What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
03-27-2013, 10:03 AM
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What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
Last edited by chazman; 03-27-2013 at 10:06 AM.
03-27-2013, 10:51 AM
#2
Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
It's a very nice looking car. It's very hard to find 1982 model year thirdgens that are in really good shape like that.
I couldn't stand that 4-cylinder though. I've got to have a V8 in my thirdgen or a turbo 6 like in the 1989 Trans-Am pace car.
Thirdgens look so sleek and not having a V8 to back up the looks of the car kind of spoils the fun for me. Nothing can replace the sound of a good strong running Gen 1 V8 small block either. The V8 is a big part of what makes up the character of these cars and I wouldn't want to be without that.
I couldn't stand that 4-cylinder though. I've got to have a V8 in my thirdgen or a turbo 6 like in the 1989 Trans-Am pace car.
Thirdgens look so sleek and not having a V8 to back up the looks of the car kind of spoils the fun for me. Nothing can replace the sound of a good strong running Gen 1 V8 small block either. The V8 is a big part of what makes up the character of these cars and I wouldn't want to be without that.
03-27-2013, 11:40 AM
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
It's a very nice looking car. It's very hard to find 1982 model year thirdgens that are in really good shape like that.
I couldn't stand that 4-cylinder though. I've got to have a V8 in my thirdgen or a turbo 6 like in the 1989 Trans-Am pace car.
Thirdgens look so sleek and not having a V8 to back up the looks of the car kind of spoils the fun for me. Nothing can replace the sound of a good strong running Gen 1 V8 small block either. The V8 is a big part of what makes up the character of these cars and I wouldn't want to be without that.
I couldn't stand that 4-cylinder though. I've got to have a V8 in my thirdgen or a turbo 6 like in the 1989 Trans-Am pace car.
Thirdgens look so sleek and not having a V8 to back up the looks of the car kind of spoils the fun for me. Nothing can replace the sound of a good strong running Gen 1 V8 small block either. The V8 is a big part of what makes up the character of these cars and I wouldn't want to be without that.
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03-27-2013, 07:26 PM
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
I went to a junk yard in MO that has about 4-5 82ish Iron duke birds, most of the motors were all there..
03-27-2013, 07:45 PM
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
I think it would be cool to own it. Just because its different and not many are left in that condition. But I'm sure its a dog because I have the 82 v-6 and its slow, so I can imagine the 4 cylinder is worse.
But its good to have different versions of 3rd gens. When i want to go fast I drive my TTA, the v-6 is good for errands and stuff like that. I have a 84 Fiero duke 4 speed and it is fun to buzz around in.
Good luck Chazman if you bid, I hope you get it. That car needs to go to an enthusiast.
But its good to have different versions of 3rd gens. When i want to go fast I drive my TTA, the v-6 is good for errands and stuff like that. I have a 84 Fiero duke 4 speed and it is fun to buzz around in.
Good luck Chazman if you bid, I hope you get it. That car needs to go to an enthusiast.
03-27-2013, 07:47 PM
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
if it was close id buy it for ***** and giggles just so i could turbo charge it
03-27-2013, 08:11 PM
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
I think I would do a 500hp turbo ecotec with a 6spd in one b4 i messed with a ole duke motor.
03-27-2013, 08:35 PM
#12
Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
I think it's slow. It would be painful to drive. I never saw the allure of owning something like that. I owned an Iron Duke in an X body years ago, and aside from being indestructible, it was a pig.
03-27-2013, 11:09 PM
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
03-27-2013, 11:56 PM
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
It may be a 4 cylinder, but that is still a nice example of a really early 3rd gen, and the fact that its all original is cool
03-28-2013, 01:52 AM
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Car: 89 RS 89 iroc 87 firebird
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
i would keep the iron duke just cause.i know i could bring it upto around 200 hp and 250 tq for a couple hundred bucks
then the only thing id be missing would be a turbo 305 f-body
03-28-2013, 02:32 AM
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
daily duties await this one. i would lower it a bit and drive the wheels off of it
03-28-2013, 06:21 AM
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Car: 1988 GTA
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
Total stripper except the two most expensive options - T top and A/C. This configuration is quite strange becase you would expect the middle aged woman that first owned it would prefer an auto trans over the risk that the old school Z-bar clutch linkage might kick the high heel off her left pump.
