Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

what's not to understand? never had an interest, then I played some racing games, and got interested. I'm not a camaro fan exactly, but I like most cars with t-tops, and I just also mentioned what my favorite cars were. what's so confusing? I'm getting a camaro cause it has a t-top, nuff said. it's not bullshit, I never had an interest in cars, and now that I do I want a camaro, they're not my favorite but I do like them.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

My Dad has owned this 1967 Chev Camaro SS since '79....:
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...on120/cam2.jpg
So I've grown up in it, loved every moment and I just turned 18 and thought stuff it, I want my own Camaro here (Victoria, Australia) but we aren't allowed to drive v8s for the probationary license period.... and since I really didnt want a 1st Gen with a v6 as it seemed underpowered to me at the time, and 2nd Gen really didn't do much for me... 3rd Gen was the option and in my price range, and lo and behold I end up with my much-loved '87 MFI V6 RS:
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...20/online3.jpg
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...20/online2.jpg
I should have my license in june and I can't wait to hit the road (between uni and all that)... also it was pretty trick pulling up to school in a "hot" car as a few of the local females put it as a 3rd Gen Camaro is something most of them hadn't seen before... not to mention the 2 1/2" system gives the v6 a nice purr... :D

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Newbie to the forum. My first car was a 79 Camaro. I've always liked Camaros. Recently aquired my 88 Iroc under unfortunate circumstances. My Step-Dad passed away last September and it belonged to him. Bought it from my Mom about a month ago. He put a lot of money into performance upgrades(550 hp). I look forward to making it look a lot better cosmetically (mostly interior work). It wasn't supposed to be my daily driver.....but it is just so much more fun to drive than the Nissan Versa or the Suburban! :burnout:

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Congrats on the car and welcome to the site. I am sorry to hear about your means of getting the car.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

I have never been much for Camaros. It was my senior year of high school and I was working on a V-8 powered S-10. A friend of mine called me and asked if I wanted to buy his Camaro body. The guy how owned the land it was sitting on was going to have it hauled off if he didn't move it, and he had not place to take it.

I told him I'd haul it off for it. He hung up the phone. He calls back about a week later. Asks if I'll give him $50 for it. I say again I'll haul it off for it. Again he gets mad and hangs up the phone. Finally, about another week went by, he calls again. Says I can have it, if I can get it by Friday. No problem I say. I hook up the trailer and head over to his place and we go get it.

Another guy shows up one day and says he has an 82 Trans Am I can have if I'll pull the tranny for him. No problem I says. I go pickup the car and leave the tranny laying on his doorstep the following weekend. So now I have two F bodys laying around.

I finally get tired of the S-10 spinning and not driving well, so I pull the motor/trans out and stick them in the 84 S/C. The Trans Am was too far gone (windows shot out and left sitting in the weather).

Well, my older brother calls one day and asks if I want to trade my 88 Cheyenne pickup for his 89 RS T-top. What the hell I think. His Camaro is as nice as my truck, so we trade. That's my story. From not liking Camaros to have two of them. Funny ol world.

Attachment 435387

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

I've been a Firebird fan for what seems like forever. Obviously it started with Smokey and the Bandit. Then growing up we'd go and visit my grandparents. From the time I was very young until my grandfather passed away, one of the things we always used to do was sit on the front porch and watch cars go by. Don't ask me why, but it is just what my grandfather and I would do. It became a ritual for us so to speak and we'd sit there for hours. On one such visit we were sitting on the porch and that's when I saw the brand new GenIII body style Firebirds. It was love at first sight and I knew that I had to have one of these sweet cars when I got old enough to drive.

Growing up I watched Knight Rider religiously because of the car. That was the coolest part of the entire show. Watching and wish I had a sweet Trans AM like that...

Years later after my parents were divorced we were visiting my step grandparents and my Mom was coming over to pick us up for a visit. When she showed up she had brought a surprise. She was driving an old 76 Firebird. Granted it wasn't my dream car, but it was still a Firebird...the car that my heart had been set on for years. It wasn't in great shape and was sitting in primer, but I loved it. That's also when I'd first meet my future step-father (owner of the car).

