Hi,

I was checking out a car today and It was advertised a 1992 25th adv. z28 with a 350 in it. I was skeptical because as far as I was aware the 350's only came in Iroc's. It has the 5.7L emblems and everything. Although I did run the VIN through car facts and the decoder on this site and it cameup with a 5.0L engine code. whats up? Did I find a car that had an engine swap done and also had the emblems replaced? Thanks for your help

 

Since Jan 1/1991, there were no more IROCs. It went to Chrysler. So the highest performing Camaro in 1991 and 1992 was the Z28.

As I understand it, pre-91 Z28s also could get the L98 also. Similar to the Formulas for the Firebirds.

 

91 & 92 Z28's could come with the 350, since it was the top-trim level for those years since the IROC was stopped in '90.

 

As for the VIN, check the 8th digit. If it is an F, then it originally came with the TPI 305, if it has an 8, then it originally came with a 350.

 

Hi Glenn!

(I know this site isn't non-tech anymore, but it was a weird coinsidence that Glenn replied to this thread at the same time I did, so I had to say hi )

 

The eight digit is an F so I guess it came with the 305 but what about the emblems on the vehicle that say it's a 5.7? They don't seem to be added after as the bumper is contersunk around it. I can't see some one going to that much trouble just to get it to seem like a 350 that origanly came with a 305. Is there any other visual way to tell if it is a 305 vs. 350?

 

as far as the bumper being sunk for hte emblem, the space is the same size for the 5.0 liter and the 5.7. It is common--cheap--to replace emblems over the years to try to lie to everyone. If you are still interested in the car, look close at what else they say about it.

Jeremy

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92 Z conv
5-spd B&M shifter
home-made ram air, air foil, headers, no cat, TB bypass, kevlar pads, slotted rotors, BMR panhard, alston SFC
when it warms up Edelbrock STB maybe springs

 

Another quick way of checking is what transmission does it have? 350's only came with Auto's so if it's a 5-spd you know it's actually a 5.0L. But if it's an Auto then you still don't know.

Have you tried checking the RPO codes? There should be a listing in the glove compartment or in one of the door jams with 3 digit codes. One of them should be L98 I belive, if it's a 350 optioned vehicle.

 

The VIN says it all. That car came with a TPI LB9 305, NO DOUBTS ABOUT IT. The stickers are fakes and are easy to change. That is why they encode the engine in the VIN#, so you can tell.

Also, there is a serial number on the engine. It should match the last 6 digits of the VIN# if it is the original engine (that is what a numbers matching motor means). To anyone interested in your car, it will never be worth as much as an original L98 TPI. But on the other hand, since it isn't a numbers matching car, you can feel free to mod the engine to your hearts content.

I hope you didn't pay "full price" for that car as an original L98 TPI 350. If you did, then you were ripped off. They probably swapped the TPI from the 305 to a 350. Hell, you might not even have a roller block or a 1 piece rear seal.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

 

Also, what color are the top of the injectors? SD L98s have 22# injectors with "purple" on the top (besides the black injector itself). If they are not purple, then you may have another problem: you only have 19# injectors and possibly running too lean for a 350.

But you would also have change the PROM too. You can check the eprom in the ecm. There will be a sticker on the ecm which should read "AUJP 1350" to tell you the stock eprom that came with the car. Also, the memcal itself will have a sticker on the eprom underneath the blue plastice cover that also says "AUJP 1350".

If it says anything else, then you had an original 305 TPI ecm. Then you check the memcal to ensure that AT LEAST they put a 350 memcal in there.

How long ago did you buy the car and was it sold to you as an original SD L98 350 car? If not, you probably have grounds for legal action where you can either get your money cheerfully refunded, or some of your money back. Its called "Misrepresentation" at minimum (if they themselves did not know) and "Fraud" if they actually did the motor swap.

 

I haven't bought the car yet, I went up and looked at it the other day. It is an auto so it could be a 350. I asked for the RPO codes and the guy didn't know what I was talking about. I checked the glove box and they weren't there but I didn't check the door jam. I'll look for them next time. Where is the serial # on the engine? Is it visiable without having to disassmble the car? I'll check the injectors next time I see the car also. thanks for all your help.

