I found an 89 IROC that I'm interested in. I'd be trading a running, good shape dirt bike for it.

The problem is it was originally started to be torn down, but then stopped. The owner has sent me pictures and I have some concerns. First off, the car started out as an 89 IROC-Z with 350TPI and 700R4. The 700 was swapped out later by a previous owner.

As is sits now, the engine bay is COMPLETELY empty and has been primed. All of the wiring under the hood was removed (cut). Basically, there is NOTHING left on it forward of the windshield except the suspension/steering parts. One other item missing is the steering column. For whatever reason, most of the parts removed were either trashed or sold.

The reason I'm considering the car is really that the rest of the body is in fantastic shape and it looks well taken care of. The car was backed into which is why the current owner bought it and tore it apart. The TPI motor was also blown or dying.

So... my question is this. Is this car worth saving financially? What are the odds of buying a donor and having most of the parts interchange? My main concern is harnesses and 1989 specific parts. I am looking at a 1986 IROC as a donor car. Will most of the parts that I will obviously be missing work? I am guessing since that I do not have the VATS system, it won't matter if I don't have a VATS key or column anymore, right?

Whatever IROC I get will be torn down and a new motor (thinking StealthRam or equiv) will be installed and the 4th gen interior parts will be swapped in.

Has anyone got any advice? I realize the question might be vague, I'm just hoping someone can convince me its doable, or just avoid it....

pics:

http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/a...e04srt/camaro/

......confused.....

-Dante

 

 

I think you will have more in it than it is worth... But that's just an opinion. I guess my thinking is that if you wanted to build a 'custom' car, then that might be a viable option, since it is already stripped down.

If you were planning on restoring it or fixing it to sell, I'd forget it and look elsewhere.

 

Sell the dirt bike and buy a car. Somewhere there is a old lady getting ready to sell a cherry 3rd dirt cheap. You just have to find it! If you had a car looking for a body maybe, you said it had been backed into. No motor, no trans, no wiring. What are you getting for a running dirt bike.

 

Id have to agree with the last two posts sell the bike buy yourself one that is already running ,other wise you probably would spend more on the car than it would be worth

 

Hello Dante93GTZ!!

First off, it looks more like it was not a 350 TPI, but a 305 TPI, as it shows a five speed shift pattern in the interior, and we all know that T5's didn't come behind a 350 in the thirdgen!! So, that would blow out the 700R4 also!! Someone is lying to you, or really doesn't know what their talking about!!

Secondly, if you decide to do this, be prepared to spend lots of time, and money searching out the correct parts to rebuild it!!

The best advice is to, see the above posts, and keep looking!!



It would be a long term project, what exactly are you looking for???

1. Daily driver, fixing as you go $$$.

2. $$$$ to spend when you'll need $$,$$$

3. $$,$$$ to burn!!

 

Yeah, I know about 350s and 5 speeds not existing - The guy said it was added later on.

Anyway, my gut keeps telling me to keep looking, so I'll probably have to. I appreciate the input.

 

Hello Dante93GTZ!!

If you were looking for a good parts car, with what's left of this one, you might be in a better position, as the parts value of this car alone "should" out value "a running, good shape dirt bike"!!

Remember, it's not an impossible task, just a very $$,$$$ task!!

Best of luck!!



P.S. Someone is bound to pick up that car, and try exactly what you were thinking of trying, maybe it will work for them, maybe not!!

 

you could always pick try picking it up for a few hundred. and sell the bike and buy a rusted out or wrecked car and build it up from there. Unless your looking to restore to complete original then ignore my post what ever you do best of luck.

 

I've gone down this road a few times.. that looks like a parts car to me.


IMO it's always better to find a complete running/driving car that you can personally take every bolt out of yourself.


Cleaning up someone else's mess is never fun and often costly. Things add up quick.

 

I think it might be able to be saved but it would be a car that I'd swap an LS1 into or something like that. putting it back stock would be a huge job. using a painless harness and swapping an LS1 wouldn't be too bad IMO.