When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Auto Detailing and AppearanceShare tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.
Thanks for the nomination. My car is a 1989 Formula 5.0L TPI 5 speed. I believe it is one of 42 made according to reports from Car and Driver Magazine. It has 60,000 original miles and is mostly original except for new paint, Hurst shifter and new headliner. It won second place at the Trans Am Nationals in 2016.
Thanks for the nomination. My car is a 1989 Formula 5.0L TPI 5 speed. I believe it is one of 42 made according to reports from Car and Driver Magazine. It has 60,000 original miles and is mostly original except for new paint, Hurst shifter and new headliner. It won second place at the Trans Am Nationals in 2016.
Just curious....where you are coming up with the one of 42 built number?
I'm seeing 1126 89 Formula's built with the 5 speed / LB9 combo for 1989 in Robert Casey's book.
But there is no drive train combo & color breakdown in the book.
Nice looking car !! Good Luck
Thanks BizJetTech. The only data I have found is an article in Car and Driver stating less than 50 were built with the 5.0L TPI and 5 speed combo. A guy who claims to have worked in the marketing department for Pontiac says there were 42. If you have anything showing actual production numbers, I would love to see it. I special ordered one with T-tops in 1989, and like an idiot, I sold it in 1994. I have only seen one other one with the 5 speed other than the one I had in 1989 and the one I have today.
Thanks for the Nomination. My 1985 is an L69, 4 whl disc.and 3:73 gear. It has the LS interior. I ordered the car in November 84 the first week ordering was opened. The car was built on Jan 2-4, 85, and was delivered on Jan 11, 85. I initially was going to use it as my daily driver, but it immediatley became a pleasure car, but it was driven on nice days. I drove it to work at rhe GM Norwood Plant on multiple occasions. I had started my own chapter of the United States Camaro Club back in 86, and my IROC participated in the annual Camaro shows, and at the Camaro Street Nationals at the GM Tech Center. I had articles published on it in the Camaro Corral Magazine, and it was on the cover twice. It has been on pace laps on Michigan Intl Speedway and Indianapolis Speedway. The Cincinnati Enquirer did and article on me and the car when the plant was closing. It has brought many years of joy to me, and I have driven, yet miticulously cared for it over the years. I was blessed to be able to be with it from floor pan to shipping as it was built. I even got to start it up first on the line. I know there are nicer IROCs out there, but none of them has shared all the moments that me and my IROC have over the years. I love the No. 30 Bright Blue Metallic paint color and the contrasting LS Interior. Other options include HD Battery, HD Cooling, HD Alternator, Quiet Sound Group, AM/FM casette, Tilt wheel, AC, Rear Window Defroster, T-Tops, Pwr Windows, Locks, and Antenna. The reason it has the Quartz Clock is the guys at the factory hooked it up underneath the console, so the car wouldnt get flagged in Final Assembly and be removed. When I got it home, I removed the console top and cut the 3 in hole for the clock. I just think its a really cool item, and it still works today. I have right at 30000 miles on it to date, and she remains original with all original factory belts and hoses. Thanks for the nomination. So many nice cars on TGO.
Z28cop - your car and it's story (history) is one of my all time favorite TGO IROC's
Congrats on being able to keep it in such nice condition all these years.......well done !!
Good luck....
Beautiful car and great story. Reminds me of my own experience ordering my Medium Maui Blue Metallic Trans Am in 1988. I still have it except I'm now up to 50,000 miles. Great job keeping it original and in such great shape.
Thanks for the nomination. It's flattering to have others think enough of your car to nominate it. We've all spent a lot of time, money, and work on our cars, thanks to all for the support.
I've had this GTA since 2010. It's my almost daily driver in the spring, summer and fall. I avoid bad weather, but otherwise it's driven. Been on 2 power tours and various road trips. Car has been bulletproof reliable, but I've spent a lot of time addressing the details to make it that way. The goal was stock reliability and behavior, with more modern levels of power. You can't tell this from a stock manual trans thirdgen until you get on the throttle hard, then there's no doubt it's been tampered with!
I'll just hit the high spots here on mods because you all don't want to read a book I'm sure. If there are other questions about the car, post up or PM me. By the way, this car is currently for sale!
Body is stock with 90% original paint and a replacement Hawk's spoiler
Engine is a 383 with SCAT rotating assembly, ProFiler heads, SuperRam intake and a custom tune by me. Dyno Don headers and custom dual cat 3.5" single exhaust. (car is almost as quiet as stock)
Trans is a '93 T56
Rear is a stock 9bolt with 3.27 ratio
Suspension is full bolt on from J&M with Global west Del-a-lum bushings in the front and Koni Yellows all around. Stock springs cut half coil at all corners as well.
My copy of Robert Casey's book arrived today and it shows 1126 Formulas were built with the MK6 manual transmission, but it does not specify how many of those were mated to the LB9 5.0L TPI engine. I would still argue the 42 number is accurate.
My copy of Robert Casey's book arrived today and it shows 1126 Formulas were built with the MK6 manual transmission, but it does not specify how many of those were mated to the LB9 5.0L TPI engine. I would still argue the 42 number is accurate.
Look again, at page 79 - it states 1126 LB9's mated to the MK6....
My copy of Robert Casey's book arrived today and it shows 1126 Formulas were built with the MK6 manual transmission, but it does not specify how many of those were mated to the LB9 5.0L TPI engine. I would still argue the 42 number is accurate.
The MK6 was for the LB9 & the M39 was for the L03 - was there any difference in these transmissions other then gear ratio's ??
None that I know of other that the 5th gear ratio. The steeper MK6 5th gear when combined with a 3.45/3.42 rear, could be used on high speed tracks more effectively. .73 vs .63 ratios. An M39 would also be mated to usually a non-G92 LB9. But 5th gear and 3.08 rear is more of a highway cruising gear.
My black G92 hardtop has a MK6 and my white non-G92 convertible has an M39.
None that I know of other that the 5th gear ratio. The steeper MK6 5th gear when combined with a 3.45/3.42 rear, could be used on high speed tracks more effectively. .73 vs .63 ratios. An M39 would also be mated to usually a non-G92 LB9. But 5th gear and 3.08 rear is more of a highway cruising gear.
My black G92 hardtop has a MK6 and my white non-G92 convertible has an M39.
- Sorry folks, did not mean to hi-jack this thread - good luck to all this months nominee's,
all nice cars once again
I stand corrected and now I know the real story. The Car and Driver article in March 1990 refers to the 5.0L TPI/ 5 speed with the LE2 suspension package. Thanks for clarifying the numbers. I am a little disappointed that there are 1126, but it is still fun to drive!!
I stand corrected and now I know the real story. The Car and Driver article in March 1990 refers to the 5.0L TPI/ 5 speed with the LE2 suspension package. Thanks for clarifying the numbers. I am a little disappointed that there are 1126, but it is still fun to drive!!
Look at it this way - if you could break it down further, your color combo with the 5 speed and LB9 is probably around 1 of 350 or so......just a guess based on the other colors offered.
I saw both of these cars at Trans Am Nationals, the Formula at the show and the white GTA, though with stock wheels, at the TIpp City Cruise, several years ago. Both cars are awesome and great examples of 3rd Gens. Bravo gentlemen, well done!
I saw both of these cars at Trans Am Nationals, the Formula at the show and the white GTA, though with stock wheels, at the TIpp City Cruise, several years ago. Both cars are awesome and great examples of 3rd Gens. Bravo gentlemen, well done!
- Sorry folks, did not mean to hi-jack this thread - good luck to all this months nominee's,
