Hello, new to site and trying to help my son out. He just purchased a 85 Iroc with 58k original miles from the original owner. Car is 100 % percent stock from what i can tell. Interior is almost perfect (no rips cracks and such) Car has been sitting for 12 years in a carport, tires are gone and clear coat is peeling but other than that it runs fine and body is rust free and perfectly straight. Car has the LB9 engine, is black and a hardtop. Trying to giude him on restoring the car all original or just having fun with it. He is 15 and will be learning as he goes. Car has been in Virginia it whole life and we have all the material from the original owner. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

Welcome Aboard StevenD,

If this car is as clean as mentioned, I'd be swayed to keep it original. That's the plans for my GTA with the exception of the engine, I bought mine without.

These cars are getting a little hard to find that haven't been modified in some way, Now don't get me wrong, I like a modified just as well, as my GMC (avatar) is quite modified.

Guess what I'm trying to say is, You'd likely find/see more modifieds than stockers so a stocker can stand out from the crowd as well.

Your boy is lucky, I was 21 before I got my first 2nd gen Z28........

 

Thanks Restorob for the reply, car is very nice and original from what i can tell we have not looked everything over yet. I did not get my first Z28 until i was 22 so i agree with you he is lucky. Have to give him credit he found the car and did his homework on it (also paid for it himself) looking forward to some father son time working on the car.

 

Did they have clearcoat in '85? Mine sure doesn't.

 

i thought it was clear coat, as something is peeling on roof that looks to be clearcoat. Maybe i am wrong

 

I remember the paint on my '79 Z28 peeling. I think that was a period when they couldn't figure out how to make a good paint without lead in it.

If I don't buff the paint on my car yearly it gets "milky" (car's dark red metallic). Pad and towels turn blood red! Haven't polished thru to bare metal yet. I could get it repainted but then I couldn't brag about the original paint!

 

IMO it would be wise to learn to maintain such a car, at his age; not "restore", not "modify". Just, keep it as perfect as practical, and from getting any worse.

Once he masters that, then go back for more.

 

Sounds like a nice car just to leave alone really, just go through it to make sure it's safe. Man I don't even want to know what the gas looks like in the tank after all that time. Hope the fuel pump holds up, I know mine did not and they drive my car now and then up till I bought it.

 

I agree, and at that age, it is not like you'd want him to have a 400HP car anyway. Get it nice and presentable, solid and safe, put a good stereo in there, and enjoy the ride.

 

^^^ Excellent advice here^^^!

If he wants a better 'juke box', don't hack-up the dash nor the wiring. And save the factory head-unit.

The car will be worth much more in the future if restored back to factory condition.

Ask me how I know.......