All right guys, its my understanding that the only differences between the 1987-1990 Camaro’s is they came in three option classes, IROC, Z-28, and RS. Furthermore, in 1991-1992 there were some minor interior/exterior changes.

The IROC’s weren’t anything to special, tuned port injection, different spring rates, bigger tires, bigger rims, bigger sway bars, the like, nothing that couldn’t/wouldn’t get replaced on any car I get, Z-28 were a step down, some came with carbs, but the basic options were still there (ie: 5 speed, and all other interior options that came on the IROC’s), And the RS was an anemic Camaro that had a 6 banger, here is where my question arises, what are the exact differences in the RS and the Z-28, I want to buy a Camaro and swap a used 1994 LT-1 with a T-56 six speed, so the engine part is not really that important. Did the RS’s come with different gauges? Did they come with a different rear-end Gears? I need to know specifics. I would really appreciate a lot of pictures with this one guys.

Now about the swap, would it really be feasible to do a 5.7L T-56 swap into a third gen that came w/ a little 6 banger?

 

my guess is that it would be easier to swap a V8 into something that already had a V8, but i could be wrong on that. as far as differences, i believe the only guage difference was the speedos, the RS had 115 mph ones, and the IROC had the 145mph. The suspensions are pretty much the same, and the gears could be just about anything. If I were you, i would just look for a solid car with BW 9 bolt rear. Most of them came with decent gears, and there pretty Fr*cken strong. from there you can just swap the motor, do some suspension upgrades and go.

just my .02 cents.

Eric

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My 1986 Z28

GM350, T-5, 3.23's, lots of go fast goodies, 4th gen Firebird interior etc...
85 IROC w/ 1364 miles!

You'll always find what you've lost in the last place you look

R.I.P Dale Earnhardt

Moderator at: www.generation-3.com

 

I was kinda wondering the same thing... I was also wondering, what's the difference between the 91-92 Z28s and RS'

 

Not entirely true. Many RS models came with the L03, the TBI 305. This same engine was also the base engine in early IROC's, the TPI engine was an option. The only difference in guages would be the RS models came with 115 mph speedo's while most Z's and IROC's came with 145 speedo's. That's an easy swap though, I did it in half an hour. Depending on the engine the tach might have a different redline, but that's an even easier swap than the speedo. The auto tranny TBI RS's came with 2.73's, the 5 speeds came with 3.08's. RS's also typically came with softer springs and sway bars and open diff's instead of Posi's. 91-92 also had visual differences, the RS got the 3 piece spoiler instead of the high-rise spoiler.

 

You also forgot the Sports Coupe. I think they were around until 1988 and some are absolutely gorgeous V8 cars, with almost anything you wanted for accessories.

 

the swap will probably go much easier if you start with a v8 car. http://www.f-body.org/tech/tech.htm#engine3rd you can look here to find out what rear end gears were available for each year. it seems like if you go with a v6, it will most likely come with 3.42 gears. the v6's probably came with weaker rear ends though.

 

[Edited]

[This message has been edited by ws6formula89 (edited August 28, 2001).]

 

I believe if you get a v6 rs you would have no problems swaping motors and trans, since you ll be bolting a v8 manual trans to a v8 motor, but it might be safer to get a v8 rs because everything is setup for a v8, and its just playing it safe. As far as gear ratios go, on a v6 auto, it comes with a 3.23 rear end, a manual v6 comes with 3.42 gears, and on the v8 auto which i have, is a 2.73 which really really sucks, and the manual comes with a 3.08, I dunno if this helps but i tried =)

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1991 teal camaro RS rebuilt 96 350 marine motor, comp cam, accel ignition,8mm accel plugs and wires, flowtech headers, stock exhaust, and rear end. (2.73)

 

Get a Z or Roc if you can, it will make the swap easier as the car will be able to deal with the power, RS is good if your looking for a cheap start car and then you plan on upgrading EVERYTHING. As you need a Car that can deal with the power your plannig, but neither should matter as you will need new computer and the like for the new engine any ways. My .0000002 cents

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1989 Trans Am GTA, 5.7L TPI, TH700-R4, T-Tops, dual cats, 9-bolt rear, 3.27, Dynomax muffler, K&N
1992 Camaro RS, 5.0L TBI, T-5, T-Tops, 3.08, L69 Dual Snorkel, K&N - Sold

Theme song for my GTA Cake - The Distance

 

i'll correct the errors here.

