I'm looking into buying a 3rd gen sometime this winter/spring and I am pretty clueless about them. I have been reading here for some time now and I'm hoping someone here can guide me to a web page for some answers or just enlighten me about the differences in the models for each year. Pros and cons for each type of model. I guess what I'm asking is for some opinions on what years/models would be the best for me to be looking for. You know, TPI vs TBI and Z-28 vs IROC, which years had the best suspension, etc. The engine isn’t as big of a concern as I have a nice 350 I’ve been working on in the garage. Thanks.

Mike

 

Read our Tech Data and FAQ on the main page of the site.

 

i Honestly Love the L98 Tuned Port Injection System (TPI 350) And the best Performances out of them were the 1990 Irocs and 91-92 Z28s (Didnt Make IROC after 1990) I like 91-92 Z28s the best, cool wing some cool designs on it.

 

IMO, the thing to look for with Camaros is this:

- It should be a Z28 or an IROC

- The only good engines were the L69 (305 4bbl HO), LB9 (305 TPI), L98 (350 TPI)

- G92 is a good thing to look for on the later cars, but I don't think it was on many early ones.

- 1LE option is pure gold

 

Whoops, should have read the Tech Data first. I came here via a link and had never been to the main page. Sorry. Yeah, the IROCs and Zs are the nicest looking IMHO. Are the early 90s cars more complicated to work on or are most 3rd gens the same?

Mike

 

Depends on what you consider complicated.

If you're acquainted with injection, then there's nothing out of the ordinary about TPI; its control system and what have you is pretty much the same as any other of the age. The carbed earlier ones were about as complex a carb setup as there has ever been, as it has all of the vacuum and mechanical things that you would typically find on an emissions carb, plus the computer control wiring (roughly equivalent to the amount of wiring for FI). Only you can decide which one you're more comfortable with.

Go for the top-of-the-line cars. Avoid the base-model Z28s and even lesser cars than that like Berlinetta and Sport Coupe with the LG4 (low HP carb) or L03 (TBI) motors. You can pick them up dirt cheap, but, you tend to get what you pay for (or at least, no more than what you pay for....) As was said, get a L69 (HO) car especially a 5-speed, or 305 TPI 5-speed, or 350 TPI car. Those 3 variants are the fastest ones, all of them fairly close to the same speed stock for stock. For the amount of improvement that you're buying already built into the car by starting out with one of the top-model ones, the slightly higher price is still a deal. You can pick up a 305 car usually a bit cheaper than a 350 car, and change it out later.

The Firebirds have similar divisions in their product line, and the same motor/trans combos. The same advice applies to them. Go for the top of the line.

The overall best suspension on any of these cars was the IROCs and the 90-92 Z28s after Chevrolet no longer had the contract with IROC to use their name. The Firebirds were typically heavier than the Camaros, and even the best of them, with the WS6 RPO, didn't come with all of the same top-line suspension components as the IROCs. Easy to change of course, but as far as stock against stock, the Camaro is a slightly more performance-oriented and less image and appearance and comfort-oriented car than the Firebird. The Bird hood causes an inferior air intake tract, and so almost every one of the motors is "rated" at a few HP less in the Bird than the Camaro. That's not so easy to fix in all cases.

 

Wow, thanks much for all that. Now I think I have a good place to start looking. When I think I've found one, I'll come back and get a few suggestions if you all dont mind.

Mike

 

The overall best suspension on any of these cars was the IROCs and the 90-92 Z28s after Chevrolet no longer had the contract with IROC to use their name. The Firebirds were typically heavier than the Camaros, and even the best of them, with the WS6 RPO, didn't come with all of the same top-line suspension components as the IROCs. Easy to change of course, but as far as stock against stock, the Camaro is a slightly more performance-oriented and less image and appearance and comfort-oriented car than the Firebird. The Bird hood causes an inferior air intake tract, and so almost every one of the motors is "rated" at a few HP less in the Bird than the Camaro. That's not so easy to fix in all cases. [/B][/QUOTE]

Don't want to start a flame war here, but wasn't the Iroc the only camaro that could out handle a WS6? And not but much at that. Also I've read several times that Formulas were the lightest V8 thirdgens. I won't even go into which is more performance oriented...

 

The IROCs and later Z28s come with the "wonderbar"; no Firebirds ever did. The IROCs had the same springs and sway bars as the WS6 Birds, and the same size tires and wheels; but weigh at least 150 lbs less than the WS6-equipped Birds (that being the approximate minimum weight difference between comaparable cars through the years, and sometimes the difference was even greater than that). The lightest 3rd gens were NOT the Formulas, they were the early Camaros. My 83 L69 Z28 was about 3270 lbs new. It has a helluva lot more guts than some lame TBI car, and is probably a good 100-150 lbs lighter than the lightest Formula, which yours probably is one of. It also came with 3.73 gears to your 3.08s.

You do the math.

Not that the Birds are a bad car; just that if you want the ones with the best performance, the Camaros will win the race.

 

I've never weighed any third gens so I can't say for sure which are the lightest, I just know I've read a million times that Formulas were but there is a lot of misinformation out there. Firebirds could be had with 3.27s or 3.45 gear ratios, which in my opinion would be better than 3.73s due to the lack of high end power most third gens make. If nothing else us firebird guys have the TTA and Firehawks

 

not sure i'd go with that - if you are planning on doing an engine swap, go for an LG4 car.

due to the lower torque and BHP of these engines, the body will have not been subjected to as much flex, and probably will be less fatigued.

the softer suspension also gives the body a kinder time, my sport coupe is one of the only truly squeek and rattle free camaro's i have ever been in, despite its 127 000 miles.

 

I weighed my '83 T/A. It was 3,170 pounds.

It has 3.73's too.

 

Don't count out the V8 powered RS. My '91 had the F41 option which gave it the Z28 suspension and 16" aluminum wheels. It had the same ground effects as the Z28 with the only difference being the grill insert and the 3 piece spoiler vs. the Z28s high rise spoiler. Also, RSs are typically cheaper than a Z28 or IROC of the same vintage and would make a great platform from which to build as long as it was a factory V8 car. Another advantage to the RS is that they make great 'sleepers', afterall, no one expects an RS to be fast!

My current car is an '84 Z28 (which I am adding parts from my '91 RS to). It came equiped with an L69 high output 305 and the G92 option which gives it 3.73 differential gears. It is a total blast to drive!


Yeah, I'm a picky little bastard, but there was no '90 Z28.

 

The lightest Thirdgens are the 82-84 birds and camaros

 

If you're gonna be picky, then you should know that F41 was the base sport tuned suspension. The upgraded suspension was the FE2.

 

I'm just going off my build sheet.

P.S., lighten up! Didn't you see my smilie?!?!

 

I am lightened up. I forgot to put my smiley on the post!!

 

 

"The IROCs and later Z28s come with the "wonderbar"; no Firebirds ever did."

I ain;t tryin to be a @$$hole or say you're wrong, but I found an old Firebird Trans Am (early 80s) in the boneyard and I swear it had a wonderbar on it..but it could have been swapped in or maybe I was looking at the sway bar,as I didn't know much about this stuff back then.


kev

 

no thirdgen bird ever came from the factory with a wonderbar.



it woulda been nice, but oh well

 

Personal favourites are the 88/89 Iroc-Z's... I'm a sucker for the door decal placement, gauges (don't like the 90-92), TPI/T5/3:08 (yah, I like the 3:08s... so be it!)

Plus, they handle so beautifully! Compared to my 84 Z28 and most every car I've been in!