The biggest immediate issue is the seats, but they could easily be recovered properly. At 31 years old, you never know if this car lived it's entire life in NC, but it's likely rust free. Especially since it's claimed to be original paint. If it was mine, I would defintiely downgrade the wire wheel hubcaps to the dog dish type in order to keep the theme of this car consistent.
A toy car doesn't have to run with Ferraris to be fun. Every guy I see holding up traffic in a Model A is smiling.
I love it, if it checks out - go for it.
The biggest immediate issue is the seats, but they could easily be recovered properly. At 31 years old, you never know if this car lived it's entire life in NC, but it's likely rust free. Especially since it's claimed to be original paint. If it was mine, I would defintiely downgrade the wire wheel hubcaps to the dog dish type in order to keep the theme of this car consistent.
A toy car doesn't have to run with Ferraris to be fun. Every guy I see holding up traffic in a Model A is smiling.
I love it, if it checks out - go for it.
03-28-2013, 09:52 AM
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Car: 1989 IROC-Z. Original owner
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Axle/Gears: BW 3.45
Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
03-28-2013, 09:54 AM
#27
Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
Yes what we considered fast is now just acceptable. But what was slow back then is dangerous now.
A good example is a Volkswagen Bug. Would you want to be caught on a highway in that with a big rig creeping up behind you and you have all of 30 HP?
A good example is a Volkswagen Bug. Would you want to be caught on a highway in that with a big rig creeping up behind you and you have all of 30 HP?
I have a V6 Camaro and I just can't imagine it being any slower LOL. Even with that engine, merging on a busy street can be difficult. 
03-28-2013, 10:59 AM
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
I dig the car, the hubcaps are a bit out of place looking-I know they are stock, but still. I love the color and the fact that it has T-tops. Sure the car is slow, my 3.1 RS is slow, but I still like driving it. I think it would be a neat car to have and take to little shows just to see the WTF look as people look under the hood. You always see a ton of v6 and v8 3rd gens, nut Iron Dukes are not a dime a dozen. Go for it if you like and can afford it, but I would not pay over $2500ish for it.
03-28-2013, 02:36 PM
#31
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
That's actually one of my favorite hubcaps ever...I had them on my '85 Parisienne wagon. They took about 30 minutes each to properly clean with a tootbrush, but man did they look nice when they were done. They look totally out of place on this car though, even though they're stock.
03-28-2013, 07:30 PM
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
I was the high bidder and just retracted my bid. You guys notice those dark spots on the passenger side rocker panel? What's that? I tried contacting the seller twice on that and haven't heard back. Earlier today I emailed him that if I don't hear back I'd be retracting my bid. I didn't hear back, so that's that.
03-28-2013, 08:18 PM
#34
Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
Ew, good catch, Chaz. Almost didn't see that rocker. That looks potentially pretty nasty. Too bad. The rest of the car looks pretty good and I shudder at the idea of someone else picking up and molesting an otherwise pretty neat little stock Iron duke.
03-28-2013, 08:20 PM
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
One thing I've learned (the hard way) is that cars look MUCH better in pictures than they do in the flesh.
03-28-2013, 09:16 PM
#38
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
Those iron dukes are indestructible. But i will never own one. They were loud, slow, not much of a difference on gas in a v6 5speed setup. My dad owned a 86 s10 with the 2.5 iron duke and it was just awful. Plus always expierenced idle problems with it, but it was pretty hard to kill.
03-29-2013, 07:41 AM
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
I missed that the first time, but it does look like rust, the car looks like it was washed before the pix so to miss that much dirt and that much dirt on the car does not make sense. I do agree that cars always look better in pix, I know both mine do. Well better safe than sorry. If the shipping was not a factor I might say go for it anyways, but I do think you would be upside down in that car by the time you got it in your driveway without any repairs.
03-29-2013, 10:42 AM
#41
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
It's cool from a thirdgen history/nerd perspective, but not cool from a financially invested in it perspective. I'd stick to V8 cars.
03-29-2013, 10:52 AM
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
03-29-2013, 12:44 PM
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
Weird. The seller has answered other questions but not mine about the rocker panel. Also, since I retracted my bids, the car has gone down in price substantially. From $2400 to $1500.
Last edited by chazman; 03-29-2013 at 01:08 PM.
03-29-2013, 03:08 PM
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Re: What does the TGO committee think of this Iron Duke Firebird?
The rocker panel problem looks like road blast. If it only took off the paint without rotting out the metal, the new price plus shipping doesn't sound too bad for something exclusive.
03-30-2013, 12:19 AM
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