 

Ok, so the car originally came with a 305 TPI. I thought that the 350 TPI looks almost exactly the same from the outside. Could it still in fact have it's LB9 and just have 5.7 stickers all over the place?

 

It could but it has been advertised as a 350 and when I drove it it did have a considerable amount of power. There also was some aftermarket work done to it. Exaust (hooker headers and a flowmaster muffer it looks like, possibly a new cat) It also had blackouts on it at one point. So it's entirely possible he also did an engine swap.

 

The RPO codes on the later cars are in the rear locking storing compartment in the hatch.

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1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
13.25 @ 107.18 MPH
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
Webmaster: SoCal F-Bodies
-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

It's your money, but I would pass on it. There are too many original L98 ("8" in the 8th digit of the VIN) out there to settle for a counterfeit (and possibly a LB9 being sold as a 350).

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, its probably a duck.

 

Another quick and easy way to tell is the shifter ****. If it is square, then the car is a 350. or so I've heard

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87 IROC 350 TPI with less than 10k original miles
www.users.uswest.net/~smoyer/iroc.htm

 

Alright, thanks guys I really appriciate your help.

 

That thing about the shift **** being square is not correct. From 87 on, all IROC-Z's got square shift *****, not sure about other models, but I'm kinda sure they got them also.

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Looking For:

87 IROC-Z 350 TPI
84 TRANS AM 305 H.O.

 

To answer Glenn's previous comment about pre-'91 Z28s....

There were no '82-'87 Z28s with 350s. When the 350 became available in '87, the only way to get a 350 was with the IROC option.

So technically, yes, I know this was a "Z28" because the '87 IROC was a package on the Z28. What I mean to say is that you will never see a factory, non-IROC Z28 from '82-'87 with a 350.

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Jason E
'89 Camaro RS 2.8 (Medium Gray Metallic)
Hypertech chip/K&N filters/Accel 8.8 wires, Accel Supercoil/RapidFires
Eclipse CD and 100x4 amp/Boston plates and 6x9s
Alpine Alarm, Keyless Entry
IROC tailights, tinted windows

JasonEE98 on AOL IM

 

Thanks for the clarification: yes, the L98 was only available from 87 onward (excluding those 50 1986 L98 test mules).

From 1987-1991, the L98 is mostly found in the IROC, though I do believe it was also available on the Z28, though seldom optioned. Similar the wasy an L98 is mostly found in a GTA, but could be had in a Trans-Am during 1987-1992. Also I believe the L98 was available in Formula from 1987-1992.

I cannot comment about the RS 1987-1992 during that period. I believe it was at least some of the years (especially later) as there is a police package B4C w/ L98.

 

Glenn, the tops of my 305 TPI injectors are purple. I don't think that is an indicator of the injector lb rating.

Formulas with L98s are Formula 350s, and quite a few were made from 87-92. L98 equipped Trans Ams are out there, but exceedingly rare. The vast majority of people opted for a GTA if they wanted all the options, or a Formula 350 if they didn't. The 350 TPI was not an option for pre-91 Z28s. The L98 and the Z28 only coexisted for one year, the L98's first year, 1987. The 305 TPI G92 was an option for the Z28 that year, but the 350 TPI was not.

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91 Trans Am WS6
Bright White
5.0 TPI auto
Flowmaster 3" 2 chamber catback
Trans Go shiftkit
2000 stall converter

Built on Wednesday

 

According to the Camaro White Book, G92 was only offered in IROC-Z's for that year. But I know that it's not always 100% correct.



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1989 IROC-Z 5.7L

 

The 5.7 L motor powers more Z28's than any other motor (1967-current) It was standard from 1970-1982, optional from 87-92, and standard again from 93-97. 98+ Z28's have a 346 cu motor (also 5.7 L). The eigth digit of the VIN should be an "8" for a 5.7 L. Be warned, many fakes are out there with 305's and 350 emblems. Look at the exhaust manifolds also, 350's went under the port and 305's went over the port.

