It's actually alot nicer than I expected. It is a pretty area. After living in CA most of my life, I'm not wild about the Kansas climate and bugs.

As for the cars, I guess time will tell. It will probably be another 10-15 years before the cars are collectable, like the 1st and 2nd gens.

 

Actually they are starting to appreciate now. The third gen is the new collector car. So now is the time to decide if you really want one while you can still get OEM parts from GM.

What part of CA are you from? Yea, That Kansas climate sure does suck! -20 in the winter to +115 in the summer. Sure glad I'm not there anymore.

 

Im about to buy an 86 IROC. What other specail options did it include?

 

There wasn't a whole lot of "extras" in '86.

...not that it's a bad thing though!