Guess I have a extremely rare car. This one is one of those rare Iron Duke cars. The dash does not have the factory correct A/C vents. This thing doesn't even have tilt. Came with the 4-cyl and a Saginaw 4-spd. Nothing else!! Someone took a hacksaw to create the new set of vents . Did a sh*tty job for that matter. They also took a saw to various interior parts for the new speaker provisions . Alot of thoughts crossed my mind. Restoring the car MY WAY! Restoring the car to factory specs, almost & purchasing a 82+ Z28 in a year or so.

So....who's for restoring the car to factory specs with the exception of hopping up the Iron Duke to a respectable 140hp? And who's for restoring the car MY WAY!? Which include a V-8 swap, IROC interior, etc. I'm leaning towards removing the A/C and restoring to original condition.

Brandon

 

Because I'm one of those people that admire the "oddballs", I'd say fix it up to original condition. A no AC, no radio, Iron duke, 4 speed Camaro would draw my attention longer at a show simply because there would be no other ones around!

Keep in mind though that restoring the car does not mean it would draw alot of $$$ when and if you would decide to sell one day. This is due to the fact that a no AC, no radio, Iron duke, 4 speed Camaro is not a desirable piece to own (except to those "oddball lovers").

 

It would definitly be unique. It would be slow, but it would be unique.
And converting it to a V8 would cost a lot. A lot more than just buying a car with a factory V8.
Whatever you do though, good luck

 

You can't be serious.
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Can you?

 

Restore it!

4 pot camaro's are v.rare maybee not worth that much now but in 25 years when there are only 3 left in the world ?!?!?!?

If you drop an eight into it you will end up with an old camaro of inditerminate origin that most folk wouldn't touch with a pointy stick! the car would be too messed with to ever be considerd "good"

restored to stock 4 pot though, some collecter or odball lover will gladly buy the car, after all you can buy a rough 8 pot car and save the hassle for less than the cost of the conversion. if you did convert it it would never be worth as much as a good factory 8, there's a lot to change as well (springs wheels brakes?)

 

A 4cyl 3rd gen camaro is like having a girlfriend and never being able to touch her. Whats the point?

No, don't bother restoring that piece of crap.

 

Restore the old Duke just for the Hell of it!

 

This car is here to stay! Wether it be in 4-cyl or V-8 form. It's here to stay. As far as restoring to original condition, making a profit later on down the road doesn't have anything to do with it. I'm also, as well as a few on this board, are into "oddball" cars. This car would be worth alot more to me in it's "original" condition. I don't believe in just throwing a car away for it's "oddball" status. As I said in my original comment, can always purchase a Z28 later. But as I said, the 4-cyl car is here to stay wether in 4-cyl or V-8 form. The real question is.....where can I find a non-A/C dash and a radio delete kit?

Brandon

 

For the dash, I can only suggest hitting the boneyards. There is one near me in DE. I will check on a price of the dash if you would like. I think Year One's next generation division (or Classic Industries) has the radio delete plate.

 

Glad to hear your restoring it!
Since I've been going to Camaro shows over the past 14yrs, I've never seen a 4cyl car. If I ever run across a decent one I'll buy it. You'll be surprised at shows how many people will flock to see it and ask questions. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Just a question to all: The Camaro White Book quotes a large number of '82-84 4cyl TA's & Camaros produced , where were they sold? I've never seen one in Ontario. I'm thinking California because of polution laws?
Any ideas?

 

There's one or was one for sale on Ebay. Looked like it was in great condition. Mine, on the other hand, is a different story. Not sure where they went to. Probably most of them are sitting in a boneyard since they are a very undesirable car.



MDv6man.......can you see if they might have a no A/C dash? And if so, how much. I'd appreciate it dude!

Brandon

 

I just got off the phone with the guy and he isn't sure whether he has one or not. I know he does. If you give me a detailed list of what you need exactly, I can get a quote for the parts from him. I have dealt with him in the past. He is a little pricey, but has about 60-75 various thirdgens in his stable. I go to this guy when I am looking for something hard to find.

If you want to contact him (and this goes for anyone else)

Breitenbach Towing and Auto Salvage
409 Old Airport Rd
New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 328-0980

 

Who thinks I should leave the Duke at factory specs of 91bhp or build her up?

