Makaveli

hello there, im 14 years old and looking for a car. the catch is the car has to be a car i could work on for the next 2 years until i start to drive. ive always been in love with the 3rd gens

what is the difference between the 82-84s and 85-90s? i always see things divided up like that. im interested in getting an 84-90.

RoadRocket L98

82-84 and 85-90 are two different eras for the thirdgen f-bod for two main reasons.

Im not all to sure about the 'maro but the firebird is different both in the exterior and engine options. The front bumper cover in 82-84 has two large openings that have either grills or in the 84 TAs they are covered. There was no integrated fog lamps from 82-84, they didnt come out til 85 in the TAs. The 82-84s were not available with TPI, only carb and Crossfire 305, 2.8 carb, and they were also availible with the 2.5L fourbanger, although I still cant figure out why. In 85, new ground fx were put on the TA, along with foglamps and the vented hood instead of the 'power bulge' TA hood. No grill openings on the bumper cover. The base birds also lost the grills and now had small bumpers on front and back, along with the regular 82-84 pedestal spoiler. (It was used til 92) In 85 TPI also came out, a carb was still available, but you could only get a 305 in an Fbody until 87 when the 350TPI came out.

Maybe this will help too:

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/D...mTimeLine.html



------------------
'83 Firebird 2.8
'89 Firebird Formula 350
2nd owner, red/grey, t-tops, dual cats, and a 3.27:1 rear
K&N, TB bypass, No MAF screens, CAI, full Accel ignition

86ZRICHIE

Yeah, the camaro's are similar, big square front signals in 82-84 with 3 big horizontal slots in the middle of the nose, in 85 the signals went rectangular, the slots got smaller and in 88 they disappeared all together. The GFX had a vent in the front spoiler from 82-84 which went solid in 85, GFX were then changed again in 91 and had a scoop appearance on the sides of them and the high-rise spoiler was introduced. speakin of spoilers, the 87-90 models are bigger than the 82-86 because they housed a 3rd brke light. Hope this helps, hopefully the featured rides section gets back up soon so you can see the differences first hand.

Makaveli

I understand somewhat now. i definately dont want a 4 cylinder, it makes me cringe, neither a 6 cylinder. i really want a v8 and i would like it to be tpi. so i geuss im looking at a 85-86 since i cant stand the spoiler styled brake light. how long do u think till the readers rides section come into business?

[This message has been edited by Makaveli (edited February 13, 2001).]

86ZRICHIE

no clue, it's said "soon" for months, but if I were you i'd go with an 85, 91, or 92 model. The 86's have a CHMSL at the top of the glass sticking out ('cept mine cause I changed hatches), on the 91-92 it's up high, but inside the glass and not as bad looking. I prefer the in spoiler style CHMSL cause the spoiler's a little bigger and looks better on the car IMO. I don't mind the look of the light, in fact I plan on havin some fun with it, When I'm done and you hit the brake all you'll see is "CAMARO" and then thecamaro logo lit up in red. Just gotta get some ambition.

Jza

I'd say get an 87. It's the best year out of 85-90 IMO. They had the best cam profile, some of the best factory paint jobs came from the Norwood plant in 87. They also came out with serpentine belt systems and convertables, you can find TPI motors, and many, many other good things happened in 87.

Also, I hate the 91-92 CHMSL, 'cause I'm a tall guy and that thing sits right in the middle of my rear field of view.

Keith5

My '85 IROC has the light in the spoiler.

------------------
1989 Pontiac Firebird Formula LO3 Auto
-180 degree stat
-Hooker Cat-Back
*****Possible summer '01 mods*****
Open Element, Auburn Posi, Keyless Entry, wonder Bar off the IROC, 4th gen seats, T/A tail lights

1985 Camaro IROC-Z LB9 Auto
http://www.geocities.com/krt80/

Makaveli

wow, now its getting hard. i like the 91-92s but ill never be able to afford one

now with all my options, i geuss better cams in 87 weighs out the 3rd brake light complaint, so maybe ill get one of those. can i just get a new hatch (from the junkyard), maybe from a 91-92 camaro with the light under the glass?

thanks

86ZRICHIE

could, but I think it's wired differently, you could always switch the spoiler to a pre-87 style. I'm not sure why that 85 has the CHMSL unless it was an option (doubtful conscidering that same spoiler wasn't used in 86) or switched after the fact (most likely), but 86 was the first year it was federally required and supposedly the first year of it in production. You can find a the older style one on ebay or in a bone yard, but the holes don't line up so you'll have to do some body filling and drilling on both the decklid and quarter pannels. I'd say just leave it alone unless it really bothers you. you'd be better off putting your money somewhere else in the car

STL1994

yeah, i would want to put more money into my motor than the 3rd brake light

[This message has been edited by STL1994 (edited February 14, 2001).]

