Hey guys,
First off thanks to all of you for all your advice. This is the most helpful freaking fourm ive ever seen... So heres my question- Can any of you PLEASE clearify 88-89 camaro's 4 me? Im on the lookout to buy my 3rd thirdgen, and want to know the KEY things of those years. For example, since chevy dropped the "z28" and kept the "iroc-z" does that mean any 350 v8 tpi camaro in those years were iroc's? And what ticks me off is that ive been noticing people slapping a louverd hood and iroc wheels and passing them off as the real thing to sell them.
What are the key things to look for when looking to buy a camaro in those years specificaly?
thank you so much.

 

Check out these pages, the links are at the bottom of the page, it's a good start.

https://www.thirdgen.org/1988-chevy-camaro


https://www.thirdgen.org/1989-chevy-camaro

 

thanks, i just read it. One thing, the exterior badging on the rockers and rear bumpers of those cars didnt have "z28" on them right? iroc'z only came with "iroc" badging?... Because ive seen some 88 camaros for sale claimng there z28's or irocs and there badging had "z28" on them.

 

An Iroc is a z28, the interior interior dash badge still read Z28 IROC-Z but the bumper just has IROC-Z. Many people clone these cars and the only sure fire way to tell is by checking the RPO code sheet located in the center console.

 

Yeah i know all of that "iroc was a package on the z28." and thanks ive looked over the 88-89 tech sheets. But one of the things I just want to know is what you guys who are more experienced with these cars would find "odd" when looking to buy one. would z28 badging on an 88-89 camaro be odd since they dropped the name? Just somethings you would notice or would figure out incase the rpo sheet is missing.
thank you all again

 

Well, badges and door stickers as well as hood louvers and rims are easy to install. Instead of getting into detail check out this post,

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...6331-iroc.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/sear...archid=1963950

There is a ton of info on here.

 

89 also got the better rear brakes.

 

To keep it very simple. If you find an '88 or '89 Camaro with an original TPI engine it's a IROC. The eighth space in the VIN will tell you the engine. An "F" is a 305 TPI and an "8" is a 350 TPI. Those two engines were only used in IROCs so if the VIN checks out with either of those engines, you've got a real IROC. If your biggest concern is making sure you get the real deal that's really all you need to know.

 

IROCs that have Z28 emblems would be the 85-87 original style. When they got a slight restyle in 88, the emblems were all IROC-Z except for the dash. The ordering RPO code also became Z28 instead of B4Z.

 

If you are stuck on 1988 & 1989 style, Personally I would try and find a later 1989. The rear brakes are the same, but they improved the proportioning valve and they stop better...



John