 

I would say if you build it up just make sure it looks totally original. Otherwise just keep it at the 91hp.

 

Keep it original with the wopping 91hp!
Building up the Duke is a waste of time as is doing the engine swap you spoke of earlier (too much time and $).
Just restore it and enjoy. Later another Camaro may come around with a V8 and you can buy it for the power.
My '82 has a very week 305, so if I wanted a car to drive hard, I could easily find a "later" 3rd Gen for that. There's always one coming up for sale. My '82 is original and staying that way. I enjoy driving it the way it is! When I'm cruising around nobody knows what mods I've done (or not done). It sounds nice and looks great.
That's my opinion.
Ron...

 

Leave the iron duke stock!

This is always the way to go with a car like this, it's like the anti - performance car! if you wanna go fast, you could, like you said buy a V8.

The 4 pot will go down in history as a car that proved people will make any sacrifice to own a cult car, I once saw a 1960 Impala with a 1600cc Vauxhall engine! the guy just wanted the car so bad but couldn't afford a runner, so he bought one with a blown engine and dropped the Astra lump in! - hey, its still an impala (just)

I love oddballs, while my mint 86 305 will always be my little baby i would LOVE to find a 4pot Camaro or Firebird in the UK!

(just need space time and money, dang!)

 

What's a Vauxhall? Guess I'm in the same shoes as that guy. Wanted a thirdgen so bad but only had $600. Low and behold, I found one for......you guessed it $600. Opened the hood and was very disappointed to see the 4 pot sitting in there. But.....me purchased any way because I wanted a thirdgen Camaro.

My car may be rare....but just think how rare a 4 pot Camaro dishing out 140-160hp would be. Now that would be a looker!

Brandon

 

Yes --but It would also be a time bomb

 

Terribly sorry!!!!

Vauxhall is the ****ty offerings of GM in the UK. all 4 pots (except 1 V6) all boring none fast! also sold as Opel in mainland europe.

I think the Astra was sold as a pontiac grand prix (def not grand am), early eighties to early 90's ?!? (five door front wheel drive hatch compact)

Please correct me if i'm wrong. Im sure it was a pontiac but only 50% sure on the model.

 

That's ok Phil! Guess when someone wants something that bad, they'll do just about anything.

v6man....apparently modified Iron Dukes are pretty common on the S10 and Fiero forums. That's where I mostly hang out, since the lack of 2.5 onwers here. There is a small supply of aftermarket parts for my engine.

Brandon

 

I just was reflecting back on my friend's 89 Grand am with the Iron duke-- I did just about everything I could to keep it on the road (head gasket, waterpump, etc. etc. etc.) and the block ended up cracking. We didn't even mod it....

 

The stock block is weak. But from what I understand from the S10 forums it can handle 140-150hp. There's also a SD (Super Duty) block out there for around $2500 that would take care of that. I'm still learning about the Iron Dukes, so I maybe wrong! In fact, there's a full racing version of the Iron Duke for $12,500 from Kansas Racing Products. Not sure on the hp #'s.

Brandon

 

Wow..I remember back in like 1987, my Dad trying to get me to buy an 82 Camaro with a 2.5, a 4spd, and dealer installed a/c. (didnt want me to have a V8) Back then I was like no way, but now I think it would be cool.

It was mint, midnight blue and even had chevy rally wheels with a rear spoiler. Oh well, the one that got away.

I say restore it to stock.

 

I had the Iron duke in my old Cutlass... was a reliable engine, but not very gutsy by any means. I had the EFI one rated at 110hp, at least

I don't know if the ones in the Firebirds had aluminum heads or not, but those ones are prone to cracking if they overheat, which is what happened to mine.

I imagine you could do a fair amount of work to it and get it to at least 120hp and still looking stock, but at that point, you might as well buy another F-body with a V8 for when you want to go fast

Now if you wanted to really have an oddball and still be fast, you could swap in a Quad 4 from an 88-91 Oldsmobile Cutlass S, build it up (there's a good aftermarket for that engine) and you could easily push 220-250HP and almost as much torque, and still have a 4 cylinder firebird Throw in a 50-100 shot of nitrous on that and you could beat most V8 thirdgens pretty easily, not to mention embarass the hell out of em in the process (and have a car that would pass emissions easier, and still get 30mpg)

Only thing with the Quad 4 is you would have to get a custom bellhousing for it since they are mainly FWD engines, but they've been swapped into RWD cars before, so that bellhousing is available.