Eventually my step-father and I struck a deal about the 76 Firebird. If I was able to keep my grades at a certain level by the time I was a Junior in highschool the car was mine with no strings attached. So I worked hard and got my grades up and kept them where they needed to be so I could get that car. Finally, when it came to my Senior year in highschool I was the proud new owner of that 76 Firebird. A couple of years passed and the motor went in the car. Since I wasn't making a lot of money working the job I had I was forced to sell the car for the body. It was a very sad day for me when I had to hand over the keys, but I knew that eventually I'd have another one.

In 1995, after joining the Air Force I came across the car that had been etched into my subconscience from my childhood. A shiny black/gold 1983 Trans AM. I had to have the car so I traded in my Monte Carlo for my dream car. The car was owed originally by a female and I became the second owner. It was a factory WS6 car and was fully loaded with 86K on the ticker. I even had the original paperwork on it. Talk about a major score! A few months later I was run off the road and totalled the car. :(

Then I found another 1983 that wasn't in as good of condition as the one I had recently lost. I did my best to ressurect my wrecked Trans AM in the body of this other one that I found, but that didn't work out like I had envisioned. Once the car was running it just wasn't the same and it made me depressed. I ended up selling the pair.

Several years went by before I bought another Firebird. I owned some pretty nice rdies, but none of them compared to what my heart longed for...a Firebird. In 2000 I bought my first brand new car, a shiney Navy Blue Metallic Firebird 3.8L M5. Yes it was a V6, but it was a Firebird! I was home again. :) I had this one until I got orders for Korea. I would have kept the car in storage while I was gone, but my wife and I were expecting our first child and since I was going to be gone I needed to leave her with a reliable car that she would be able to drive. Unfortunately she didn't know how to drive a manual so the Firebird had to go. :( As we drove off the lot she promised me that I could get another one when I got home.

When I got back from Korea I started searching. I didn't want another GenIV car. As much as I enjoyed my 2000, it just didn't feel right. I was searching for a 87-90 Formula 350. There was something about it that caught my attention and that's what I wanted. I searched and searched but couldn't find one. By this time the wife is hounding my to get another vehicle so she didn't have to get up in the morning to take me to work so she'd have the vehicle to run errands and take our son to his appointments. That's when I came across an 81 Firebird. It wasn't my Formula 350, but it was a Firebird.

This car was in a bad way. It had originally came from up North and the years had not been kind to it. The only body panel on it that didn't need to be replaced was the roof. It also came with a severly under powered 3.8L two-barrel carb'd engine. I did what could to the car to make it driveable and get me back and forth to work. One day I was going to lunch at Hooters with some co-workers and that's when I saw it...a grey Trans AM.

Months went by and I deployed for a few months, came home filed taxes, got our return and then back to work. Again, my friends and I head to lunch at Hooters. The same grey Trans AM is still sitting there. I go home that night and talk to the wife about it. I sell her on it because the car is more than likely fuel injected, newer, and in far better condition than the POS 81 I was daily driving. Plus it is more along the lines of what I'm looking for. She says okay and on that Saturday I go for a drive to check it out.

I get to the dealership and I'm surprised to find that it isn't just a Trans AM, but a GTA! These cars were awesome when they came out and now I had the chance to buy one. I popped the hood and there lay the TPI 350, the motor that I was looking for. Granted it wasn't the Formula 350 that I wanted, but this was a GTA! I took the car for a drive, haggled with the salesman, called the wife, and drove home with the biggest smile I could have because I was back in the bodystyle that I loved the most and the closest thing I was looking for originally.

Four years later I still have this car and as long as I have my way I'll have this car until I die. Two years ago, I had the chance to finally buy a Formula 350. So, I scooped it up and now my wife has a Firebird. The coolest part, her's is a 1990 Gunmetal Formula 350 to match my 1988 Gunmetal GTA.

