Long story...bought it new off the dealer lot. Drove it for a few years and sold it to my brother. I wanted a new '93 Trans Am with the 6 sp. badly. Got it and sold it a few years later. Brother had problems with the IROC and parked it outside. The IROC has been off the road for 10 - 15 years. I decided to restore it. Installed a new gas tank, fuel pump, and got it running. Ordered new carpet and it should be here tomorrow. Looking through a box of stuff today and I found the original window sticker and brochure. I'll post some pics, if anyone is interested.

Looking forward to getting it back on the road. It was exactly like the car in the brochure. Red/tan, t-tops, 5.7. I need to strip and paint it. I have restored many old cars, this one seems too new for me /lol. Plus, I never could understand how people let cars wind up in this condition ! Now I am one of them.

 

Lets see some pics. I like finding stuff in the cars I buy. Its cool that you got your car back and are getting it into shape.

 

Cool Story dude! Lets see some pictures of the car!

 

 

Looks a little baked from the sun. Any rust, or major issues? How does it run?

 

Yes, completely baked...will have to strip all the way down. Debating on using PPG, Concept DDC, single stage vs. bc/cc. Surface rust on a few places, luckily no pitting. It got tapped in the drivers qtr. wasn't a bad hit. But I didn't want a bunch of bondo on it. So I replaced that qtr. panel. Also rear spoiler and chin spoiler had issues from exposure. So replaced those with better ones. Just going to make a nice driver out of it. It has 86k on it.

P.S. What is the torque spec for the wheels ? Thanks.

 

I love original owner stories! And what a great car that one must have been back in the day! I love the red/gold/tan combination.

Actually, despite needing paint, it doesn't really look all that bad now. Pretty solid, in fact. Here in Ohio that car would be totally eaten up with rust.

 

Shortly after I bought it. I went to the World of Wheels show in Atl. Someone had a 1LE on display ! That is the first time I learned about that option. Would have been tempted had I known it before hand. Also saw a 1LE at Road Atlanta, a few years ago for sale. Owner had pretty much modded it to full on race specs. So I thought that killed the value of it...

 

Love the color combo! Red with tan interior and gold wheels. Nice.

Seats look pretty mint.

I'm also the original owner of an '89 IROC-Z.

 

NICE SAVE!!!!! glad you are putting it back together and saved it from your brother.

as for TQ spec, my 89 bird book (HELM) says 81 ft lbs IIRC for my FORMULA wheels so i would assume the same for your IROC.

just went out and checked, 81 ft lbs.

 

That color combo is very nice. It seems like a lot of people like. Is it rare?

 

I took it out for a 60 mile trip today. The tires (bought them new 10 yrs. ago) are either flat spotted and or dry rotted. I know they are unsafe. I will have to replace them. I took it to a car wash and scrubbed away a lot of the grime. One fender looks almost new...but the clear coat is peeling on part of it. Got two paint quotes. Stripping, primer, base coat, clear coat - $1800. I added up what it would cost me just for the liquids, new paint gun, respirator, misc,...I would be into it at least at $1000, if not more. I will let them paint it. The hassle and work for me to do it isn't worth saving maybe $600 or so...I know these numbers don't add up. But I'm adding a couple hundred for misc. I will leave the stripes and body side mlds. off of it. I may add the IROC-Z on the doors later.


I saw the production numbers on another site or page. I think it may have been the most produced ? It looked so good in the original brochure. That is what I decided I wanted. I have some video on 8mm the day I picked the car up. Plus some 35mm. pictures. I'll have to try and find them. I remember recording a lot of Guns n Roses onto a cassette to carry with me when I went to pick the car up I wanted to break the stereo in with G n R

 

this so cool great story man ! this what makes this cars worth a million bucks at least to us lol.

 

That would be great if you could find that vid and pics of the day you picked it up. We would all like to see it.

 

I'm in a similar situation. I've been looking for my Red/Red 1967 SS RS 396 Camaro that I bought new since the day I sold it. Haven't had any luck finding it. Your lucky your brother had yours parked for so many years. Have fun restoring it.

 

Pics of it when brand new.

