Hey guys/ girls glad i found this site. First of all I'm buying a pretty clean 89 roc 5.7 hard top from a buddy. But the car has sat for over 2 years and he lives pretty close to the beach. How bad do they rust, i heard chevy actually put some kind of extra rust protection on the 89's and up. Can u guys confirm.

 

I don't know anything about them having extra rust protection, but that does remind me of a joke about car dealers "throwing in the undercoating for free" The car being near a beach by itself shouldn't have too much effect on rust, but more importantly where in the country is it. Up north where roads ice more commonly, and get salted, cars rust out faster. Just be sure and check it over thoroughly, especially the lower body areas and floor pans. One common rust area is behind the ground effects, around the rear wheel wells.

 

To make sure it's really a 5.7 (350) check the VIN.
The 8th character is the motor code:

8 350-230 (B2L)
E 305-170 (L03)
F 305-195 (LB9)
S 173-135 (LB8)

I thought my IROC was a 5.7 too, but it was a 5.0 ( most common for an IROC) according to the VIN code.
Apparently some of the IROCs were badge 5.7 TPI to sell faster.

Good Luck

 

See if it has the 9 bolt rear with aluminim calipers then it is probably a good one like mine. 88 and 89 were probably the best years in that you could get a 350 with t-tops but the 89s got the good rear brakes as well. Most people like 90-92 speed density cars since they hate the mass air units when they go out because of the expense but mass air is a good system.