This is from the aug/sept 1988 camaro corral. said to be the only 5.7 IROC-Z convertible. The official pace car of the IMSA Firestone Firehawk Endurance Championship series. Did it meet the shredder?

 

Interesting. I sure hope it didn't end up in the shredder. If it did what a waste!

 

Unfortunately, it doesn't carry the 1 of 1 status that a regular production car would have because of the engine mods and other mods done. Anyone can buy a 305 convertible, replace the motor and trans, do other suspension upgrades and say that it's special. What this car probably doesn't have is a 3 in the VIN to designate convertible and an 8 to designate 350. If it does, then it's 1 of 1. More than likely, it's a 350 converted to a convertible by ASC which many people have done.

 

ASC converted a known 4 1987 IROC-Z's with the L98. I have the Sequence numbers for those for cars and verified they are indeed L98 cars.

All of these cars were originally T-top cars and made into a Convertible by ASC. Basically they are identical to a Factory Convertible, but due to fuel economy and emissions requirements GM could not do it direct so they were "Aftermarket" They ARE PRODUCTION CARS by definition as they were produced by ASC, but not officially produced by GM. Even though they are identical in every way to a Factory Authorized Convertible the VIN indicates a 2 (Hard top) instead of a 3 (Convertible)

What is really interesting is the car pictured has the 1986-1987 Door extensions. I do not think they used them on the 1988's. They were basically cosmetic pieces added to the door, they are approx 6" or so long and extend the caps on the rear quarters from where ASC cut the top off. I would bet that this car was not a 1988 or 1989 as the article suggests, but rather one of the four 1987 cars that I have the VIN to.

John

 

John,
I believe very early production 88's did have the "wings" on the door. I looked at a sport couple that had them.

 

I just about bought an early 88 with the door trim. My 88 converted in June of 88 didn't have them.
Great article!!!

 

After I posted that last night and went home, I was wondering about that...

Thanks.

John

 

OKFOZ,

Can you share the 4 sequence numbers (last 6 of VIN) with us for those L98 Camaro's?

 

I think I got them from you... I did verify them BTW with CARFAX, so they are indeed L98 Camaros

121444
137831
135368
147398

Not to hound you, but have you ever found any more information?

John

 

i found this ......

http://www.camarosource.ca/php/camar....php?year=1988

To recognize whether a 3rd-gen convertibles (sometimes referred to a "ragtop") is a "factory" or an aftermarket job, the best thing to do is to check VIN number. If the 6th digit is a number "2", that indicates a factory coupe and a later aftermarket conversion. If it was ordered as a convertible, the digit will be a number "3". Another clue is to look at the RPO code sticker that is located on the inside of the center console glove box (if the cover is original). Factory ragtops will have a code "CC1" (T-top coupe) as well as the code "Z08" ("Model Conversion, Convertible").

Note: There WERE Camaro IROC-Z Convertibles produced with the L98 350 engine (installed by ASC at time of coupe - Convertible conversion) however this was not a GM feature or option. As a result, you will NEVER find a 1988 Camaro IROC-Z Convertible with a "3" as the 6th digit (Convertible) AND "8" (L98 350-cid) as the 8th digit in the VIN number.

IROC-Z coupes could have a 350-cid and so the 6th digit would be "2". The customer could then have their coupe converted to a convertible which would mean it would have a 350-cid engine. However, only GM stamped the "3" on the VIN and so the 8th digit will NEVER be "8" and 6th digit a "3".

was just wandering how neone would know how u would know how to distinguish an asc installed 350 this says the did it my car is an 88 tpi har the f vin like a 305 but had the 5.7 emblem on bumper and it pulls too hard to be a 305 i think but it could just be a non roller 350 with newer heads or someone just put the emblem on there or both just wondering if there was a way i could see for sure what i have

 

Does that apply to '89's? Mine SPID (correct for the car) doesn't have either . . .

 

i was asking youall rpo's on mine are gone at least off top or console cover i know theres someone here who has the answers to all of our questions

the info that i found may not even be correct i dunno for sure

 

The camaro source is wrong... CC1 with the convertibles should have been 1987 only. The Z08 code looks right. Not sure if the 1987's got both the CC1 and the Z08 or not. ALSO it should be noted as I have said it before, all third gen convertibles were converted by an outsourced company The Factory models were actually made by ASC. ASC also did Conversions for dealers, In many cases the conversion after the fact to "T-top Coupes" were to get options that were not otherwise available. The most notable were the 350 Vert. And no matter what anyone says, the L98 Verts will be the most sought after.

 

Yes, my 1987 has both CC1 and Z08.

 

i figured it sounded i little fishy either way i still dunno how to find out what motor someone put in my car or even if its still a roller i know of the casting number that would tell me but it s impossible to read in the car

 

There are some websites you can use to see what is in there by the casting and stamping numbers. The easiest way would be to look behind the AC compressor on your car for the "Hog" where they stamp the sequence number of your VIN, the plant the Make either 2 for Pontiac or 1 for Chevrolet, the model year etc...

here is an example: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...engine-tag.jpg

The first row (large letters & numbers) is V1014SFL
V= Flint
1014 = October, 14th,
SFL = 305 Camaro 190 LB-9 700R TPI

The second Row 2HN211943
2 = Pontiac
H = 1987
N = Norwood
2 = Pontiac sequence number
11943 = Sequence number

Here is a thread about the information above
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...ine-block.html

John

 

it didn't meet the shredder........................ its in my garage the car left California from what I am documenting presently as we speak.... between ASC in mich.. and the race track and the dealer that car went to before being sold to the dealer principals friend then somehow arrived in Canada ye ha if this turns out to be the car any help would be greatly appreciated photos......

 

Not sure if you are being sarcastic or not... kind of an old thread.

There was 4 350 Convertibles for sure ASC conversions (they all were technically)

John

 

That's why I still have my rusty 89 GTA 350 ASC convertible

 

Transam82-92, DId I ever send you my research?

 

No you did not