 

Well, given those prices, I would rebuild it to "slightly better than stock" specs (upgrade where its affordable). Why do I say this? Because a mildly warmed over V-8 could be had for about $2500. And all 2500 would get you would be the block. So you hop up the stock block to save 2500 and end up with the grenade scenario. Yep, my vote goes to rebuild it and make small mods so as not to compromise the strength of your original block.

 

Keep it a 4cyl and restore the thing. i mean its like owning a gremlin, they are just cool because they are so differant and rare.

 

Speaking of ones that got away, its just a damn shame that so many of these cars are just no longer around. I think about how cool it would be now to see a mint '82 Camaro ANYTHING with a spoiler and ralley wheels, available for sale. Its a damn shame more stuff isnt out there...

 

Yeah I know! Would love to have one. Did find one for sale on Ebay last week. Was a V-6 with a Saginaw 4-spd. Looked like it was in decent shape. 1984 seems to have produced the most #'s of Camaros. So, there are many of those out there.

Brandon

 

I say keep the 4 cyl. It will get more and more unique with time. Almost everyone jerks the 4 cyl out of those for a v-8 swap. 91 hp is pretty wimpy but remember the 4 cyl Mustang had only
88 hp for most of it's production run and lots of people own those.
Good luck whatever you do.

 

Restore it and show it like I did! Ive kept mine stock. Im only keeping it for sentimental reasons my first car! Plus I don't have the time or money to drop in an 8 holer.

 

You will definitly get some responses.... oh and the white wheels were on the car because it had better tires on them than my firebird rims and I didn't have money for new tires.

I had an ich for a v8 so I bought an 81 Trans Am..(gray one in pic)..true duals (flowmaster) 301 V8 auto...ttops...cool car. But Im glad I sold it. It wasn't nearly as practical as the 3rd gen.

 

please post some engine bay pics i have never seen a 4 cyl 3rd gen only read about them and i bet that not one has been imported into aus
i also know of an 82 trans am for sale in aus WITH the rallye wheels ( recaro edition)
IF anyone wanted that can be had for around 4k $us +shipping back to usa (around 1.5k $us) also would have the odball value of being right hand drive !!!!!!!!!!

 

I'd love to have a 4 cylinder car. Just for giggles. To tell the truth, Id be more interested in a 4 cylinder bird or maro at a car show than a built small block one. Its just so much rarer. Its like all the big block camaros from the late 60's I see. There no big deal to me, they are so common (there's one in the garage to, my father even lets me drive it) but a 4 cylinder f body's cool factor just goes above and beyond.

 

I say restore the car to look like it did from the factory, but mod the hell out of it under the hood, like 200+ hp. That would be kickass...I'd have way more envy respect for one of those than mostly any other V8 3rdgens around....and I would add/keep the A/C since you live in Texas, I can't imagine living with such hot weather without it...

 

I wouldn't bother modding the engine too much. The engine is not known as a powerhouse, and tuning always makes an engine more prone to failure.

In a comparitively heavy car like the Camaro (compared to the fiero) you do not want to increase the stress on it too much. Just drive it at 55 mph and let all the nutters collect the speding tickets!

In some ways I wish I had a 4 cyl. Camaro, the V8 is too tempting to lay rubber everywhere! I have just destroyed a pair of rear tyres in 10,000 miles , !*@?%!!$£

Pity that in the UK they are close to £100 each ($150) and i need three!

One suplier quoted £148 $200 TRADE PRICE!!!!!!

By the way, is it pronounced cam-ar-oh, or ca-mair-oh ?

 

IRON DUKE PICS. Ive been meaning to clean out the engine bay.

 

2

 

ca-mair-oh

 

I have to go with the other oddball fans, keep the 4cyl & restore it.

If it was my car I'd replace the cut up dash with the proper dash. I'd also find a stock GM cassette radio & the rear trim pieces with the proper speaker cutouts & sail panels..... If this is going to be your main transportation for a while you're going to want to have music