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History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
My buddy back in the day had a purple 92 hard top Z28. Had the big wing and 350, I loved that car. I teased him so much about "Barney" he ended up trading for a Grand Prix.
I bought my '89 new and I think it may be the best year. I think that the next year, 1990, the cars were governed to 120 mph and the '89 had the first roller rocker motor, So it has the best motor up to that time and after that the cars were limited in top speed. Kind of a one year only kind of thing.
Plus no air bags, which is not necessarily a good thing, but the steering wheel looks better. The wheels were (in my opinion) the best looking and the third brake light was in the spoiler and not in the rear window.
I bought my '89 new and I think it may be the best year. I think that the next year, 1990, the cars were governed to 120 mph and the '89 had the first roller rocker motor, So it has the best motor up to that time and after that the cars were limited in top speed. Kind of a one year only kind of thing.
Plus no air bags, which is not necessarily a good thing, but the steering wheel looks better. The wheels were (in my opinion) the best looking and the third brake light was in the spoiler and not in the rear window.
Ummmmm......governed to 120mph? 1990 pickups, maybe lol.
Possibly an RS without speed rated tires ......I could see that. But my 1990 IROC goes faster than 120.
Ummmmm......governed to 120mph? 1990 pickups, maybe lol.
Possibly an RS without speed rated tires ......I could see that. But my 1990 IROC goes faster than 120.
This thread is like 6 years old....
and the 89 having the first roller rocker motor .. not sure what he is meaning by that .. maybe he is thinking the first roller cam motor but that was 87 ..
and the 89 having the first roller rocker motor .. not sure what he is meaning by that .. maybe he is thinking the first roller cam motor but that was 87 ..
I've had this car for so long my memory is a little hazy on some of the particulars. I just check some of the forums every so often to see what's new. I'm sure the cars had some type of governor or speed limiter after 1989 (check on this forum there's a lot of discussion about it). I've had this car up to 145 but that was a long time ago.
I know this is an old thread but people read old threads. And the issue is still timely. My point was that, I think, the 1989 Camaro was the best of the third generation Camaros, and the reason is because it was a high point of engine and design and even though later cars had those improvements, they cannot match the '89 because of the governor that those cars had.
If you have any other year and you think it's the best year, don't get all offended. You may be right, or not.
I've had this car for so long my memory is a little hazy on some of the particulars. I just check some of the forums every so often to see what's new. I'm sure the cars had some type of governor or speed limiter after 1989 (check on this forum there's a lot of discussion about it). I've had this car up to 145 but that was a long time ago.
I know this is an old thread but people read old threads. And the issue is still timely. My point was that, I think, the 1989 Camaro was the best of the third generation Camaros, and the reason is because it was a high point of engine and design and even though later cars had those improvements, they cannot match the '89 because of the governor that those cars had.
If you have any other year and you think it's the best year, don't get all offended. You may be right, or not.
your 89 has the same motor that came in the 88 .. no changes to the engine were made .. now in 1990 they got a different piston which gave it a little more horsepower .. that being said they did introduce the dual cat exhaust in 1989 which was an option you could get and add like 10 horsepower with it ..
Yea, I may be a little incorrect on the year to year stuff, but I think the 89 got better injectors and some other FI changes. I remember that I couldn't get the dual cats without ordering a very different car that deleted the air conditioning and a lot of other stuff that I did not want to do without. As I remember you couldn't even order the dual cat exhaust parts by themselves (but I may be wrong about that).Those cars, the made to be turned into track cars, are probably a lot more valuable now.
I also remember Camaros were being stolen a lot by knocking a hole in the aluminium steering column and the 89 got the anti-theft key which pretty much solved the problem.
I always thought the dual cat setup was pretty cool, but I wouldn't trade 10 more horses for air conditioning.
All you needed to order was N10 option code for dual cats. My 1990 iroc has them, as well as Chazman's 1989.....and we both have air conditioning, too. Lots of cars have them. You're thinking of 1LE which is a stripper for comfort options, and all for performance options.
I think the last 2 years were the best cars in terms of body stiffness, brakes, and other running gear. Your favorite year may differ. One weekend of wrenching can create a car that is better than anything the factory put out. So buy what you like and don't worry about having "the best" car, because the best car is the one you have fun with.
I think the last 2 years were the best cars in terms of body stiffness, brakes, and other running gear. Your favorite year may differ. One weekend of wrenching can create a car that is better than anything the factory put out. So buy what you like and don't worry about having "the best" car, because the best car is the one you have fun with.
Best car is totally in the eye of the beholder. These cars can be infinitely improved. Back in the day dealers had no idea of how to order go fast stuff and it was impossible to order most of the stuff you guys said was available. Dual cats with air, "sorry not available." Dealers either didn't know, care or wanted to just sell a damn car.