Sorry for the long read, but that's my story. :D

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

well the one i have now i went to the dealer, laid my money down and parked in my wife's space and she had a new car when she came home. dont think it was more than 10k brand new.
but i alaway loved camaros. bought my first one in 75 and have bough 7 of them all new.
i just like them and so does my wife, but she decided not to drive hers anymore so it is my toy car to play with.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

well, back in 1996 i joined the marines. went off to helo mech school in california. driving one day with friends and saw her on the lot. wrote a check for 1000 and financed the rest. my first creation of love for iroc/z28 was when one of my step brothers had a 90 z. well the car had been in one fender bender with the first wife and then later i ran up over a curb. i fixed the car and kept blowing trannies. 3 total. i had blown the 305 racing another camaro at 140mph. so i put in a 350. which is why the trannies broke. in 2000 i had bought a 96 mustang cobra and parked the iroc. sold to a friend who needed a car and bought it back 9 months later. fast forward to 2004, i went to iraq and started piling up parts. rear end first then tranny. second trip to iraq payed for motor (406) and suspension. then came to michigan to be a recruiter. car sat for 2 years and then in march of 09 i got her into a body shop and ordered new interior. now she is almost like i have always wanted her to be. here are a couple pics.
she looked really good when i first got her but those pics haven't been scanned yet.
Attachment 432529

Attachment 432530

Attachment 432531

Attachment 432532

for all my pics go here http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...roc/?start=all

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

I am glad someone revived this thread. Dave, you have a beautiful car. I am almost never a fan of the "wrong" OEM wheels on a car but the late model SS wheels look really good!

For an update with my life with Camaros, the 67 is still in 1,000,000 pieces, most of which are in my basement! The 89 has had a complete interior restore and looks like the day we picked her up in June 1989. I have also refurbished the wheels and done very thorough tune up. Hven't got to the plus/wires yet. I have them in the garage, just not looking forward to that job! She does still need a fresh paint job but that will have to wait as I am not done building the shop at the new house. And, most exciting... I think I am days away from placing an order for a 2010 2SS/RS Camaro in Cyber Grey Metallic with black racing stripes and a sunroof... I think I have a deal with a buyer for the C6 so as long as that moves, the order is going in!

Here is the 89 in its current condition ready for the Hot Rod Power Tour 2009.

http://i43.tinypic.com/2cyft6s.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/20rtpjq.jpg


PLEASE... Keep the stories coming

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Well I have ALWAYS loved cars. For the most part Camaros being my favorite. Anyways, My Dad bought a 1986 Sport Coupe 5spd new, (got totaled in 89) and I seen a few pics of the car and always then thought the 3rd gen Camaros were cool. Then to 2000 I was 8 and my bought a 1969 SS 396 Yellow Camaro, in 2002 he bought a new 2002 z28 ls1 car. So I definatly loved Camaros, But always really liked Iroc-z's. Now to 2008 I saw this white Iroc for sale at the local party store, So I had to look, anf thought hmm prolly wants like 6000 for it, looks nice. But the price said $2,500!! I offerd $2,000 and I got it the next day. And I LOVE The car! (execpt the trouble its giving me now) But then last month I bought a 1989 RS, v6. But Im not parting it out because its a rust bucket. But I might be buying a 84 z28. IM ADDICTED! The reason for wanting the 84 z is because I want to build a motor (like a 383 or 350) but I dont wanna tare apart my iroc. But anyways My dad sold the 69 camaro back in like 04 and sold the 02 z28 in like 05. And now had a 1970 Challeger and 1970 Duster. (hes into the mopars now).

If anyone whats me to post pics of all the cars, i will.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Please, we love pictures...

