Haven't seen one....
#1
Haven't seen one....
I've been in and out of the thirdgen scene for a while. Just sold a 85 trans am and am trying to get into a 91-92 Z28. Today I came across the following stuffed in a speed shop barn that had been taken in on trade and have the opportunity to buy it:
1991 Camaro Z28
- red w/black heritage stripes (would those be aftermarket since a 91?)
- 5 speed transmission
- TPI engine (assuming a 305 due to the 5 speed?)
- Hardtop
- 115k miles
- Interior/exterior in good shape
The car is only starting right now when spraying starting fluid into the engine. Assuming fuel pump? But what are your opinions on this car? Due to it's storage situation, I couldn't get the RPO codes today and forgot to get the VIN cause I was a bit involved in the starting issue. Can you vet's here give me a synopsis of what you think the car is and what it's worth?
1991 Camaro Z28
- red w/black heritage stripes (would those be aftermarket since a 91?)
- 5 speed transmission
- TPI engine (assuming a 305 due to the 5 speed?)
- Hardtop
- 115k miles
- Interior/exterior in good shape
The car is only starting right now when spraying starting fluid into the engine. Assuming fuel pump? But what are your opinions on this car? Due to it's storage situation, I couldn't get the RPO codes today and forgot to get the VIN cause I was a bit involved in the starting issue. Can you vet's here give me a synopsis of what you think the car is and what it's worth?
#3
Re: Haven't seen one....
Fair enough. I'll try and get some tomorrow. Any idea if such a combo is rare? Would it be preferred to the usual l98 engine? I like the idea of a 5 speed, so am ok with the 305 - I have just never seen a 91-92 hardtop with a 5 speed. Thought it was kinda cool .
#4
Senior Member
Re: Haven't seen one....
Heritage stripes would be added on a 91. Probably not that rare, but who cares if you like and want the car. With 115,000 miles, it won’t be a collectors item, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be fun. Get some photos.
#5
Supreme Member
Re: Haven't seen one....
You couldn't get t-tops with a 5 speed 91-92 Z28 from the factory, so it's not all that rare. Lots of people prefer a 5 speed over the L98/auto. Personally, I don't care for them as the 5 speeds were very weak, and generally can't stand up to the added torque of a 350, which is IMO a must-have upgrade on a 3rd gen if you can afford the swap. If you don't ever plan on doing a 350 swap, the 5 speed is fine. I also prefer t-tops, and since you can't get them or a 350 with a 5 speed on a 91-92 Z28, that's another deal breaker for me personally.
IIRC, you *can* get t-tops and a 5 speed on 91-92 Formulas with TPI, so that's something to consider if you like t-tops and the 5 speed on a non-base later car.
IIRC, you *can* get t-tops and a 5 speed on 91-92 Formulas with TPI, so that's something to consider if you like t-tops and the 5 speed on a non-base later car.
#6
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Car: 1989 Firebird
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Re: Haven't seen one....
More than likely if its been sitting for a while: and it will crank on starter fluid and continue to run, but will not crank and run without it the fuel injectors will need to be replaced. They get sticky and will run decently once you get it running but will not squirt right on the start cycle. I have never been able to get ones in this state back. Also if its been sitting with fuel in the tank personally I would drop the tank, clean it, replace the pump and sock, replace the filter, fuel injectors and put new gas in it (ethanol free if you can find it).
Check the pump relay and make sure the contacts are not melted, its pretty common. There is also a wiring block beside the battery that gets corroded and cause under voltage to the fuel circuit (at least on firebirds)--
So i would negotiate based on the cost of new injectors
Check the pump relay and make sure the contacts are not melted, its pretty common. There is also a wiring block beside the battery that gets corroded and cause under voltage to the fuel circuit (at least on firebirds)--
So i would negotiate based on the cost of new injectors
#7
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Re: Haven't seen one....
You couldn't get t-tops with a 5 speed 91-92 Z28 from the factory, so it's not all that rare. Lots of people prefer a 5 speed over the L98/auto. Personally, I don't care for them as the 5 speeds were very weak, and generally can't stand up to the added torque of a 350, which is IMO a must-have upgrade on a 3rd gen if you can afford the swap. If you don't ever plan on doing a 350 swap, the 5 speed is fine. I also prefer t-tops, and since you can't get them or a 350 with a 5 speed on a 91-92 Z28, that's another deal breaker for me personally.
