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Howdy everyone! Just joined and figured I'd start a build thread. I recently acquired an 86 Iroc as part of a trade. I've always loved the third gen Camaros. I am new to Camaros, most of my past projects have been first gen Mustangs (64-70).
The Iroc has a 383 and an auto trans. I'd like to convert the car to a manual and replace the carb with a TBI EFI system, most likely a Holley Sniper. It appears to be in pretty good shape body-wise. The stock dash gauges don't work except for the speedo. A previous owner installed some cheap gauges for the time being. I'd also like to replace them with some nice gauges, I like the Autometer Cobalt style, used them on a previous car and they looked great.
I also need to do something about the stock headlights, they're terrible. Not sure on what type/style yet.
I need to get some new headers. The car currently has Edelbrock headers on and one of them is leaking at the collector. I would love to run long tubes, but don't know which ones fit the best. I've read all the threads and can say that I've never seen this fitment issue before (not from name brand companies).
I am debating between:
Dougs (have them on my 68 Mustang, everything is great)
Hooker 2210 (seem to be the go to for these cars)
Ebay stainless (so cheapo and stainless, why not consider it)
Not sure whats going on with my pictures. I'll have to play around with it.
I took the driver's side header off (Edelbrock shorty) what a PITA. I had to remove the power steering bracket, the temp sensor, a spark plug, the dipstick, and the valve cover. Thankfully the bolts all came out easily without issue.
I can see the hole/leak where the tubes meet the collector. I'm gonna sand blast the header and see if I can weld the hole up for the time being. I'd love to put long tubes on this car but I'd like to find out what set will give me the least amount of grief. I'm not too worried about price, but a grand for headers seems a bit steep.
by https://www.flickr.com/photos/62639173@N03/, on Flickr
I cleaned the area up and welded it up. I placed an LED worklight in the header and couldn't see light coming through and also placed the collector against my face to see if I could see sunlight through the area. Nothing that I could see, fingers crossed. These headers are definitely needing replaced, hopefully this buys me some time to figure out which headers to get.
Hmm, stumped a bit. I fixed that collector leak (at least I can't feel it leaking from there anymore) but I still seem to have a ticking noise. I took a video, the sound gets a bit distorted but you can still hear it. I know some of the older Fords would make a similar noise due to the type of lifter/cam. Is this noise normal on a SBC, sorry if it's a stupid question. I just don't wanna go chasing waterfalls if its normal.
Picked up some 4th gen seat belts and a clutch pedal assembly. My upper seat belts don't retract anymore. Hopefully the install goes smoothly, just have to learn how to carefully remove/lower my headliner.
Got the new belts in place, what a pain working around the headliner. I found out the hard way though that the buckle portion wouldn't release the new belts. I'll ahve to go back and pull the buckle from the 4th gen in the morning. Looking back I should have grabbed them anyway.
I may try and fab up a bracket so that I can use the stock cover and keep a semi factory appearance.
looking forward to seeing the holley sniper part of the swap because Im interested in doing so myself. just not sure on what pump set up I would run with it.
I had gotten a radiator from Jegs, it looked nice, but it didn't fit without lots of mods. I sent it back and got a stock replacement from the auto store. I ordered an LS1 dual fan set-up and a painless wiring harness. I decided I'd replace the thermostat, too. To my surprise (and disappointment) there actually wasn't a thermostat in the engine.
Haven't updated this in awhile. The car has been giving me issues lately with the starter. I have replaced it once already, shimmed it and again it has failed. I have ordered an AC Delco starter for a 98 k1500, thats a pmgr starter with gear reduction and it has a nose cone. The one currently on it is made by proform and does not have a nose cone, which I believe is allowing the bendix to flex and fail. I do not recommend anyone get that starter.
On a plus note, I got a super good deal on a Holley Sniper kit, that should be here later this coming week!
I ran Hooker headers on this car and absolutely LOVED them! I had either Cyclone or Black Jack (cant remember)headers on it to begin with and had nothing but blown header gaskets, etc. Put the Hookers on and had ZERO trouble. I would recommend them 100%
I ran Hooker headers on this car and absolutely LOVED them! I had either Cyclone or Black Jack (cant remember)headers on it to begin with and had nothing but blown header gaskets, etc. Put the Hookers on and had ZERO trouble. I would recommend them 100%
Nice, were they the full length headers? Thats the next project for this car after the starter and the sniper.