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

My father is an American car nut. We had a '77 Regal when I was a kid, till he sold it because of high government taxes and gas price and usual difficulties in the city, not much parking places, but I'd loved American cars with large motors since childhood. So I decided to go for one when I had the first opportunity to buy my own ride. These are hard to come accross where I live, so without many choices, I started searching. When I found mine, I just said "That's it". Didn't even test drove it before buying, just checked around a little. Guess I was lucky, didn't have any problems at all, apart from usual wear and tear resulting from 20 years of usage. When I bought the car, I had no knowledge of anything about cars whatsoever. I decided to educate myself and create a nice hobby, so I started with a Haynes manual, searched this forum a lot, and became a DIY like most of the people here. Also, a couple of frustrating experiences with some mechanics (they are complete idiots around here, and the clever ones try to screw you all the time, got tired of watching my back I guess) led me to this. Now I do every modification or replacement to my car all by myself, and take pride in doing so. :D

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Mines kind of a long story... not too long but anyways...
i had graduated from high scholl me and my dad made a deal, i was not passing and he said if i graduated with my diploma he would give me the nissan truck... man i loved that truck... it was an 84 s720 with a 2.4l 4 cyl... i had plans on putting a vg30dett in it and dropping it down and turniong it into a drag truck... but i just had the dream and the thought of it... i never really lookied into it... but since i had graduated i had wanted an american car... i didnt have any particular one in mind, just a few basic requirements... it had to be a stick shift (man you have no freakin idea how hard it ias to find an american car thats a stick in florida haha) and preferrably a chevy... i had seen a few 2nd gen camaros and a few older corvettes, for around 3000 (i was one of those kids that didnt have any real money but i would call and pretend i had money haha... i was 18... i started working as a security officer that next year... it was july... i had still been searching for that one car... then i came accross this 1986 camaro v6... for 1000 bucks!!! man i was excited... i instantly called the guy... it was abuy here pay here... so i went that weekend to look at the car... man it looke sweet! i always liked the old american cars like in the movies tht dont look so hot but would always embarras the rich kids haha... i went to start her up and it would start... wouldnt even click... the guy said it was the battery... we hooked it to a jump starter and still... nothing... so he said YOU guys push it and ill start it... haha... i had my doubts because it was a v6 and such... so we pushed it, and boy... when that thing fired up it sounded so powerful (i had never heard a v6 like that before... to me it sounded like a v8..) i instantly fell in love... i had to have it...i test drove it, asked the guy if i could punch the gas just to see, and he said theres barely any gas so no... ok cool... so we get back, my friend is waiting... i told him i needed this car... not want, NEED... so i borrowed 500 bucks from him to get me started (to this day i have been trying to pay him back, times are tough...) i went to put 20 bucks in the tank, turns out it was almost full, the fuel gauge didnt work... then i couldnt get it started... i told my friend ill push and you start it... this is funny... he told me he kinda knew and he had to pop the clutch and stuff, i said no you put it on start then you turn the switch amd it will start (haha stupid me...) anyways i pushed it all the way to the street and back to the pump... then there were these 2 black guys laughing at us, one of them came over and asked us if we knew what we were doing, we said... "uh... no..." so kinda stupidly i let him start the car while we pushed the car, he got it started and i was so afraid of him just driving away in my new car... but he was an honest man and he explained how to push start the car... so i was driving home... the first car i had ever actually bought... i felt so good... im sure im not the only one that had this feeling when they bought their first car... i felt like nothing could hurt me... man it was so good... so i got home... for about 2 weeks i had to be push starting the car because it wouldnt start... finally found out it was the clutch safety switch, so i bought the part... and didnt use it... i just cut the wires and put them together, now i could start my car on a lever surface and the car would just roll... then i did my first ever tune up on this car... now all id ever worked on was a 4 cylinder... maintenance was simple as hell... i was changing the spark plugs... i broke three of the new ones trying to put them in, so i had three new plugs and 3 old ones... haha, then i had a major problem... i was driving to my frinds house and the clutch pedal just kinda fell... it dangled from the bracket... man i was pissed... i had to figure out how to rev it and kinda ease it into gear, i hated doing that because i knew it was horrible for the transmission... i made it to my friends house furious... i tried to figure it out, and the master cylinder had comme off of the pedal... no biggie i put it back on and it worked for a few days... then i was gonna race a guys turbo civic (because i thought my car was fast, yeah...) and it happened again, my friend had to puull me with his 73 cutlass supreme to his house... i was furious again... i called the guy furious and told him i wanted my money back, he said no and i stilled owed him another 650 bucks for the rest of the car and the tag and such, so i put the car pn a trailer and brought it bakc to him, i was really rude... but about a month later... i really missed the feeling that i felt in the car... and i needed it back... so i swallowed my pride and called the guy... thankfully he agrred for me to just start off where i left off on the payments... so i got it back and my dad knew what it was, he was kinda mad that i gave it back, it was a 3 dollar fix... so i got the car and it has given me so much pride, now its sitting enginless waiting to be stripped down painted and be given a new stronger heart... i want to keep it as stock looking as possible... and i love it because it seems to me that i have the only third gen camaro in orlando (that ove seen...) that doesnt have the ground effects, i think it has more of a muscle look to it... but yeah that is a good long/shortened summary of how i came into my camaro...
i have learned so much about how cars work and how to fix and modify things... before this i never really had an interest on cars, i mean i loved cars... but its much deeper when you know your car how it functions... the car and i were made for each other, i mean i talk to the thing... sometimes id get mad and say im gonna sell it, and something decides to break, it gets jealous i guess... haha, cars have souls i have learned that... they are jealous creatures haha...
and yeah i hads a rude awakening when i lost to a stock civic ex... i blamed it on the suspension, sure enough i replaced a few bushings (the torque arm was being held by a u bolt, and i had NO crossmember bushings left, i mean i destroyed three trans mounts in about 6 months because the transmission would bounce...), and would beat mid 90s civics hehe...
anyways thats my story...
sorry for it being so long...haha...