IIRC, you *can* get t-tops and a 5 speed on 91-92 Formulas with TPI, so that's something to consider if you like t-tops and the 5 speed on a non-base later car.
IIRC, you *can* get t-tops and a 5 speed on 91-92 Formulas with TPI, so that's something to consider if you like t-tops and the 5 speed on a non-base later car.
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#8
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#9
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Re: Haven't seen one....
I really wish people would stop perpetuating this mis-information. 95% of the time T5s break when they are abused. I've had 4 heavily modded T5 cars, one with a 375hp 355 and another with a 400hp 350. I'VE NEVER BROKEN A T5. The 400hp car is still on it's original T5, not even rebuilt yet. Go out and abuse a T5 and it will break, just like a junk factory 700R4 will. The fact that anyone thinks a TPI 350 is so much more potent than a TPI 305 (in manual trans tune) is just silly.
#10
Supreme Member
Re: Haven't seen one....
I really wish people would stop perpetuating this mis-information. 95% of the time T5s break when they are abused. I've had 4 heavily modded T5 cars, one with a 375hp 355 and another with a 400hp 350. I'VE NEVER BROKEN A T5. The 400hp car is still on it's original T5, not even rebuilt yet. Go out and abuse a T5 and it will break, just like a junk factory 700R4 will. The fact that anyone thinks a TPI 350 is so much more potent than a TPI 305 (in manual trans tune) is just silly.
I'm not saying that a 350 TPI is that much better than a 305 TPI, assuming they're both stock. Let's face it, they're both no-***** junk motors by today's standards. Driving them side by side, you're not going to notice much of a difference, if any at all. All I'm saying is that a 350 is a much better platform for adding performance parts than a 305, if someone wants to go that route. Personally I prefer cars that make more power than stock, but still look stock under the hood, which you can easily achieve with a built 350. While an LS swap is a much better upgrade in general, it's about impossible to do one and still make it look stock.
What was the real reason that they didn't allow 5 speed L98 cars again? Something to do with weight?
#11
#12
Re: Haven't seen one....
Thanks for the information guys. Helped a lot! Also, good amount of interesting reading. Aviator857 your information was particularly insightful. Thanks.
#14
Re: Haven't seen one....
As I understood it you could only order the Z28 in 1991-92 with the CC1 T-tops if you didn't order the G92. This was because you got the added weight of the duel-converter exhaust with the G92 package which added extra weight to the car so you couldn't order the T-tops too. This might be incorrect, but that's how I understood it. Does anyone have a G92 package on a 1991-92 Z28 with T-Tops?
Last edited by yo soy el warg; 03-12-2019 at 02:26 PM.
#15
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Re: Haven't seen one....
I'm not saying that a 350 TPI is that much better than a 305 TPI, assuming they're both stock. Let's face it, they're both no-***** junk motors by today's standards. Driving them side by side, you're not going to notice much of a difference, if any at all. All I'm saying is that a 350 is a much better platform for adding performance parts than a 305, if someone wants to go that route. Personally I prefer cars that make more power than stock, but still look stock under the hood, which you can easily achieve with a built 350. While an LS swap is a much better upgrade in general, it's about impossible to do one and still make it look stock.
What was the real reason that they didn't allow 5 speed L98 cars again? Something to do with weight?
What was the real reason that they didn't allow 5 speed L98 cars again? Something to do with weight?
#16
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Car: 89 Firebird
Engine: 355 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt.Posi-3.73s
Re: Haven't seen one....
Id take a 5spd/ 305 TPI over an auto L98 every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
#17
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Re: Haven't seen one....
#18
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Car: 89 Firebird
Engine: 355 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt.Posi-3.73s
Re: Haven't seen one....
I bet you wouldn’t be saying that if the L98 had been available with a stick. What you should say is, I would take a 5 speed over an auto every day of the week. Any car guy would always take a 350 over the puny 305 every day of the week and twice on Sunday. The extra 45 cubic inches make the 350 the winner.
Last edited by dmccain; 03-14-2019 at 08:01 AM. Reason: spelling
#19
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Car: 89 Firebird
Engine: 355 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt.Posi-3.73s
Re: Haven't seen one....
I bet you wouldn’t be saying that if the L98 had been available with a stick. What you should say is, I would take a 5 speed over an auto every day of the week. Any car guy would always take a 350 over the puny 305 every day of the week and twice on Sunday. The extra 45 cubic inches make the 350 the winner.
Last edited by dmccain; 03-14-2019 at 07:56 AM.
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