 

niceeee

 

Cool story and nice pics! I love the original gatorbacks in the last picture.

Glad to see you're restoring it!

 

Very nice pics!

 

What is the big deal ??? He found his old car and it in bad shape in most cases. I bought my 87 IROC-Z28 new and I still have it and it is 23 yrs old and I think it is in very good condition.

 

Some of us have given up cars that we wish we had again. The fact that he gave it up years ago and now owns it again is a big deal. That makes it much more interesting than your original owner story.

 

 

I find this type of story about getting back a car that probably stirs up so many memories completely cool. Even though I have my 89 IROC, I still wish I could find the 70 SS Camaro I parted ways with back in 2000. I think it still resides somewhere in Washington state.

Chainshot, make sure you keep us posted with more info and resto pics/vid.

And in my opinion GNR is a necessity anytime those t-tops come off. Me and my team had Appetite for Destruction blasting through the streets of Baghdad in 2003.

 

Chainshot,

When you get the paint done let me know how it turns out. If I can get it done for under $3000 and look great I will be glad to use the same shop. When and if I can ever get the funds together.

Do you get a guarantee with the paint?

 

omg i would kill for an iroc in that condition even restored it doesnt get any better than brand new though

 

Put some new ACC, molded, mass backed carpet in it. The rest of the interior is fairly nice. The arm rest have ballooned out of proportion. Don't know, if there is a fix ? Or have to replace them. Also found part of the build sheet. Don't know how to decipher all the numbers though...anyone know ?

 

As for the armrests, you could glue them and clamp them down with some C-clamps. Hopefully the vinyl hasn't shrunk down from the heat too much. I was gonna do it mine, but they shrunk too much so I retrofitted to the older style.

Now those pics of when you bought it new. . .WOW just wow. . .That's like my dream car. . .It just don't get any better than that.

 

Nice work so far. I had the same problems with my armrests. There is a tech article here that I used as a guide. I also covered mine with painters tape to make sure I didn't get JB Weld on them. Since I have done the rests, I repaired the console cover, and the top parts of the door panels. It works great! Where did you order the carpet from?

https://www.thirdgen.org/armrest

 

The color of that interior is GLOWING! I want it!

 

Thanks for the link ! I'll give that a try.

Got the carpet from rockauto. Also used the discount code found in the other thread. They ship it direct from ACC warehouse. So it took a couple of days for it to process through and actually get on a truck. It looked so nice ! I hated to cover it up with the seats, console, etc... LOL.

 

How does their carpet fit and what did it cost? I need new carpet. I saw 1A Auto has it and its pretty cheap, and I think its from ACC. Looks great. I am waiting till I can find some 4th gen seats before I get the carpet. The car is for my son, and it will be a few months before he has his license, so I have time. Its pretty stained, but when the t tops are out, the carpet doesn't matter as much!

 

$181.00 with the discount and about $14.00 shipping. I got it with the console cut out. But the only part that is cut is around the shifter area. You still have to cut for the ebrake. Once you get it. You can look at the backside of it and get an idea on orienting it in the car. You still have to cut holes for the seats, safety belts, etc...I had a nice pair of shears that went right through it like butter. You can probably pick them up cheaply most anywhere.

I also have a 15% discount for anyone ordering from Year One. It is good till 7/13/10. It is - S6110

 

WOW!!!!!!!! AWESOME!!!!!! We have the same car.

You and I are (last time I checked) the only two 88-90 Irocs with the red/gold/medium beechwood on Thirdgen.Org . TONS of 88-90 burgandy and Gold, and tons of 85-87 red and gold, but not many like ours. At one point, when I had WAY too much time on my hands, I knew of my car, two convertibles (ironically enough), and a hardtop car, ...and of course the brochure car. None of which were on TGO other than mine. You'd think there would be more, but there really isn't. It's pretty rare!!!!! Not necessarily more valuable, but certainly rare.

I bought my car bone stock in 98, daily drove it for a few years, and have been toyin' with it ever since. My goal is to keep the exterior/interior looking 99% stock, and to keep the engine bay looking.....well....to keep the TPI, let's just say that. I'm constantly getting compliments on the car, and everyone mentions that they're glad I didn't go swapping wheels! Stock is the way to go!!!