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

A story 'bout an IROC...
As a teen, I was much too sensible. Why buy a two-door car if you plan to hold more than 2 people? Why buy a car if you can bike or walk? Why not live near your employer? Etc...
So, as a 17 year old, without a license (or car) moving into my first apartment, I made sure I was near my job. I moved directly across the street, actually. I knew how to use the county transit, and owned a functional bicycle if need be.
I also had a girlfriend that was awfully demanding. So, I needed a car (or she needed for me to have a car).
It just so happened that my boss/manager had a car he didn't want. One that I saw just sitting around for the last few weeks in our parking lot, though I never really noticed it until the opportunity to own it came about. I still didn't have a drivers license, but my boss handed to me a folder and some keys and told me a bit about the 1985 IROC. He bought it from a friend that had money troubles. The friend had put a new engine in it (receipt was in the folder along with everything else you can imagine about the car, proving roughly 40k on the motor, about 130k on body). Prior to my boss buying it, it was broken into and the stereo was stolen and brake lights no longer worked because of it.
He , the boss, pulled a few of his personal possessions out of the car, and I hit the road (test drive). Hours later, when on my way home, the car dies while in motion. I was confused, but it started right back up. Turned out to be a loose battery connection, but i got a few hundred off the price because of it.
He had paid $1500 for it just weeks before, and was selling it to me for 1200 , with only 400 down (as a christmas gift he called the debt at $900). My first day with it, while going to show the car to my sister, the driver side door is backed into by someone that didn't have the decency to stick around.
I was now motivated to get a drivers license and became inseparable from my baby. Besides that, the girlfriend loved the car.
I fixed the wiring that caused the brake light problem, and installed a stereo. Then the floor by my passenger seat was suddenly always wet, and i was constantly adding coolant... OK, bypass the heater core (eventually removing it). I learned how to "tune-up" a car, while breaking my driver side rocker panel (a crack through the Z28 logo). I was then sideswiped by a mini-van driving piano teacher, luckily only denting my driver side fender (though i would ultimately be declared at fault for failure to report an accident). Driving in a Wisconsin winter with no heater core, I suffered only one mis-hap... when my brakes locked up and i did a slow slide into a guard rail resulting in no noticeable damage.
Ultimately about a year with the car, about a dozen times getting pulled over (no tickets by the way), and countless memories and stories besides, some of my sisters friends decide to take my car street racing (without my permission, though i learned not to leave car keys hanging in my kitchen) and broke the tranny mount, and while trying to repair it (according to them) stripped one of my exhaust manifold bolts.
When i got the car back, still not fixed, I took it to a friend to repair the exhaust and tranny mount. He convinced me to "stick some money into it."

