I have a rust free 2.5 fivespeed car. I was going to move the contempo body kit and hatch to it (blasphemy!) but now that I'm not going to be parting out that car I'm not sure what to do with the 4cyl car. It seems to run okay, starter is going out on it but the trans and other bits seem okay, low miles if I remember right. I drove it all over town and up and down the freeway and it worked fine. The interior is clean and dry, not a Ttop car.

It also looks like it has over beefy tires, I think the lack of ground effects helps that, it looks taller, and the lack of engine weight up front might play a role.

I do know that it corners really well with little nose weight to push around in turns. for a while this summer I took the rear hatch off and cruised around enjoying the weather. It's amazing what these do when you shed some serious weight. It drives like my S10, a wider lower longer better handling S10. I had to laugh at two guys looking for parts that saw the dummy blower sticking up through the hood (the hood was junk anyway) and were not able to discern that it was nonfunctional (no linkage/belt/hoses/moving parts) but were still shocked and horrified that as to "WHY WOULD YOU PUT THAT ENGINE IN A CAMARO!?"

It's not a V8 but it's still decently quick and at 30mpg you can get a lot more driving in much cheaper. I enjoy most any driving, it don't have to be at top speed.

If I don't sell it to someone (It's in oregon btw) I'll likely flat black and mad max it like I did my four door 78 cougar. Need a place to bolt the machineguns anyhow. I may yet put the knightrider front clip on it. I'm a monster.

 

I have some production figures for 4cyl Firebirds. 1982-17,804 1983-7,623 from Gunnells Firebird buying guide, no numbers from 84-86. Interestingly PMD sold super duty parts for Iron dukes. At the 1984 Chicago there was a raceprepped t/a with 272 hp/7600rpm. 13.2 1/4 mile.

 

LOL

http://www.time.com/time/specials/20...658527,00.html

 

Funny... They talk about a 4cyl Camaro and then show a Berlinetta in the picture. The base engine in the Berlinetta was a 2.8L V6.

 

I have an 83 2.5 powered Camaro with about 125k on the car. The duke has been rebuilt twice. The real weakness of the car was the 3 speed AT. A long time ago a transmission tech freind of our explained how easy it would be to drop in a 7004r. He suggested it because the 3sp was always shifting. With the 4 speed the 1st gear is lower(i think) and with the OD the little engine is not spinning at really high ROMS on the highway. Overall it seems much happier in front of the 4 speed. The last time I had the motor rebuilt I seriously lookind into dropping in a crate motor. I even had most of the details specd out, but I opted for the rebuild. (There are so many V8s out there.)


I think the engine builder thought I was joking until I sent the core to him for the rebuild. If anyone out there is seriously considering taking on a 4cylinder camaro project, let me know. I have access to the origional GM TBI and engine management manuals.

 

Okay, I'm getting an itch again for this darned thing and have actually placed some WTB ads on CL....

 

Is this because I PM'd you today about the yellow one??

 

I posted the ads last night, but if you must know, your PM didn't help me one little bit!

 

I agree that this version of the 3rd Gen would be interesting and collectable if it was low mileage and in original excellent condition. My parents had a 2.5 Celebrity and the engine was loud. It went back to the dealer numerous times in attempts to get it quited down but they never came up with anything except that it was the vacuum pump. I think the pump was mounted to the back of the engine (transverse). Evidently, this little engine didn't create enough vacuum to operate the brakes, cruise, etc.. Engine got excellent fuel mileage and noisily survived until about 125K.

 

What was GM thinking when the decided to put a 4 cyl in a muscle car? If I made the decisions for GM base models would get the 350, T/A, Z28, and Iroc get the 454

 

Yeah, if you could find one like that. Never know. Somewhere, someone might have parked one in aunt Betty's garage and it's just waiting for someone to find.