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87 Formula 350 14.61@94.07 before 2OTL, TCI stall, Nitto's, tubular LCA's & panhard
98 Z28 1LE 13.15@107.59
1LE Owners Association

 

The only thirdgen Z28's with a 5.7L L98 engine are the 91-92's. The 82-87 Z28's only had 305's, and the 88-90 are considered IROC-Z's, and not Z28's. To further clarify the above, in 1987 only the IROC-Z's got the L98 engine. The Z28's top engine was the LB9.

------------------
West Coast GM Shootout 2001!
1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
13.25 @ 107.18 MPH
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
Webmaster: SoCal F-Bodies
-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

quote-
The 5.7 L motor powers more Z28's than any other motor (1967-current) It was standard from 1970-1982,

I don't know if I read this wrong, but the 350 didn't power any 67-69, or 82 Z28's. The 302 powered the first gen, and the second gen was not standard with a 350 as I believe the late years of 78-79 had 350 standard, 80 was 350 standard except California,which was 305, 81 was 305 standard, 350 optional, 82 was 305 only.

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87 IROC 350 TPI with less than 10k original miles
www.users.uswest.net/~smoyer/iroc.htm

 

Guess we could be technical and say that there were no Z28s for 1975 and 1976. The Z28 disappeard after 1974 and did not return until half way through 1977. Only Pontiac kept the performance oriented (if you could call it then) F-body alive during that time with their 455 Trans-Ams until its demise in 1976. Maybe that is why I have a soft spot in my heart for Firebirds...they never gave up... while Camaro and Mustangs did; and kept the concept alive.

 

i am pretty sure the 1st gen z's were 302's, it was the ss's that had 350s or even 396s

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91 rs, convertible, K&N, Edelbrock open element cleaner, 3.73, B&M mega-shifter, goodmark cowl-induction hood,tinted windows

 

My #'s matching Formula 350 had manifolds that go over the port, so I don't believe the over/under thing.

 

i wish they'de bring back a commemorative 35th anniversary Z28 with a new age 302. those were some bad *** engines in that 3 year run...if GM wasnt going to kill the fbody, i'de be beggin them right now to make a Trans-Am Racing style performance model

 

the ONLY way to be sure if your car has the original motor is to look at the VIN on the BLOCK. it's cast over on the passenger side right at the front of the head. if the number isn't there you are in big trouble as the block has been 'decked'.

just thought i'd throw that in the mix

 

ARGGGGGG

Ok, i know this is a technicality, but iroc-Z's are still Z28s!!!! I know, i have one. The inside of my car, the dash plaque, guess what it says. ya thats right, Z28. the Z in IROC-Z stands for Z28, so all these people running around saying that there were no 88-90 Z's are technically wrong, its just that all Z28's had the IROC option package. Just like 4th gen SS's, technially, they are Z28's with the SS option package, not a seperate model.

As far as 1st gen Z/28s go, they had the 302. The RS and SS 1st gens had 327's, 350's, and 396's. Just thought id clear that up.

And to answer the original question, yes. The 350 (5.7L to you european folks) was available from 87-92 in the top end models, all of which being Z28's. From 88-90 all Z-28s were badged IROC-Z's, unlike in 87 when there was still the Z28 and then also the Z28 with the IROC package as an option. If you want to know if the car that you are looking at is a 350 car, look for the RPO codes in the spare tire area, or in the little storage space thingy on the dirvers side in the trunk. You can also take out the seats and look for build sheet on the car. I think it should be under the passenger seat. That will list the engine that the car came with for sure.

[This message has been edited by 88blkiroc (edited February 02, 2001).]

 

Simpler yet to tell if its a L98, just read the 8th digit of the VIN. All L98s have "8" as the 8th digit of the VIN on a 3rd Gen.

 

This would be your first clue the car is a fake. Don't buy it unless you are absolutely positively sure it's the real deal.


.

 

this is like an 12 year old post lol....

 

It is.

A new member had replied to this thread to ask a technical question about their convertible. I moved their post to the appropriate section as a new thread, but left ZZ3 Z28's post since he replied on-topic. ZZ3 Z28 may not have noticed that this thread was old, but he wasn't the person that originally bumped this thread.