About six years later (present day) my car was pulled out of storage, running (until the fuel lines exploded). It was started somewhat regularly while stored. It has new heads & headers (the motor has ran with them,but driven less than 1 mile), and I have a collection of parts waiting to be replaced in an attempt to one day drive it again in a condition worth driving it. I actually accumulated 3 driver side doors, 1 passenger side door, 2 driver side fenders, both rocker panels, a steering column, exhaust pipes, original (used) gold 16x8 IROC rims, matching replacement driver and passenger seats, center console (actually almost all interior parts...)

Without sounding too obsessed, I do believe some of my fondest memories are going to "visit" my car in storage and hear it run for that little while... just rolling it in and out of the garage. I missed driving it so much, but couldn't convince myself to buy another because that would take money away from fixing the one I had.

So here i am now, gone from a sensible kid that didn't understand the point of a two-door car, turned into a guy that can't stand the thought of being without my IROC. (I turned down three thousand cash while i was without a job and my camaro was in pieces inside of a friends garage... believe me, the car isn't worth that even now. though i still won't sell it)

My first car was an IROC, and I have owned her for about 8 years now. Several of my friends have been inspired to buy f-bodies since... On a regular basis, I get to see an Red T-Top 89 IROC with roughly 40k original, an 85 sport coupe/IROC clone, a 95(?) Formula, and a 79 Z28. Not to mention the ones that have come and gone.

Once I am satisfied with the condition of my car, I plan to purchase another third gen... hopefully not needing work.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

A request for a story! I can't resist. I have a long history with thirdgen's. The current car is number four. In the late spring of 1982 a friend and coworker was freshly divoriced, and traded the Dodge van she got in the settlement for a new 1982 Black and Gold Trans AM with t-tops. It had the bowling ball hubcaps. Knight Rider was on the tube. One day she let me drive it, and that was the beginng of my love affair with thirdgen's. September, 1982 I brought home a new 1983 WS7 Trans AM with t-tops. It was white with black trim. It listed for 15,337.00. Traded in the 79 Colony Park nine passenger wagon and 10,337.00 for it. The car was beautiful, but would have a short life. A few weeks into proud ownership, while driving to work on a back country Georgia road, there was a place where the river would flood out and flow over the highway. I was turning around go a different route, and a young deputy flagged me across. He said that the water was only a few inches deep, and it was safe. Well it was rising fast, and more like a couple of feet deep. The car floated down the river, and was sinking fast. I popped the driver's t-top off and jumped overboard. Two weeks later the water had subsided, and the car was sitting upside down in the mud. Insurance sued the county, and I get the full sticker price for the car.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

New Years Day 1983, the insurance settlement had paid off the first car, and I had a little cash in hand, so I was back at the dealership. This time I bought a new 1983 Trans AM WS6, HO, silver, stick shift, t-tops. It would turn out the be the biggest lemon on the highway. The car spent more time in the shop then it did at my house. The engine ran hot, and would stall. The dealer could not find the problem, so they decided to install some kind of a resistor in the circuit on the temp guage so that the guage would read the temp lower then it was. The result if that is that the engine burned up. It got so hot that it blistered the paint on the hood. GM installed a new engine, and painted the hood. When I got the car back, I traded it that day for a new truck. Later that year, I would get a letter from GM that the factory had been mixing up the radiators, and that my car might have a four cylinder, or six cylinder radiator in it, and may cause it to overheat.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

