Have 4k to spend now and have put a 200 monthly limit on various mods I want to do. Earlier I talked with two sellers on CL and this weekend I am definitely buying one! So my question is this: which one and why?

There is a 89 RS V8 305 cid with t-tops, 150k miles which has proof of regular maintenance and a full tune up last month. The interior is near perfect as well. Asking price was 3000 and it was easy to get him down to 2500, inspected the car IRL and it seems solid except minor rust (which I don't care about - it will get body work done). I did check under the carpet to make sure there was no rust on the floorboards too.

There is also a 88 350 hardtop with 110k miles. The asking price is 3000 but Im sure I can get it lowered because there is slight rust. Haven't checked it out, but it seems solid enough.

Im not too concerned with power, I just need a nice DD and I am a long time fan of third gens. Most of the things I will be doing to my car will be interior, exterior, and mods for reliability and better driving (subframe connectors, possible AGM battery, medium quasar metallic blue paint, and possible iroc turbo hood are on the list)

Also, in the WOW factor camaro thread, how were the interior panels replaced on the car with the gray carpet interior? Im really surprised with how well that turned out and would love to customize my car like that.

Thanks!

 

Is the 88 an iroc? SC?
I would go Iroc -> Z28 -> RS..

 

For a DD its hard to beat a 305 that has had regular maintenance. You didn't mention whether carb or injection, or if either is modified, but the 305 will probably drink less of the soon to be $4.00 gal cocktails. Plus I like the open air feel. "vert then T-Tops. That being said..which one trips your trigger? Your choice....

 

I agree. Especially with these cars being so old and a majority of them having had at least a half dozen owners already. Receipts show that the seller cared about the car and was concerned about keeping it running well and reliably. Most likely, 'mickey mouse' modifications won't be present, which is a good thing!

 

Yeah, I know that Iroc-z > iroc > z28 > rs & sc but its more about availability than anything else. Not too worried about it, although I understand the differences.

My friend has a 74 and we put in a 350.. He either gets 16 combined or city, but I was pretty surprised with that. I think Im going to go with the t tops, saw a tut to fix leaks with RTV that I could do which eliminates my concern about it. Thanks!

 

Is the 305 a manual? Did you check the RPO codes for G92? 305's can be made to get 20 mpg city.

 

For a DD go for the t-tops. I miss mine, they are great for summer

 

What could I do to make it more efficient?

 

Where you from? If you're local enough, ill go halves with you on subframe connectors. I'm looking to get a set of outter weld in connectors as an example so i can build a set of my own. You'd get the bought ones, i just need to look at them in person so i can see what i need, and where i need to weld. Just a suggestion.

 

DBLTKE said he got another 3 mpg (IIRC) out of his LB9 manual with Dyno Don headers, taller rear end gears would help with city mileage and I'm sure you could tune the computer to get another 3-5 mpgs.

 

I like a hard top for a DD only because it rains here a lot and the T Tops always leak, maybe not at first but it won't be long before they do. For a summer DD, T Tops are the way to go.
I'd choose a 5 speed 305; lots of fun, not as much gas.

 

I love having T Tops and if the 305 has been keep up and not abused it should be plenty of motor. With my TA I can see 17-20 mpg in my daily driving( both city and highway) all depends on how I drive. I imagine with a computer tune and overall upgrades it could be better. I vote T Tops

 

I hear ya on loving the T Tops. Me too. I haven't owned a Third gen without them. But they all leaked. I only drive them in summer now. If I was going to get a winter driver, it would be a hard top. Preferably an RU7.

 

I agree with the above comments on the 305/5-speed. I have been driving my '91 Firebird as a DD for the past two years (prior was a very modified '89 V6/5-speed Firebird). Gas mileage for the two cars is about the same, but it is also in how you drive it.

If you can get a manual, go with that. You get 3.42 gears on the V6 and 3.45 on the V8. I believe the 700R4 came with 2.73. Helps a lot with gas mileage with the better gearing on the manual cars.

I could work it all out for you, but with different currencies, different gallon sizes and miles vs. km for Canada and US, highway vs urban it becomes quite complicated. My last emissions tests for both cars suggests 13 liters/100 km (which I know is not accurate - too high based on what I ac tually measure). Anyway, that would calculate to a combined mileage of about 17.85 miles/gallon. I know I do better than that.

 

5-speed 305s got 3.42s if they had the G92 package, and 3.08s if they didn't.

 

Thanks Dakota W. It slipped my mind - too much time with the GTA's. Thanks again.