Nice, were they the full length headers? Thats the next project for this car after the starter and the sniper.
They were shortys. I had true dual exhaust built that ran down the car side by side following the original, single pipe exhaust route. It was 1995 so there weren't many exhaust options at the time. I had 2 small turbo mufflers clear at the rear of the car. The exhaust tips actually came right off of the mufflers. This pic was taken after I wrecked it and sold it to a buddy, and we were dragging them on a county blacktop against my nitrous fed 88 GTA. You can kinda see the exhaust on the Z. A buddy dropped his arms to start us off....and I went about 50 feet and my NOS bottle went empty and he was GONE lol. That Z had a pretty healthy 355 with a 5 speed. It was probably a 400 rwhp car. It was a Z28 that I made look like an IROC
Hory Sheet. Its been awhile since I've done much to the car. It's just been sitting in the garage next to the Mustang with this crazy weather we've had up here. Also, I was super not motivated since the starters kept messing up on me. I put like 3 starters in and finally got a newer one for like a 98 K1500. Its seems to work well so far.
I figured while I had it in the garage and the weather was bad why not address some of the issues it had:
Oil leak
Exhaust leak
Wiring issues
The oil "leak" seems to be caused by the lack of any baffles in the valve covers. I went ahead and ordered some new valve covers from CVF Racing. I still need to get new breatehrs/PCVs. While the old covers were off I looked at the rockers, Jeebus were they loose. I went through tightening them down properly. I was a bit concerned that a few had seemed to remain loose after I went over them all. I chalked that up to not having the cam turned all the way when I did it the first time and re-did it. Time will tell.
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The exhaust issue was pretty easy to know the cause of. The engine had a set of old Edelbrock shorties that had the air ports welded closed. I had previously pulled them off and welded up some cracks, but I knew that wasn't going to last. I did a pretty good amount of reading and in the end decided to throw the dice down on a pair of Doug's long tubes. I've used them on other cars and always liked the quality and overall fit. I know these cars are a pain so I'm expecting some grief. I ahven't started the install yet, wanted to clean things up a bit first.
I had decided to try and clean up the wiring under the hood since I had the covers and the headers off. Wow is all I can say about the wiring. I found bare wires twisted together under a plastic loom, wires twisted and covered with duct tape, unused wires just laying on a loom and taped over. The routing didn't make sense at all for some things. I am going to try and clean this up and remove all the unnecessary wiring.
I knew this car had been a bit "Ricky-Bobbied" by a previous owner but I had no idea the wiring was this bad.
More to come, hopefully I can get this all cleaned up without too much hassle.
Been tackling the header install. I picked up some Doug's longtube headers. The driver's side went in without much excitement. The passenger side is a bit different. I needed to trim off the #8 primary, and shorten the flange that was between #6 and #8 so the header could clear everything to slide up into place. It almost slips right on, but it hits the brake line that is sitting on top of the crossmember. I guess I need to pull teh header back out and see if I can massage that line out of the way or if a whole new line and route is required.
I got both headers on! Didn't even have to plasma torch anything. Just needed to re-route the passenger side brake line. The header is pretty close on both sides to the control arm crossmember, but I''d say it has at least 1/4".
I got Percy's header gaskets installed and torqued the Doug's headers down. Goo news is that I may be able to reuse the rear section on my exhaust. That'd certainly save alot of headaches. Starter clearance also looks good, I mocked the starter up and it's all good.
I picked up some of the Accel "Header" spark plugs. They're only like a tenth of an inch shorter then the normal plugs I had before. I planned to put new plugs in anyway, otherwise I probably wouldn't go out of my way to use these.
Here's a shot with the new covers installed. Still need to fix the wiring.
The new headers and valve covers really change the look of the engine bay now doesn't it? Good work with the progress. I'm enjoying this thread.
Thanks, the engine bay does look much nicer! This thread was starting to feel like a "dear diary" with nobody responding.
