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.
Thank you for the nomination for COTM. I’m very humbled to share my 1985 IROC-Z with the forum.
Here is what I have been able to piece together for the history of my 1985 L69 IROC-Z.
The vehicle history shows two owners prior to my purchase. Mileage readings on the report show 27,000 in 1994, 28,000 in 1999, 28,268 in 2003 and 29,435 in 2005. It had 32,196 showing on the odometer when I purchased it, and I have driven it about 1000 miles since then. It currently shows around 33,235 miles.
I purchased the car from Thomas L. of Renton, WA in October 2018. He told me he purchased it from the Estate of the original owner 4 months prior (July, 2018). Thomas drove it about 1200 miles during his ownership.
I requested records from the DOL for this transaction and also found an old insurance card in the car, and can confirm that Thomas purchased the vehicle from the Estate of Wayne Grimm on July 24, 2018. At that time, it showed 31,042 Miles on the odometer.
Wayne purchased the vehicle new on 3/6/1985 per the original title that I was able to obtain. He had a customized plate of “85Z28” since new. I still have that license plate. I also have the original set of keys & key ring that GM issued with new vehicles in 1985.
(If anyone of Wayne’s family or friends comes across this, I would LOVE to know more about Wayne and this IROC-Z Camaro that he obviously took care of so well. Please reach out to me.)
Since I purchased it, I have had it professionally buffed and detailed, as well as installed a new master cylinder and bled the brakes. I have also replaced the spark plugs & wires (Previous owner had installed yellow spark plug wires on it). I also installed new tires on it, as the previous tires, although not very worn, had 2002 date codes. (Not the Original Gatorbacks) Other than a few maintenance items, I have not really had to do much to it. It is stored in a garage with a car cover on it, unless I have it out for a weekend car show or third gen meet up.
It drives great and has plenty of power. The L69 motor, paired with the 5-speed and a 3.73 Rear end make it a blast to drive.
I would also like to say thank you for the nomination of COTM! I have been a member on here for quite some time. I dont post much so not many people have seen this car. This forum has been so helpful with everything I have done to this car. I have had six third gen camaros starting at the age of 18 when i bought my first one. It was a 91 z28 red on red leather.
I sold my last car, a 91 ls1 swapped z28, for a down payment on a house. I broke a tear when I saw that car drive away. Thanks kyrenegade! Ever since I sold it I knew I would find another one. I always wanted a 92 z28 black with t tops. In the six third gens I have owned this is my first one with t tops.
I searched for about 3 years and finally found this car. It was a craigslist add and he was asking $2500. It was only 30 minutes from me so I went to look at it. I couldn't believe how clean it was.
I completely stripped the car. There is not much left on this car that is still from 1992. My best friend owns a body shop and we painted the car together. I completely stripped the interior and changed it from gray to black. All the suspension is new. It has koni yellows on all four corners. Every bushing and steering component has been replaced.
I first swapped in a stock ls1 with a t56. Then I wanted more power so I added a magnuson supercharger. I got bored with that pretty quickly so I built a heads and cam lq4 which is in it now. I have a build thread titled "I'm back" if you would like to look at that.
This car is an absolute blast to drive! I get compliments on it every time I take it out. I finally have exactly the third gen I have always dreamed about!
Thanks again to everyone on this site for all the help i have received. And thanks for the nomination again!
Very, very, nice work oners! My compliments to the chef! I am going to send these photos to my buddy who has the same car minus T-tops. He is at a crossroad on what he wants to do with his car and this may get him going in the right direction!
