I have had my ThirdGen for over a year now and think I am at something of a crossroads as far as my car ownership is concerned. Since purchasing the car, I have spent over $2000 fixing a number of problems (check my vB garage for a full list) and now I'm at the point where everything is fixed, working like it should, and for the most part looking really nice. One of the big reasons I bought the car was to have something to work on, and now that all the work is done I'm not sure where to go next.

On the one hand, I'd like to keep the car as original and factory spec as possible. Its just turned over 80k on the clock, not exactly brand new but not worn out either. The LB9 runs like a champ, the tranny shifts smooth as butter, the car just runs great. Not as fast as my dad's 94 Z28, but fast enough to get me into trouble without much effort.

On the other hand, I see all these great cars on these boards with upgraded brakes, exhaust, engine work (cams, superchargers, etc.) and I think that it would be kind of cool to build it up some more but keep the factory appearance. More money to be sure, but it would keep things interesting.

Thirdly, the most enjoyment I have gotten out of this car is working on it. I have learned so much about repair and maintenance of Third Gens that I sometimes find myself looking for another "project" car. The idea being to sell the project car that's no longer a project and get another one. Crazy isn't it?

So I guess the question I have for our esteemed board correspondents are threefold: maintain, upgrade, or sell and start again? Just looking for some general discussion on these points are far as your own experiences. Thanks a bunch!

 

Since your not sure if you want to keep it or not..............go for not. Sell it and find another that's says "keep me".
I think its obvious that the car wants another owner.
You must find a car that want you. lol

 

I started the same way on my 85 IROC: I wanted everything to function to spec and to be reliable. I also wanted to keep the "sleeper" look which I've favored since I was a youngster. One mod led to another but the "sleeper" look is still in place:

Drive Train: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp), GM lightweight flywheel, CenterForce II clutch kit, OEM manual transmission with B&M Ripper short-throw and Hammer shifter, 1LE aluminum drive shaft, OEM 10-bolt with limited slip and 3.23’s.

Exhaust: Hooker headers, Catco hi-flow cat, Hooker cat-back with OEM tail pipes.

Suspension: Energy Suspension motor, tranny, secondary crossmember, torque arm, bump stops, and tie-rod boots, Prothane A-arm bushings, Global West steering box brace and subframe connectors, Hotchkis tie-rod sleeves,1LE sway bars with GM poly end links and Top-Down Solutions greaseable 36mm front and Energy Suspension greaseable 24mm rear bushings, Edelbrock torque arm, Spohn lower control arms and panhard, Summit alum differential cover.

Brakes: Spohn 1LE front brakes (dual piston alum), 1LE rears (single piston alum), Earl's braided-steel brake lines.

Other Mods: GM dual electric fans. Twin Lear/Seigler Conteur seats, overhead console, 145 mph speedo and 5500 red-line tach, MBA billet pedals, Alpine CD player and Kenwood speakers, Grant Signature Series steering wheel with black billet sleeve and silver 'Camaro' horn button, and **** mirror (auto dimming, temp, compass). Sylvania Silverstars. Propart clear side markers.

Am I done? I'm not sure that projects ever are. In the spring, I'll do Moog IROC springs, Koni Red struts and shocks, Spohn tubular a-arms and strut mounts. I'm considering either a WC T5 or T56. Upgrading to 3.73's is tempting. And on and on. Do I consider another project from time to time? Yeah, then I consider a neighbor who owns a 69 Roadrunner, a 69 SuperBee, and a custom pickup--he's spread so thin that nothing ever gets accomplished. Money, space and time, for me, equals one car done right. In answer to your question: upgrade.

JamesC

 

I would say sell the car, try and re-coupe some of your investment, and use those funds to start another project. I agree with Billsblue89, in that you have not quite found the 'keeper" yet. There may come a time, when your interest(s) change from restoring to OEM, to racing and hot rodding, to ??? - I, as many others, had my focus change. I got tired of making a car perfect, and being afraid to drive it.... so, although I still own the resto's, I bought a car that I could turn into a race car... That said, if you like the car you currently have, and are considering putting some extra $ into it - don't go overboard, you may just be tired of your thirdgen and may be looking for a different genre of vehicle, thus be in the position of selling the camaro for something different in the near future. If that happens, you don't want to lose too much of your invesment as in almost all cases, hot rodding parts do not make you money
Just my
-Andrew