Hello all and hope you don't mind a couple of questions about you alls wonderfull cars. I am looking to get a IROC or Z28 hopefully within the next year or so but have a question or two about what I need. I would like a convertable first of all, but I have been looking and I guess the 5.7 was not put in the verts, which leads to my first question of WHY? I am not looking for an original engine setup and want to be pushing 400-450HP at the flywheel when I am done, is the body of the verts able to handle that? My next question is if the verts cannot handle, can the t-top cars or do I just need a full roof car? I want the vert due to the fact I live in Hawaii and loved the vert I used to have even though it was a junker. The reason I am looking for a Camaro is that I need 4 seats so my 2 dogs can fit and also I am a familiar with chevrolet engines. My current "fun" car is a 73 Vette and I LOVE it, but it is way too loud and a my dogs are scared to death of it, and we all have a hard time riding in it. My wife refuses to ride in it also due to the stiff ride/smelly exhaust/noisy engine/etc... Thank you all for your inputs.

Maurice

Hello all and hope you don't mind a couple of questions about you alls wonderfull cars. I am looking to get a IROC or Z28 hopefully within the next year or so but have a question or two about what I need.

Welcome, hopefully we can answer your questions.

I would like a convertable first of all, but I have been looking and I guess the 5.7 was not put in the verts, which leads to my first question of WHY?

The 350 wasn't available in the convertibles because GM felt the L98 had too much power for the weakened structure of the convertibles.

I am not looking for an original engine setup and want to be pushing 400-450HP at the flywheel when I am done, is the body of the verts able to handle that?

Probably not a good idea. It would be safer to start with a hardtop or maybe a ttop car with subframe connectors.

My next question is if the verts cannot handle, can the t-top cars or do I just need a full roof car?

A hardtop would probably be your best bet, otherwise at the least I'd say get a set of good subframe connectors.

I want the vert due to the fact I live in Hawaii and loved the vert I used to have even though it was a junker.

The convertibles are the most fun on crystal clear days, but they don't really need the power in my opinion...

The reason I am looking for a Camaro is that I need 4 seats so my 2 dogs can fit and also I am a familiar with chevrolet engines. My current "fun" car is a 73 Vette and I LOVE it, but it is way too loud and a my dogs are scared to death of it, and we all have a hard time riding in it. My wife refuses to ride in it also due to the stiff ride/smelly exhaust/noisy engine/etc... Thank you all for your inputs.

Maurice

Drew,

Thank you for the info! Do you know the hp a vert can handle stock or are most people leaving the verts alone?

There is an IROC right around the corner from me that looks like it is perfect shape body wise, not a chip in the mirror like paint anywhere, brand new Z rated BFGoodrich tires, the interior is cloth and looks nice through the window and it is an automatic, it is also a hardtop (if that is what the non ttop cars are called). I have been wanting to go down and see if it is for sale or if they would be willing to part with it but I never see them outside. The only thing is that the back end is up on jack stands right now and I am assuming there is a reason for that. I have been checking the local papers and local internet pages trying to find a fair price to offer but there seems to be quite a range of asking prices (just like the corvette folks who think their own car is worth 40K but wouldn't buy one for more than 5K). Thanks again for the info.

Most of the convertible owners leave their cars stock... at least thats the way it seems. There are a few people modifying them that might be able to give you an idea of where the limit resides. The way I look at it, the thirdgen platform was designed with 160hp at the maximum. When GM pushed this to 240hp they said no more ttops, absolutely no convertibles. This is enough to let us know that at 240hp its starting to put enough stress on the car that it wouldn't be profitable for GM to sell them since they'd have to repair problems under warranty.

Steps could be taken to beef up the chassis, subframe connectors, roll cages, etc...