1987...
They had the Z28, the IROC-Z, the LT, and the Sport Coupe, and the RS was California only. There were Sport Coupes, this was their last year w/out ground effects. The 87 (and 88 for that matter) RS was V6 only. ---------------------------
1988...
Z28 and LT dropped. Iroc filled the void, left by the usually lower option Z28. taking on a lesser option level so to speak. It held it's own but filled 2 shoes instead of one. the '87 z28 had it's 15" wheels, and the '87 iroc had it's own, but in '88 the iroc started w/ the z28's wheels to begin with, and the 16" wheels (restyled for '88) were then optional. there were a few things like that in '88. The Sport Coupe took on the look of the '87 z/28 with ground effects and it's wheels. However it had it's own wing that no other year camaro or model had, however it was used for part of the year. THe 88 Sport Coupe was so to speak an '89 RS but not monochromatic. Carburation was dropped, and replaced with the new throttle body injected 305, touting 170 horsepower. The RS was availiable in 3 states; California, Florida, and I believe Texas. ---------------------------
1989...
Sport Coupe was dropeed and replaced with the RS. Basically the Sport Coupe recieved a name change. Or you could look at it as having the RS replace the SC, since the RS was availiable to an exteremely hush hush market the 2 previous years. I like the first since the RS wasn't any different from the '88 sport coupe except the ground effects on the '88 sc were either silver or gold and on the '89 they were body colored. ---------------------------
1990...
new interior for all camaros. 2.8 replaced with slightly larger (18 cubic inches) 3.1 (RPO - LHO) on the RS. IROC basically the same as previous years except the MAF system was dropped and replaced with the new Speed Density system. On Jan 1, 1990 droduction stopped because Chevrolet's contract with iroc was up. including verts' there were about 5,500 irocs, and about 44,000 RS's.
---------------------------
1991...
The Z28 returns, it's the same as the previous year's iroc, except it had new wheels, restyled ground effects, and a new wing rather than a spoiler. The RS recieved the new ground effects, and V8 rs's could get the 16" z/28 wheels, but they were an option.
---------------------------
1992...
All 1992 model year Camaros were 25th anniversary editions. Heritage package was optional. No change from the previous year, otherwise.
==========================
Engine codes 1987-1992
LG4- 305 (5.0) 4-barrel V8 (1982-1987 only)
LH0- 191 (3.1) MPFI V6 (1990-1992)
LB8- 173 (2.8) MPFI V6 (1985-1989)
L03- 305 (5.0) Throttle Body FI (1988-1992)
LB9- 305 (5.0) TPI (1985-1992) (had 2 different cams)
B2L- 350 (5.7) TPI (1987-1992)

------------------
Dan Briones
1988 Camaro Sport Coupe
2.8 V6, TCI 3200 Stall TC, B&M Transkit, Flowmaster & Catback (No Cat)
CFI Z/28 Hood, '87 16" IROC Wheels, Bowtie Grille, IROC Gauges, IROC Taillights,
IROC Foglamps w/ 9005 hi-beam bulbs
Heritage Style Hood and Decklid Stripes

 

SlowCamaro you really sound like you know your stuff....I'd like to ask you a few questions.
I have an 82 Z28, and I really like the RS bodykit (I think it's the RS, it's the one with the flares on it) if I take my Z28 ones off, can I put RS ones on?
Also, I have a 10 bolt rear end, I plan to put a 400 small block in it, and want to change the gears, I'm not sure what it has now, but how much of a job is it to change the diff to 9 bolt?
Also can the 91 Z28 spoiler be mounted onto my hatch?
All help appreciated


------------------
Nobody ever got cancer from smoking tires!
If you aren't living on the edge, you're just taking up space
gibsandwich@hotmail.com
www.icq.com : #18562788
----------------------------

1982 Z28 Camaro
305 Carburated
Muncie 4-speed
2.5" Stainless steel exhaust all the way through
Fibreglass hood
Boston 4x6" CX7e 2-ways
6x9" Nippon America (no-name?) 3-ways
Other stuff I haven't figured out yet.

 

I don't think they ever made an IROC with TBI as stated earlier.

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'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
FLOWMASTER, NO CAT
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4 vette servo and .500 boost valve
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite
Soon to be installed
3" Hooker Aero Chamber

 

They sure did.