Thank you Scottmoyer and Qwk Trip for nominating my 1984 H.O. Z-28. I purchased this car in April of 2012 after a long search from the original owner with only 11,400 original miles. It currently has 16,000 miles to date. Car was all original down to the belts, hoses and Eagle GT black raised letter tires that I still have in storage. It is a great car that I enjoy driving and bracket racing it on nice sunny days. I grew up around 3rd gen Camaros as my older brother had purchased a brand new IROC in 1986. Since purchasing I have made many modifications as my plans were to build a clean street strip car that I could bracket race and enjoy cruise night with my family. Car is now sporting a pump gas 383 small block with a Dana 44 rear axle and a power glide transmission. Current ET to date is 10.83 @ 125.75 through Dyno Don headers and Hooker cat back. Car has been in many finals throughout the past few years with many final round wins. Vehicles exterior & interior have been untouched except wheels & tires so car looks like it was off the showroom floor. I have saved every nut & bolt if I decide to return back to stock. I was unable to take any newer pictures as car is on trailer. The next 2 weekends I will be traveling to Maryland (Cecil County Dragway) and Pennsylvania (Maple Grove Raceway) for some big $$$ bracket racing. I hope you enjoy and thank you for looking. God Bless!!
WOW! That's a gorgeous engine bay, That's what they are supposed to look like. A nice stock HO or TPI engine is my favorite look of any engine bay ive seen to date, very cool!
I’ve said it before, but that blue on the Camaros might be one of the best color/car combinations out there. It just looks so good on the Camaros. Add an ultra clean car and you got a winner in my book!
It's a super close vote so far! Pretty fun watching the votes come in! I for got to mention the z also has CTS-v front brakes, strange s60 rearend, monster clutch, and a t56 built by texas drivetrain and performance.
If you don't like reading long threads here's a quick list of what's in the car
1. 5.7L from 91' Corvette. Dart heads, 229/245 cam
2. Stealth ram intake, larger throttle body, 1.6 rockers
3. 3.73 gears, 4speed auto, 3200 yank convertor , built all the way through 31 spline axles
4. Bilstein shocks. lowering springs, lower control arms
5. Tires 245/285
6. A/C blows cold, kenwood touch screen, cd/DVD, rear camera
7. Front brakes 13in, rear 11in slotted and drilled
Below was cut and pasted from a thread of mine about my car. It's a daily driver, kept outside since I've owned it. I have a $50 car cover and a sun visor. The dash is still perfect. Its meticulously kept and has 80k miles on the car. The engine???
I found this car on craigslist back in 2012 or 13 and trailored it across Texas to my home. It was in really good shape at the time. Still had its original paint which looked good. Stock IROC wheels, the interior was almost all intact from the factory and it had the dreaded, sagging headliner.
One of the previous owners had taken out the original 5.0L motor and replaced it with a 5.7L TPI out of a 91 Corvette. The 4 speed auto was still in it and a "truck cam" had been installed. The car was super torquey down low but was a dog up top. I bought new wheels and fitted them with 245/285 tires. The previous owner had also put lower control arms and an upgraded sway bar on the car with Bilstein shocks.
I then had the following upgraded to the car: Dart iron eagle heads, 1.6 rockers, shorties, dual spintech mufflers, 13in Baer (front) brakes,11in Wilwood (rear) all slotted and drilled, 31 spline axles 3.73 gears. An electric cutout was also installed which are a lot of fun. I lowered the car but cant remember what springs I went with.
I didn't want to abandon the TPI motor for a swap. I know it's probably the better idea when it comes to power and possibly even financially. I've just been set on building a TPI because no one else is and it makes the car different. I wanted to stay true to the car and not go any further out from its original state.
Months later the transmission began slipping so I had a reputable transmission shop completely rebuilt it all the way through upgrading everything and went with a 3200 Yank convertor
Last edited by blackgloves; Sep 26, 2019 at 11:17 AM.
Thanks and I speak for all of us. You don't know how close I came to selling it. Once during a divorce and other times when the car sat, looking like a pile of crap from the 80s. There were times I needed the money, the car was down and hadnt been driven in months and even longer. My wife would hint maybe we should and I refused saying "I've sold all the others over the years and i regretted it everytime "
Not this time. With these cars it's easy to give up being that so many were made and people don't have the patience
WOW! That's a gorgeous engine bay, That's what they are supposed to look like. A nice stock HO or TPI engine is my favorite look of any engine bay ive seen to date, very cool! 
one of the best sleepers we've ever seen here. I love it!