After 30 years it's "Oh yea you could have ordered the xxx kit that would add so much HP." But not so in 1989. That's why so few cars exist with those options. Most of that was added aftermarket.
I think my car may fall into the survivor class. 100k, original paint, Bose stereo option, still looks pretty good in my opinion. Best year Camaro, oh yea.
Best car is totally in the eye of the beholder. These cars can be infinitely improved. Back in the day dealers had no idea of how to order go fast stuff and it was impossible to order most of the stuff you guys said was available. Dual cats with air, "sorry not available." Dealers either didn't know, care or wanted to just sell a damn car.
After 30 years it's "Oh yea you could have ordered the xxx kit that would add so much HP." But not so in 1989. That's why so few cars exist with those options. Most of that was added aftermarket.
I think my car may fall into the survivor class. 100k, original paint, Bose stereo option, still looks pretty good in my opinion. Best year Camaro, oh yea.
If you wanted a fast 3rd gen back in the day, you had better have done your homework, because the salespeople were typically clueless. I remember a couple of times getting into it with salesmen, who's BS just unbearable to me. I can guarantee you that no sales person I ever encountered even had the slightest inkling of the existence of DX3 decal delete. Once I proved that it existed, one salesman stated that it would cost me more than the $60 credit to add the decals later. Years later, I talked to someone at GM and he said he was shocked DX3 wasn't more popular. I told him, no one at the dealer even knew about and if the customer did, you practically had to fight for it.
When I ordered my '89, I knew the EXACT option codes and bundled options required to get everything I wanted. The last salesman simply worked with me. I told him the RPOs, he wrote them down and found their price. It wasn't the kind of car you'd find on the lot, though. Not by a long shot. Typically, there'd be rows of peanut cammed LB9s, with single cat, 700R4, 2.73 gears and disc/drums. The fast ones were 5.7, single cat, 2.77 gears. IF you found a stick, it was usually ordered as a mistake or cancelled customer order.
No wonder the 5.0 Mustang guys thought all 3rd gens were slow. Imagine the surprise of the Mustang GT driver when I completely and utterly smoked him in my "17 second IROC".
Best car is totally in the eye of the beholder. These cars can be infinitely improved. Back in the day dealers had no idea of how to order go fast stuff and it was impossible to order most of the stuff you guys said was available. Dual cats with air, "sorry not available." Dealers either didn't know, care or wanted to just sell a damn car.
After 30 years it's "Oh yea you could have ordered the xxx kit that would add so much HP." But not so in 1989. That's why so few cars exist with those options. Most of that was added aftermarket.
I think my car may fall into the survivor class. 100k, original paint, Bose stereo option, still looks pretty good in my opinion. Best year Camaro, oh yea.
Chazman here are three photos. I see you car is a hard top too and I really like the color. I would not have deleted the decals but hey I had a Trans Am before this and I liked the big old screaming chicken.
Chazman here are three photos. I see you car is a hard top too and I really like the color. I would not have deleted the decals but hey I had a Trans Am before this and I liked the big old screaming chicken.
No gatorbacks, just replaced them, the rears were in good shape, the fronts were shot. Too bad I couldn't find anybody making replicas. I don't think Goodyear even makes a 16" tire at all. The three photos on the street were taken in 2015 for my insurance company. The photo under the trees was taken a few months ago.
Actually the photos of the car on the street have the gatorbacks but they are replaced in the photo under the trees.
How about some more info on your car? You ordered it new, so you have had it for a long time too. How many miles?
Last edited by Pacifictime; 06-24-2019 at 11:08 AM.
Reason: add a little info
1989... here is why
1989 was the last year for non-airbag
1989 was the last year you could get T-tops with a 350 (except for Formulas) and the only year for the combo on the Trans Am or GTA in the US.
1989 had the hottest cam with the 350, introduction of the N10 dual cats, second year for the Aluminum driveshaft. The 1990-92 was a little faster because of the MAP sensor instead of the restrictive MAF however.
1987... Here is why
85-87 Irocs had better looking wheels than the 88-90 IMHO
1987 you could get an IROC with the 350, T-tops AND G92!!!
1987 you could get an IROC with the 350, T-tops AND G92!!!
Sorta, but not really... There wasn't a G92 option on the L98 in 87 because there was only one gear ratio offered with the L98. G92 implies there's an "option" when it was standard equipment. There isn't even a G92 code on 87 L98 Camaros, just like there's no B4Z on 88-up Irocs.
Sorta, but not really... There wasn't a G92 option on the L98 in 87 because there was only one gear ratio offered with the L98. G92 implies there's an "option" when it was standard equipment. There isn't even a G92 code on 87 L98 Camaros, just like there's no B4Z on 88-up Irocs.
This I did not know... So it was like the Formula and GTA in that way, that if you got a Formula 350 or a GTA 350 you automatically got the 3.27 axle, but no G92 RPO... It makes sense I guess
06-20-2019, 01:07 AM