The rear section of the exhaust comes back to the tunnel and it seems like I could probably make the headers tie into them pretty easily *knock on wood*. I just have to modify the trans crossmember a bit, I haven't decided if I want to try to go over or under it.
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I haven't been able to finish the wiring up because I couldn't find my heat gun. That (after a few choice words) led me to start cleaning up the garage a bit more. I did finally get one of my workbenches cleaned off and put up some of my old license plates.
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The various 68 plates were off my Mustangs. I used to also have a 68 hardtop (coupe) to go along with the fastback thats sitting next to the Iroc.
Been busy the last few months. I finally got time to work on the Iroc. I hate coming back to a project after so much time because I forget what does what with the wiring. Especially with the condition teh POs left my wiring in.
I ended up with a cranks but no start and during the wiring snafu I believed my MSD box got fried. I ordered a new MSD 6AL to replace the old 6A. Found out that I had a bad signal wire, I was using the choke wire. Apparently that doesn't have power when cranking. I probably could've troubleshot a bit better and possibly not needed a new MSD, but o well.
I did get the box wired in and currently have it set to a switch on the dash that a PO had installed for the fans. It's not a permanent solution but it works for now. I'll end up back in the wiring shortly.
I have had fuel on the intake manifold and had assumed it was due to the poorly adjusted rockers allowing fuel to be pushed back up through the carb. Turns out its the carb itself. The fuel bowls are leaking at the gasket. Not too worry too much, I have a Holley Sniper kit thats been sitting around since Thanksgiving-ish. Finally gives me a reason to install it.
I need to connect the headers to the rest of the exhaust. I'll probably grab some flex pipe for now. We have a pipe bender at work I may try, too. I need to fab a pipe that goes over the trans crossmember.
I have the Sniper kit fully installed, It was pretty straightforward. I don't need most of the wires, hiding them so they aren't in the way and so the engine bay looks decent was half the battle. I did manage to cobble together my existing exhaust to work with the headers using band clamps and a bit of flex pipe. I'll need to work on a more permanent solution.
I scored some wheel adapters on here from another member. They worked great bolt up the new wheels I picked up. I got some C7 Corvette wheels in gunmetal and put them on the car. I finally got to drive the car last night a bit, what a blast! The Sniper is still learning, so well see how it goes. I'll post some more pics later. Her's a few with the new wheels for now.
Drove the car to work this morning. It was low on fluid so I ended up driving there in 2nd, wouldn't do 3rd. I put a couple quarts of Dex VI and it worked much better on the way home. I was like damn, the 6 speed swap is happening sooner then I thought.
Thanks! I managed to get them off Craigslist for $400 and then found the exact adapters I needed on the classifieds here for $60. I was torn between getting gunmetal or chrome wheels.
I buttoned up the interior for now. The Sniper controller is mounted below the headlight switch. Seems like a good spot, easy to see but also out of the way. I need to remove the 3 gauges on the right. I plan to try and wire up the factory cluster.
I need to find a spot to place some exhaust hangers behind the transmission crossmember. There are 2 mounts on each side in the rear where the mufflers are, but nothing in front of that. The exhaust is just cobbled together for the time being.
I had the car sitting in the driveway to fix a pinhole leak that I got in my return line near the pump and filter, when I came out the next morning, there's ATF all over the ground. WTH! It didn't even move. I haven't been able to get under the front of the car to get a good look. Its alot of fluid though, the pan looks fine and the plug is still tight. Maybe the torque convertor somehow?
Before all this I was also able to bend a couple new pipes at work to replace the cobbled together set-up I had that hung way down. I was planning on gathering parts for a T56 swap in another year or so. That timeline might have gotten bumped up now.
Cars been in storage so I haven't done anything yet. However in planning to pull the car out soon I remembered the front brakes were shot.
I want to get the red C5 calipers and kit from big brake. In my messaging with Scott it seems that AC Delco discontinued the red calipers, so they're going to be scarce pretty soon. Something to think about if you're on the fence.
I plan to get the complete kit and install it in the coming weeks, weather permitting up here.
Anything I should change "while I'm in there"? I'm thinking balljoints and maybe front struts?
