I am real close to pulling the trigger on an '85 IROC. It is listed on the local CL. It is a red on red LB9 car. Owner says the fuel pump went out and he is tired of messing with it. He is only asking 1500. It has 81,XXX miles, interior looks good and the exterior is ok. It has a little damage but nothing life threatening. Over all the car looks good. I have only seen pix of it and have not been able to look at the RPO codes to verify that it is an IROC.

My question is, it is truly an IROC would I be better suited to bring it back to it's former glory or slight mods?

 

body cancer (underbody rust/corrosion) would be the big factor . if underbody is rusted out , it's just a parts car . be sure to look that over VERY close . regardless if it's an IROC/RS 3rd gens are fun to drive , I modified mine to my own taste . whatever you do , good luck .

 

Ive been on both sides of the pond once i traveled 200 miles away to buy an 87 Iroc that was a rusted out pos pieced together with different year camaro parts, and i'm sorry if i'm beating a dead horse but it smelled like cat ****, one big litter box, garbage can. I almost threw up in the guys face, the pictures didn't do that car justice.

I have found fantastic deals and see them every day. Every now and then you will come across a nut job that has no comprehension.

 

I have owned a couple third gens in the past and really love the entire platform. From the pictures the car looks to be in good shape and an a true IROC. If the car is represented correctly am I detracting from it to modify it or leave it original? I would like more power, better handling, and much better stopping power.

 

Do a full tune up and modify the **** out of it, just keep your original parts. Cheers.

 

its all in what you want. if you want a cool time capsule then keep it stock if you want to beat 5th gens in the 1/4 then mod it. I think part of it though is what kind of shape it is in right now. obviously if its beat up its best to just mod it but if its in good shape it would be kind of a shame taking off good original parts. thats what I faced with my trans am I was going to mod it but the lb9 runs so good and the rest of the car is in such good shape I decided to make it original and buy a second f body for the racer lol

 

You know that's right, this is off topic but i always talk with third gen owners and what we can all agree on is if gm would have put the LT1 engine in these thirgens and vets, They had this tech Gm just waited until the 90s to release it. Grated the L98s at the very end can hang with an lt1 but they are still dogish after 80mph on top end.

 

lol but if they had lt1s in the third gen then it would have been harder for them to sale the fourth. I think the lt1 was one of their selling points.

 

Thanks for the input guys. The car looks to be in decent shape. From what I have been able to deduce the car is worth maybe 10-12,000 in immaculate shape. It would probably take 7000 to get it there. The body is straight and interior is good.

I will probably give it a meaner stance, better whoa, and I have a 350 laying around out of an '89 pickup. Build as much power as the TPI can handle( not sure if that still researching TPI) and go with it. I will leave the body stock and all IROC badging. Just do what gm should have done.

 

It's your car do with it what you want, but what do you plan on doing with the car? Are you going to keep it for 20+ years and then try to cash in at the auction, or are you going to drive and enjoy the car? I am updating my '87 IROC with an ls motor and fresh tubular suspension, while keeping the stock interior, wheels, etc. It will look like a completely stock IROC until you really start looking at it.

Good luck and just keep that 3rd gen spirit going.