I'm looking to find a really stripped down convert camaro where I could take alot of my current parts and swap over to the vert. All my body panels are fine, insides acceptable, suspension is great.

So I've been hunting around and I seem to only find v8 verts, no v6s(I prefure a v8, but I wouldnt mind a v6 as thats what I have). Most appear to be carbed, or TPI as well. Does this appear right? If I find one engine less, I could easly move my harness and engine over correct?

I'm guessing ASC used fiberglass rear deck, and fiberglass um.. top cover?

I have yet to see how the "trunk" opens, anyone point me to a picture of one with the trunk open (top up or down, doesnt matter).

Do they still have the power up/down latch, or did they swap over to a all mechanical one?

May come up with more as I hunt around.

 

ASC convertibles: They were only available with V8's until 1991*. The base engine was a TBI until 1991 when they got cheap and offered a V6. Yes they used the motorized pull-down for the trunk until either 1991 or 92 when they offered a slam latch only. Also they got cheap in 91-92 and used a molded carpeting in the trunk area in place of the modified plastic side trim pieces from the coupes.

I am not a fan of your plan. Here's why: I suspect the REAL reason for your plan of action is you're trying to get into the 'vert for as cheaply as possible. However, if you find one that has a crapo interior and no engine, you'll also find it has crapo or worse yet missing interior convertible exclusive trim pieces and seals. That will be the downfall of your plan, since these are in most cases discontinued with little or no aftermarket pieces available. When and IF you do find the missing pieces expect to pay as much as if they were gold plated.

IMO a far better plan is to sell your car and find the BEST example of a convertible you can afford. You'll save yourself a ton of headaches, money and frustration by following this path. A bad top is no biggie, since it is redily available.

* Some early conversions were done to individual customers cars prior the ASC doing the conversions as a "Factory authorized" convertible, so a V6 might have been available earlier than 1991. Regardless, if you insist on sticking to your original plan, you'd want a 1991 or 1992 since they were available with a V6.

Good luck,

Lon

 

Totally agree with Lonsal. There is just alot of convertible specific parts that are just too hard to come by in a cheap cheap vert (let alone in decent shape).

Really though, if you do a good amount of internet searching you can find a good/decent vert (V8, auto, probably needs paint and top) for under 4k if your willing to seach most of the east coast. Esspecially if your going to rebuild/replace a high mileage engine.

Good Luck though.

 

Thanks both for the answers.

I want a 90-92 model anyway for the ecm system and dash anyway, so thats no problem. I think lonsol actually read what I typed wrong. I want a v8, BUT if I found one w/o an engine, I could temp drop my v6 in tell I built the correct V8. Or if I found one with a v6, so be it.

Didnt see any as TBI models, or v6's. Weird.

Very odd on the slam latch.

Am I correct the new deck lid is fiberglass?

As to why I want to do it this way. Partly I am strapped for cash, yes. Mainly though, I have 7g in this current car and anyone willing to pay me that for it is stupid. I couldnt sell this car for 1g even though the only things wrong with it is paint and a random missfire in the engine. If I was to sell this before getting the vert, I'd be throwing away tons of aftermarket reuseable parts and potential stock reuseable parts.

Also, then I would be out the pleasure of building my own car. Part of my wanting this is a life time dream of owning an open top (always liked 86-92 camaros), part is to get rid of the memorys attached to the current car, and part is I'm looking for a different project. I enjoy wrenching, I have the time and tools.

Thanks for the info.

 

I agree with Lonsal and S'Ocean. I've got a '92 T/A vert that I need a rear deck lid, the passenger side fins and rear spoiler, not to mention a bunch of interior parts I've been searching ebay for over the past year and have found nothing. You can get a new top pretty easily but that's about it. Even weatherstripping is a major problem. You'll see that just about everyone on the boards is waiting for Hawks to complete their package before we jump in and that alone will probably cost us $350 for the complete set.

There are no aftermarket parts for the most part and you'll have to find junk yards with wrecked ones whose interior parts aren't worth a crap either. Find one with a good body and interior and spend the extra cash, it will be well worth it in the end. I'm about to give up on mine and just park it for a few years in the hopes someone will start making parts for it, lol.

 

I agree on the cost of restoring 'verts. While by far the most enjoyable car I've ever owned, it's second only to a Bentley Turbo I owned in terms of prices for small parts, and that's only when they are available.

My car was only $2600, but I have spent thousands on little things and I still have to strip and paint the car (original paint is faded).

And this was a one owner car with a complete interior that was clean to being with. The original seats are still perfect.

My point (yes, I'm getting to that!) is that Lonsal and others are right when they say to buy the NICEST 'vert you can find. You will save yourself many headaches and lots of money trying to make a car as nice as one that someone has already spent tons of time and money on.

As for all the speed parts, etc that you might have - that's cool, you can probably still use them. Just find a clean 'vert that doesn't need to be rebuilt, and then you can focus on the drivetrain. It's the body and interior that you really want to find perfect.

Sorry to babble here, just hope someone can benefit from my experience...

 

you can get most all the parts here http://www.fbodymotorsports.com/82_92_catalog

 

89 convertable,

I looked at their site and respectfully disagree - they don't offer the really hard to find parts, such as the windshield header plastic, the pre-1989 latching hardware/cables, and other items that are often damaged or missing.

The 'vert is a special car, as I'm sure you know, and the point we were trying to make is that it's just better to buy a car that's either like new or has been mostly rebuilt by someone else - it can save a ton of time and money...

 

i see your point but alot of us dont have 5 to 10 k to spend on one at one time i restored a 89 iroc that i payed 1900 for and was able to find all the parts for it and most where aftermarket parts

 

Well, if it makes you feel any better, I bought a bit of a project car and I'm very happy with it. It will be one of the nicest 'verts around when I'm done.

I was only suggesting that someone try, when possible, to grab a nice one. If I knew then what I know now, I would have spent $10k on a nearly perfect car - even though I do love working on my car.

One nice thing - it's still a thirdgen, which means most parts are readily available and affordable.