Maroz2884

Im in the middle of a deal and I am trying to see what you guys think would be best. I need to choose between the following..
1984 Z28 H.O
Mods:
350 Motor Carbed
Rebuilt 6 Speed
Ttop
4th gen seats.
some gauges
front bumper from 88

or
1991 Z28
hard top
5.7 tpi
automatic 700r4
needs paint
all original needs a bit of work
130.000 miles
let me know with your opinions

pictures Can be found on this thread..
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/cama...-z28-91-a.html

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

From the limited info you gave, #2. Original is almost always better, both for collectability and integrity. Modded cars are often hacked. Your 84 candidate is a Frankenmaro.

Maroz2884

Yea I hear you. So would I be best to go with the 91? Or keep the 84 and fix it up?
And say I do get the 91. Would I be best to get it looking nice and completely stock or can I do some bolt on mods to it without it loosing much value or it being another "frankenmaro"? Lol

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

I would look at the '91 Z28. The '84 Z28 will need a lot of work. It's had a lot of modifications done to it as well. I would take a second look at the '84 Z28 if the original 5.0L motor was still with the car. Do you have any records or papers that could tell you the specs on the motor in the '84.

Early thirdgens ('82-'84) in good shape are hard to find. The L69 high output motor is something thats valualble to people that like thirdgens. Starting midyear in '83 the L69 brought some performance back to our cars. It was also the starting point for the LB9 and L98 motors that would come later.

By thirdgen standards the L98 that the '91 has will outperform the '84. It also has fuel injection, post '87 700r4 (that has all the updates), and a dual converter exhaust. The '91 will need some work but its all there.

The '84 will need a lot of work. If you want more of a project car the '84 may be a better choice for you. If the '91 is mostly stock, it may not be as fast as you want. The benefit is, it will be easy to evaluate it because there are all sorts of technical books and information on this site to help you evaluate what you have.

FormerL69

iTrader: (2)

As with any question like this -- it boils down to what you want out of the car.

If you want something to tinker with and mod, the '84 would be the better choice since it's already been altered. I always hate to see a factory original car messed with. The 84 could lead to headaches too because it's been modded and who knows what's been done to it.

If you want a stock, original driver to fix up, the '91 is the way to go, IMHO. Not too many Z28s made in 91/92.

Maroz2884

Yea I want something I can be like driving down and people be like yea that's a legit and nice car. The 84 does not have the original motor and idk what happened to that. It's how I got it. It was an original 5 speed. And I still have the front bumper and stuff. But other than that everything is modified.
The 91 is all original. Paint is ruff and has some idling issues but I think once I do a tube up it will be fine. But has the 5.7 tune port passes smog has cats on it. Original cd player. I just want to know if its worth getting it and fixing it to some paint and some rims. Pretty much about it. Maybe do an exhaust. That will be all other than cleaning everythin else up. Do you think I should part out the 84 and just use that money to work on the 91?

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

I wouldn't want to part out the '84 Z28. Most of the times that means the car is on the way to the crusher. Like others have said, if you wanted something to play with the '84 would be a good choice. You could always keep it and then figure out what you would like to do with it later. It would take a while to figure out what all the mods done to the car are. You would also have to figure out what your goals for the car are to.

The '91 would be worth it. Having a factory CD player is rare. They were only available in our cars from '89-'92. If all you have to do is paint work and regular tune up maintenance to get the '91 running that is very good. That would be my choice out of the two cars. Like others have said its rare to see a '91-'92 Z28.

Maroz2884

Well I know the mods on the the 84.. Everything has been gutted out that included the wiring from the defroster and crossfire injection motor it had to the cruise control and Ac lines. So all you will see is brake booster motor and all the things for the car to run. All the electrical works. Has alarm. Sound system and some other little things. So it will be a good candidate for a race car or someone that knows what they want and need. As for me. I want a niCe car with the ac blowing and stock with a nice sound to it.

FormerL69

iTrader: (2)

I missed the linked in pics before I responded before. The '91 looks really nice, but as with any thrid-gen, make sure there's no rust lurking underneath.

I'll second what yaj15 said about your '84 -- I'd hate to see it parted out, especially if was an original L69 5-spd car. Even though a lot is missing and it looks like it needs a lot of work, if it is what you say it is then it's a possible foundation for someone who might want to restore it one day.

I know I'm in the minority making that statement since L69 cars aren't in demand, but you never know.

That said, it's your car and you ultimately need to do what you want to do with it. The '91 looks like the way to go.

Maroz2884

I just think its really hard to sale my car and I know I can almost double the money if I decide to part it out..
Yea I ll be gettin the 91 as soon as I can. And send it off to paint. Anyone want a 84? I have te original bumper for it too.

Linson

i'm not one for keeping a muscle car "stock." seems to be missing the point. if you are concerned with "value" i suggest you find another hobby. having said that, while the '84 has some nice mods, my personal opinion is that the '91 is a more solid basis for a project as the car seems nicer overall, is a more desireable car per year & trim, and given the mods and age of the '84, the 91 just seems a little less "dicey." also, just my personal preference, but i always prefer fuel injection on a Third Gen. dislike the rear spoiler on 91-92's.

Maroz2884

So are you saying just do swaps between the two? Maybe throw the t56 in the 91?

Linson

yes and no.

Yes: the T56 could very well be a good mod, and some of the stereo equipment so you wont have to buy it again later.

No to the carbed 350 and (in all likelyhood) non-roller cam and what-not.

there are a lot of purists and investment racers on here that would tell you to keep the car bone stock up to and including the factory tape deck. while i am by no means a defiler (in my opinion anyway) i say enjoy your car. its just a 1991 Z28 so if that's your baby, make it nicer...and awesomer, i say.

lets say that you modify, or even put that 6-speed and an LS something in your Camaro - and lets say that 10 or 15 years down the road you want to sell it and those modifications that made that car a blast to drive and an intimidator [of Third Gen Nay Sayers] make your car worth 5 grand less than if it were bone stock.

now i ask you - would all the fun that you'd have with that car from this day to that be worth that 5 grand? i would say yes, but then, i like having a Third Gen Formula so i didnt buy mine with selling it in mind.

Dave

Maroz2884

Man this is difficult..
Wanting a car to be nice and idk just worth something later I guess but at the same time wanting it to add some more to it..

Linson

its not a 1971 convertible Hemi-Cuda. its never going to be worth a "life-changing amount" of money. and therefore, modifications (benificial modifications) wont decrease the value significantly and may even increase the value (though probably not enough to offset the cost of parts and labor involved with doing the mods in the first place.)

contrary to what some people may tend to believe, making modifications to your Third Gen to increase performance is not necessarilly synonomous with [hack-job, bastardized, tasteless, r*dn*ck, jalopy, and other such adjectives]

when i see a car i like, i still ask "what have you done to it?" (as a positive)

not, "how many (as in how few) miles are on it?" or, "how much original documentation do you have for this...1984 Trans Am?"

so far as i can tell, some time ago (i suppose corresponding with the introduction of the televised Berret-Jackson Auctions) yuppy people with yuppy attitudes took up an interest in muscle cars, seeing them as investments and status symbols. and unfortunately a lot of car-people adopted that same yuppy attitude towards their cars, and today we see more talk and speculation of value on TGO than of performance. f*** that s***.