85-87 base engine was LG4 (carbed 305)

88 and 89 base engine was LO3 (TBI 305)

90-92, it was the LB9 (TPI 305)

 

Gib_Sandwich, to do the ground effects swap, you would need the ground effects, rear bumper cover, and the whole front fascia from an rs. 82-84 camaros have a slightly different front end than 85-92, so the front spoiler will not fit unless you change the rest of the front. you would be able to mount the 91 z28 spoiler, or any other 3rd gen f body spoiler, since the hatch is the same for all.

 

Don't know if you care, but the (don't know the specifics since all I've got is an RS) but the Irocs or the 28's had disk breaks all round, but the RS's didn't and I don't think there's a way to upgrade any other way than to switch the rear end

 

Don't know if you care, but the (don't know the specifics since all I've got is an RS) but the Irocs or the 28's had disk breaks all round, but the RS's didn't and I don't think there's a way to upgrade any other way than to switch the rear end

 

GIB_sandwich

you can put the 1991-1992 camaro (or as you say RS) groundfx on your car, but only if you change the front clip and reinforcement brace to hold the front nose and fenders. then you can just bolt it right up. you will have to change the side skirts, and then the bumper cover and the skirts that attach to it in the back.

sounds like it would be alot of work, but not really. i see this stuff all the time.

and the 10bolt has soo many more gear options for you, and the 9bolt doesnt.

and the 91-92 spoiler will mount to any rear deck lid. may need some modifications in you have a 3pc spoiler but it will fit.

------------------
Jarrad
1990 IROC-Z L98 350 TPI
TH-700R4
G92- 9 Bolt Borg-Warner 3.27gears
Dupont Flame Red Hardtop/ Grey Interior

Working at Carl Cleve & Sons Auto Body Repair as the wetsander/buffer.

1991 GREY S10 2.5L/5SPD -FOR SALE.

 

Ok, so if I change the ground effects, and I get the 91 Z28 ones, what colors will the badges be?
I have the red and white badges and I don't want to change them
Also my badges are big and come out from the side skirt, the other ones seem to be "countersunk" into it
Also I live in Australia, and I am fairly sure there is no Australian car with a 10 bolt diff, which makes my options not so great.
I would like 3.73 gears

------------------
Nobody ever got cancer from smoking tires!
If you aren't living on the edge, you're just taking up space
gibsandwich@hotmail.com
www.icq.com : #18562788
----------------------------

1982 Z28 Camaro
305 Carburated
Muncie 4-speed
2.5" Stainless steel exhaust all the way through
Fibreglass hood
Boston 4x6" CX7e 2-ways
6x9" Nippon America (no-name?) 3-ways
Other stuff I haven't figured out yet.

 

Even though it is hard to believe, there were quite a few z28's and iroc's that had rear drums.

And there is the 91 and 92 RS B4C camaros (police package) had 4 wheel discs, even though the B4C package is z28 under the RS skin

Just thought I put my $.02 in!!!

Manny

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92 Bright Red z28, 350, 47k miles, pw, pl, power mirrors, power drivers seat, rear defroster, limited slip performance axle, 4 wheel discs, red leather interior and the Heritage Package!!

 

I had an 87 SC...


I think my 85 has rear drums..

for info on the hisory of the thirdgen you can visit my site.. www.thirdgenfbody.com oh and if you have anything to be added, lemme know so i can change it

 

I have drum brakes on mine.

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'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
FLOWMASTER, NO CAT
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4 vette servo and .500 boost valve
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite
Soon to be installed
3" Hooker Aero Chamber

 

gib sandwich, I looked @ a friend's '83 z28 today, and it appears that the badges are the same size, but you are right that the 85+ are sunk into the GFX panel. I'd assume that you can keep your own. as for color of the badges, it really depends on the color of the donor car. I haven't been on lately, and it appears that everyone else answered for me. thanks for the compliment. I just have a good memory, and good news all, I may have found a '87 SC as a winter beater and donor car today. looks like my '88 will be getting a new door and factory hood. then I can take off the '83 CFI hood and restore it. $600 Too bad I don't live down south. then there would be no rust.

------------------
Dan Briones
1988 Camaro Sport Coupe
2.8 V6, TCI 3200 Stall TC, B&M Transkit, Flowmaster & Catback (No Cat)
CFI Z/28 Hood, '87 16" IROC Wheels, Bowtie Grille, IROC Gauges, IROC Taillights,
IROC Foglamps w/ 9005 hi-beam bulbs
Heritage Style Hood and Decklid Stripes