Anyhow, glad to see you on TGO. I'll be following along!

-Chris

 

Chris - Thanks for the info ! I thought there would have been more like ours too. I plan to keep mine stock, as well. I will need to detail the engine bay sometime.

 

Stopped by the paint shop today. Work is underway. Glad they removed the bumpers, mirrors, spoiler, etc...and will paint them off the car. Makes for a nicer job. Going back to the original red.

Should I put the Gold IROC stickers back on the doors ???

 

Nice car. Glad you're saving it. I would put the gold IROC stickers back on the doors. Keep that baby factory original as long as you have the original engine/papers.

 

hows the engine bay look now since it was bought new? lol

 

Great to find you on Corvette Forum. Here are a few pics and details of mine.

I bought it from my detailer who bout it a couple months before from the original owner. The guy and his son decided to restore it themselves by sending it to the local Chev dealer. New crate 5.7TPI, OEM 5 speed (originally auto) with all oem console and accessories. I have the dealer invoices that total over $11,000.

Custom leather interior to mimic factory. The body is straight and clean so I decided to do a frame on resto and had the body taken down for block sand and paint. I replaced all the weather stripping and lighting. That cost me over $8,000 but the job is flawless.

I recently added the stripes and door decal. All that's left for me to do is find a set of mint OEM '89 wheels and front facsia center piece.

The day I bought it:



One week later:

 

Damn, great car with a great story. If i had seen your iroc just sitting there for the past 10 years or so, i would've bugged you everyday to buy that, lol. Great decision on restoring it .
If i were you i would laminate those original papers of the car.
And hell ya you should put those gold stickers/stripes back on that car!

 

Great thread, great story.And I vote yes...put the IROC back on the door. Keep her stock as much as possible.

 

Nice Job!

 

Full decals ordered from Phoenix. Any tips/tricks to installing them ? Thanks.

 

The Phoenix graphics set is a good set. I mixed a spray bottle with a solution of water and dish soap. I took rubbing alcohol and wiped down the area of the car the graphics would be applied. I then sprayed the car with the water/soap solution and also sprayed the decals. Spray the decals on the side that goes on the car. When applying them, start at one end and lightly press the decals to the car so that there are no bubbles. Use the applicator squeegie to work out all bubbles. When removing the top paper, very slowly pull it at 180*, or basically, fold it flat on the car on top of itself and slowly inch the paper off. If the paper is at a 90* or anywhere near that, it will pull the graphics off the car as the paper is pulled. Lightly dab the area dry. Don't rub. The graphics will still slide around because of the wet application. Any bubbles in the graphics can be worked out by using a new razorblade to creat a slight slit, enough to remove the water and air. Give it plenty of time to dry before washing the car or rubbing the graphics.

 

Frenchican - your car is just stunningly beautiful. That 5 spd. manual is sure to make it more fun. Do you know what trans and clutch is in it ? I read somewhere the oem trans. at the time wasn't stout enough for the 5.7 ?

Thanks for the application instructions, Scott. I'm a little intimidated thinking about it. But will start with the short ones and learn as I go.

 

Wow neat thread!!! Must be nice to know the exact history of the car, and not have a bunch of half A$$ mods done to it. I will be following. Pleased you went with the IROC graphics, a deffinate must.

Good Luck, DacMan

 

Awesome story!!! My 85 was that same color combo. I say definitely put the gold decals back on, keep her as original as possible. More pics please!!!

Keep track of all the work your doing and maybe contact Camaro Performers mag for an article. We need to get some more thirdgen stories out there. Our rides need the glory they deserve.

 

Wow, they did all that work for $1800? I paid $2200 and they didn't remove or replace anything on the car. Very nice.

 

Great Idea, they always try to incorperate an article on a thirdgen, and this would be a perfect story!

 

The last issue of Camaro Performers magazine I looked at had a few editor notes telling thirdgenners to stop whining. They commented on the fact that people are more interested in the 1st and 4th gens. I guess it's not a magazine I'm interested in.

 

Great story - I look forward to the updates on your progress, good luck, and enjoy your car!