I am new to this forum... I have always liked Camaros and firebirds. I am currently finishing an 81 corvette project car so i am pretty good at turning a wrench. My son is getting close to 15 and i was looking at this 91 Z28 350TPI as a project car. The car only has 41K original miles but both rear quarters, hood and both floor pans have rust. it needs a new starter and brakes all the way around. It also needs tires the ones on the car are dry rotted and a complete paint job. the good interior is in great condition and it has only 41K miles.

here a a couple of pics of the rear quarters.


thanks for the help.

I hope i posted this in the right place.

Buy it and work on it with your son. Its in better condition than mine was.

Really depends on the price, which i didn't see in your post.

I recently got a black/gold '85 iroc with no rust, 60,000 miles for fairly cheap.

i believe these cars prices will end up raising, but right now, they really haven't unless they're perfect. You can get a good base to start with cheap so unless you purposely want to start off with one that needs all that done, or if you're getting it for 300-600(and only that high because the relatively low mileage).

i bought a 91 white camaro (only an rs) a year or two back that looked much like yours minus all the rust for $600, had 120,000 miles though and only a 305.

just to reiterate, the only reason to start off with that car, is if you truly believe that it will one day be a classic, and that it being a lower mile z28 will help the future price. if its gonna be driven, or given to your son, get a little bit higher mileage one thats cheaper AND in better shape for the same price and that no one will cry over if something happens to it lol.

sorry forgot to mention that they are asking 2500.00 which i think is high.

i also think thats high.

the black/gold 85 iroc i bought, is basically flawless with the exception of non working AC and a small mishap with the nose cover on the corner, and i got it for $3000 (although i think it was quite the steal), but deals come along. no reason to get a bad deal when u could keep an eye out for 1-2 months and get a steal.

i think that car with JUST rusted floorpans might get 2500. when quarter panels rust the value drops very quickly, im sure you know.

if i had your skills, knowing how to weld in panels and such, i would pay $800-1000 for that car, and thats if the engine/transmission was in great shape.

And by the way, the guy who said go head and get it, note that hes from CANADA, cars up there dont have the chance as being as clean as some US cars, makes they're value go up, makes people buy rusted ones because its more the norm up there

every car i looked at that had rust around there, was demolished underneath, if its ttops make sure you check the ttop bar and around that area for rust as well.

Good point about the rust up here. I wouldn't pay 2500 either

Don't walk away from it, RUN! Shop around some more.

I say just shop around and make a list of what matters most to you in a 3rd gen. Like: t-tops?, hardtop? motor size?, year?... things like that .

Man, there are lots of really clean 3rd gens out there. I'm always looking around and I've seen some clean ones for sale!!! Nows a good time to buy one too. People are hurtin for cash, its sad but true.

I thank all of you for your input.... I guess we are going to have to pass on this one, or try to get the price down.

I would say shop around or talk them down in price. Check the engine too. When I bought mine the A--hole disassembled some parts and told me they just needed to be re assembled and get a new carb. Got a new carb and found out the engine was blown. Oh well, I replaced it with a 350 like I was gonna do anyways. But if you can talk them down it would be a good project with you and your son.

Looks familar rust areas, wonder where I saw it before?






I would look more into under the ground effects, judging from the pictures, theres rust under there too. The more damage the current owner sees, the more hes gonna flex with price. For $2500, you can find a better condition one very easily. So basically this all depends on price and your budget and standards for the car, if you want a simple fixer upper, this one is not it.

up here in new england, finding anything rust-free's near impossible. if the floor pans are ok and the rust is just surface, its not THAT bad for it's age. i'd be iffy, but definitely does not hurt to look around a bit more

You can always buy a rust free car from another state and have it shipped up there. There are forum members all over. I'd be willing to bet that you'd be able to find someone to look at perspective vehicles on your behalf.

Maybe I'm just spoiled by living in the south...but I'd RUN away from anything that had visible rust on the body like that. Low miles or not, it looks like the car already needs two major structural panels, with possibly more rust developing that isn't visible yet on other panels.

Just makes me wonder, if the body looks that bad, how bad is the underside and suspension? The only way I'd buy that car would be if I had a rolling donor car to replace the body with -- and that would pretty much defeat the purpose of having low miles.

http://kpr.craigslist.org/cto/1865975006.html
this is a damn good deal, and I would be glad to look at it and take pics if you were actually interested, located in WA state and it seems to only need paint, I was actually looking into this car because I wanted a twin for mine, but dont have money to be throwin around at the time

Im 16 so if your son is anything like me he is gonna want one with the 350 and is atleast easy on the eyes (if any rust it is very little like on mine it isnt noticable from 2 feet away). For instance I got the 350 IROC and all it really needs is a paint job (not to bad it is pealing on trunk and a little bit on roof and small spot on hood) and the interior cleaned (well I think I need to get the injectors cleaned as it is low on power, runs rich, and low mpgs). But thats it ( guy lived on farm so the interior is really dirty and has some soiled in stains on the seats but thats nothing seat covers cant fix. Also have your son look for some to see what he likes ( unless this is some sort of present) but I looked for camaros for about a year before I found mine. I got it off of a dealer trade in. They were asking $3500 but i was able to work the guy down to $2200! So to recap have him search ( unless it is a present) if so look for something that is fast and a little bit flashy.

i thought i wouldn't be happy with a 305 after i got an 86 iroc 305 with the castrated cam (the one putting down a whopping 170 hp)

But if its a 85 (i believe they borrowed the cam from the corvettes) or a 87+ or so 305 (high output ones, which i believe are just better cams as well), alot of them have enough power to get a younger guy in trouble.

im only 23 and feel like I'm to young to be saying this, but this might be his sons daily driver, through rain, possibly snow. Does he really want his first car being backed up by a 350 lol, im not the worst driver and i dont have the worst tires, and theres been times ive went sideways in rain with just a 305, no way a 16 year old is gonna be able to granny the car enough to be safe.

anyways, my whole post was off topic so .

I really thank you all for the input. Well we definitely passed on the 91 Z28. the guys did not want to go down even a penny. we will be patient the right one will eventually come along.

thanks again for all your input. and yes it has to be a 350 TPI

Weel if his son is anything like me where he loves his car so much he trys to wash it once a week then he will drive good in the rain. Whenever Im in the rain I only do about 30 mph on 40-45 mph streets and I have brand new tires. So anything is possible. I have yet to slide sideways in the rain.

i'd look around for something from the south and have it shipped. my car and i are originally from ohio and while it didn't look too bad five yrs ago, now it's beyond repair. I have way too much money in my sport coupe for it to look like it has been neglected for 20 yrs.

Get as much rust-free car as you can afford, and then worry about how you want it to be later.

Too much, much more than I'd be willing to pay but with the very low mileage I'd make an offer and see how low the current owner will go. If he/she wont budge then I'd walk and continue looking. Good luck to you whichever route you choose to go.