Keith5

Well the good cam for the '87 TPI manual car, is the about the same one in an '85 TPI Automatic. The '87 is a roller cam, and the '85 is a regular cam but they have the same profile.

Most of the IROC's that I see all have the third brake light in the spoiler.

LFN AT U

iTrader: (1)

'86 was the first year for the third brake light in Camaros and Firebirds.

Keith5

I have an '85 IROC with one in the spoiler, I'm pretty sure it's factory. Well I mean I know it's a factory spolier and light, but I think it's original on my car.

[This message has been edited by Keith5 (edited February 15, 2001).]

Demon Z28

in 86 damn near every camaro had a center 3rd brake light mounted on the hatch... government required...before 86, none of them had it ... if someone has an 85 with a third brake light, its more than likely aftermarket because they weren't required or even made till 86/87 ...87 being when they moved it to the spoiler... its easy as hell to get a spoiler off of another later year camaro and swap it onto an 85 without even having to do much work at all

86NiteRider

iTrader: (10)

I HAVE A 86 WITH THE ABOVE THE HATCH BRAKE LIGHT. SINCE I PUT THE ASCD TURBO HOOD ON WHICH HAS A COWL EFFECT IT HAS CHANGE THE PROFILE TO THE POINT WHERE IT MAKES THE BRAKE LIGHT LOOK OKAY. ALSO THERE IS NO VISION OBSTRUCTION IN THE 86 OR THE LATER MODEL THAT HAVE THEM IN THE SPOILER. PUT YOUR MONEY UNDER THE HOOD YOUNG MAN AND DON'T WORRY. I DID GET AN IDEA FROM AN EARLIER POST THO, I THINK I'LL PUT A BOWTIE INSIDE THAT 3RD LIGHT JUST FOR THE HECK OF IT.

http://angelfire.com/sports/niterider/86camaro.html

------------------
86 Camaro Black SS Coupe, T Tops, Flowmaster, Custom Paint, Dunlop Road Kings S/R tires, Wheel Country Directional Chrome Wheels, New Leather seats, new carpet and headliner, complete front end suspension rebuild, new Valve seals, and more mods to come

Keith5

I don't think anyone would do that around here, I mean why? I can see if the thing gets crunched in a crash, but the light works, I doubt they would also wire it up. I'll look next time I get a chance to see if the wires have been spliced into the wiring harness.

Keith5

Doh!

I just went and looked, it has an '87 DOT approval on it. I guess somebody did go to the trouble of wiring it up.

Has anybody ever put a 4th brake light on? Hatch + Spoiler.

[This message has been edited by Keith5 (edited February 16, 2001).]

Makaveli

i think im going to keep my brake light the way it is, because my motor is going to need a few more dollars in it than the little brake light

thanks for the replys

86IROCMIKE

I am 17 and am on my 2nd camaro,I have an 86 IROCZ and a primered 69rs(in storage until after air force) and think I can help you:You want an IROCZ, with t-tops and 305tpi.

Check out these sites:Add them to your favorites:

WWW.IROC-Z.COM

WWW.AUTOTRADER.COM for looking for a car,it is a good search engine,I got mine for $4000,you can find a decent Irocz for around $3000-$5000

------------------
86 IROC,canary yellow(originally black),fully loaded.305TPI WITH 700R4/SHIFT KIT,3:73 POSI REAR,4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES,T-TOPS,POWER LOCKS,POWER WINDOWS,TILT,CRUISE,SADDLE INTERIOR,POWER ANTENNAE,SPOILER OFF 87 IROC SO NO THIRD BRAKE LIGHT ON ROOF,16" BY 8" RIMS OFF 89 IROC,3"INCH EXHAUST WITH A 2 CHAMBER FLOWMASTER AND 3 1/2" BY 18" LONG CHROME TIPS,20% TINT ON SIDES,HATCH AND T-TOPS,GTS TAILLIGHT COVERS,AFTERMARKET FOG LIGHTS,PIONEER CD RECIEVER WITH REMOTE AND DETACHABLE FACEPLATE,WITH JENSON SPEAKERS ALL AROUND,TALKING RADAR DETECTOR"BACON ALERT"

....Long live the EIGHTIES!!!and my love for the IROCZ