ok here's the deal....

i got a 90 camaro rs 305 tbi off ebay a year ago.... well its not quite "rust free" as the guy said, in fact, the floor needs some major attention and there are a few other minor spots, and under the rear hatch is bad....anyway..... i got a price for $200 for each floor pan and $300 for each install.... if i can patch which i im pretty sure i can, obviously it woudl be less... but, i was thinking, instaead of putting $1500 into paint and $1000 into teh floor of a car i paid $1500 for... should i jsut sell it and get a camaro in better shape and more exactly what i want from the start????


i have:
90 Rs
305 TBi
700R4
2.73 open rear
t-tops
maroon
a/c
etc..

i want:
90-92 (prob 91-92)
350 TPI
prob 5 speed (really prob a t-56) maybe an auto not really 100% aure, but im REALLY leaning toward standard, just mostly concerned with the strenght of the T-5
3.23 posi rear
t-tops, an almost MUST
color? haven't decided, maroon, dk blue, black, white... ????
and very important that the body is near mint....
i can do mechanical work much easier than bodywork...

if i coudl sell my camaro for $2000 (break even after my investments) and add waht i will have in the fuuture here, i'm thinking i am arounda 3500-4000 budget....

waht do you guys think?

i don't think they ever made waht i want, but i coudl run across it.. but what woud lbe teh easiest way to get to where i want to be? what to start with, if i can't start where i want... the reason i don't relaly wnat to go older than the 90 is the interior style, and also just the age itself... better/stronger engine.....

PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Im kind of in the same boat myself because I just paid 3000 for this car and for me to get the body work and paint done it is going to be 3000 plus materials. Personally thought I like the car and the options so Im thinking of just driving it and having fun, and getting used to the car and working on it so when I do find the nice G92 camaro I want, I'll know more about them.

Ultimately I think its a matter of whether or not you really like the car. If you could break even and sell it than that might not be such a bad idea though.

 

well i like the car, and its fun, but not 100% waht i want in fact i guess not 90%, i don't really feel connection to the exact car, but rather thirdgen's in general... if i can break even i think i will and look for a better one.... 4k is a descent amount to find a z-28 350 manual with a good body and paint, isn't it?
tj

 

You are aware that you will not find a factory 350/5 speed right?

 

yea, i am
what im askign is what would be the easiest/best way to get somethign that i could end up at that in the future..

shodl i go for a 305 t-5 to end up possibly changing it to a 350 and maybe a t-56, or get a 350 auto and swap in a t-56....

or how many 350- manual cars are there floating aroudn for sale...? ? i foudn one on here thats a 350/ T-5 but the guy is running nitrous oxide, and im conserned that it coudl be hurtingthe engine if hes too rough on it...

or should i look at a fourth gen Lt-1?? prob not, but it coudl be a more reliable car?????


ALSO: how can i check numbers on a block to see where it came form and if it is the origional for that car?

thanks,
tj

 

Going with a 305 5 speed and upgrading to a 350 would seem to me to be easier.... Everything would be a bolt in, you would not need to change your tunnel, no need for a different shift plate, really simple things to change, but it sounds harder than swapping an engine.

John

 

just found a 86 IROC with a 350 (swapped) and a t-5(swapped) engine has 100k tranny rebuilt 1k miles ago, and new clutch.... BUT
he has Nitrous oxide on it..... htat makes me wonder if it is abused... especially with 100k on the engine and hte fact that the clutch needed a rebuild...

don't knwo if i shoud consider it since he has nirtous on it... but i towudl be fun! how can i tell if he has abused it or not, or if its set up well?

another thing , he is getting the numbers for me but he doen't think that the engine was from a camaro cause they only made what.. 50 that year witha 350... but it has one piece rear main seal, wheich he said means after 85 and it doen't have centerbolt heads which means before 87??? this is what he says, i don't know engine history tha well... and because of that he is thinking it could be from a corvette and have better performance heads...i would ahve htoguth the engine woudl be fairly noticeable...unless they changed all teh insignea.. ..if that is the case does that make sence?(with the year stuff) and how dificult does that make parts to find? all will be the same for all sbc, other than teh heads right? will heads be more expensive since they are not centerbolt, like the newer ones??

here we go with my long posts again....

thanks alot,
tj

 

3 ways to tell a 350 on an IROC (Im a Firebird dude, so correct me if I am wrong.)

on the rear bumper will state 5.7 Tuned Port Injection. Under the Hood will have the emissions decal which will state 5.7 Liter, AND the 8th Didget in the VIn is an 8.

Chances are its not originally an 86 350 car. There has been speculation here on the boards, and there has never been one shread of evidence turned up other than my friends brother has one. NO PROOF in short. My guess would be it was a 305 car.

BTY, in my opinion, make sure it has TPI, a 350 might be nice, but the TPI is what I would look for.

John

 

i don't think the car was origionally a 350, im jsut wondering where the 350 that is in it came from.... one piece rear main seal, and no centerbolt heads... ( i think so hte guy is sayign between 85 and 87...

what is the difference between a 305 IROC and a 350 IROC is there more than that? suspension? or they are the same otherwise cause they are both an IROC??

and, what do you think about the nitrous on there?

tj

 

some 350's in 86 came that way with the one piece rear seal and standard bolt heads. I think the 55-86 heads will bolt up to 87-92 Engines and vise-verse, IF you change heads then The intake would have to be changed because of the angle of some of the bolts in the heads. Chances are what your looking at is an 87+ Block and 86 or prior heads. OR the guy is blowing smoke...

On a side note, GM used the same basic block on the 97-99 Truck Vortech Engines, 'cause you can put the vortech heads on a 305/350 without any problems, once again you need to change the intake, or mod the heads.

As for the NO2... There was a guy I was helping on the side of the expressway who pushed his NO2 button once too many times. NOW he has a cool lookin Boat anchor.

John

 

My thought on the Nitrous with a burned clutch, first I don't know how much the two actually relate. Depends on when and how he used the nitrous. Either way I would run a compression check at the very least before buying and maybe have a local shop check it out for you before investing.

 

My advise whenever buying ANY Third Gen.

I dont care if it has 5000 miles or 150,000 miles, The first thing I do is rebuild BOTH the engine and Transmission. I assume that a low miles car has all rotted seals due to lack of use and a high miles car has got to be worn. Then I know I am running fresh...

I think we forget to realize our cars range from 11 to 21 years old, MOST of which were made in the early to mid 80's. they need a good go through.

As for the NO2 and the Burned clutch, they MIGHT not have anything in common, or he could be an idiot and starting in 5th. Either way, I see you have too many questions about this car, my advise unless the body & interior are pristine, move on to another car, there are plenty out there that are good condition under 5K...

John