By September 1983, I couldn't stand it. I was having Trans Am withdrawals! This time I went to the dealership in the next town over. The 1984's were on the lots, but I liked the 82's and 83's the best. They had one new 1983 Trans AM, t-top, nicely optioned car, but no performance options. It was white with black trim and had the 14 inch turbo mags. It wasn't real fast, but it sure was purdy! I bought the car and kept it until 2003. It mostly decorated the garage, but got driven some on sunny warm days. It was a great little car, very trouble free for 20 years of ownership. In 2003 with only 43K original miles, still completely stock, I decided to sell it. The wife thought we were to old for a car like that, and did not want to ride in it. The evening the new owners drove it down the driveway, I knew I had made a mistake.The next post is about the current car, and then I promise to shut up.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

By 2006, I had been almost three years with out a thirdgen. I started looking for one in earnest, but I am very picky. I wanted a highly optioned car in a desirable color, completely stock, with low mileage. I am also cheap, and did not want to pay museum prices for one. I honestly never thought I would find one. Back up to 2003, I had met a nice patient in the hospital where I work. She was an older lady, and had been sick for a year or two. She was also a car collector, and had a eclectic collection, which included a 1986 Trans AM WS6, TPI, T-top car, with the then new PW7 cross laced wheels. The car was her Sunday afternoon car, and had 25K original miles on it. She had purchased the car new and had all of the records. She passed away in 2004. Up to 2006, and her family was selling her collection. The car looked unused, as it had been stored in an air-conditioned basement. It also had not been started in four years. The original Gatorback tires were dry rotted, and the left front had blown, and the car was on the rim. The OEM battery was dead. I bought the car, having never heard it run, but the price was right. We had it removed by a rollback truck to a garage that I trust to check it out and get it going again. After a couple of weeks the car was running again. Lucky for me it was completely out of fuel, so the system was dry. The worst problem was that the A/C compressor was locked up. When everything was fixed and the car driveable again, it came to the house. Over the past three years, I have done some cosmetic restoration to the car, mostly minor stuff. It's still completely stock, and is original except for maintance items like tires, the battery, hoses, and belts. It runs like new, and is mechanically perfect. The original owner's family is pleased that it is being preserved. My goal is to hopefully live long enough that the car either becomes interesting enough or valuable enough to make it's preservation a near certainty. If you attended G-13 in Atlanta, you might have seen her. Its the blue and silver TA that won class winner stock 82-87 Firebird. That's my story. So far it spans 26 years. Thirdgen's Forever! I'll shut up now. Charles

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Number 4

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Number 3

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Driving = pure bliss. Nothing beats crannkinn some Motley Crue with the windows down on a road wih NO STOPLITES!! Thats the way Ive always been and thats the way I intend to stay... but anyways , to the question at hand. The road from there to here has been a long one and I guess Ill begin at the beginning as they say............

Ive been thru ALOT of cars, and always loved speed, but it was my 93 Geo Storm 1.6 sohc 4cyl auto, that I completly dissected and customized that started all this madness as the missus says. And I didnt go all rice either - No fuggedup bodykit - just clean lines and lotsa GO! Man I tell you I punished the H3LL out of that car -wrung it out like a dishrag....but thats another story, but like I said its the car that started it all - I had caught the fever.
New car - '87 Fiero SE 2.8 6cyl 5sp. New lesson - theres no replacement for displacement.
Next car - 95 Mustang 3.8 6cyl 5sp. Notice a trend yet?

Then I LUCKED into this
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2876/1001218y.jpg

OMFG - and I got it for a handshake (well if you count the trailer and the 12 pack you can clearly see in the passenger floor of the Dodge, about $100)

1976 L48 350ci TH350

When I got it
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/6394/02002.jpg

When I finished it
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/3342/1001224.jpg

Id add more pics but it told me only 5pics per post WTF!?!

Took me less than a year to get it "running and drivable". I never got to lay the carpet....or drive it on the street.....never got tags is the only reason, and Im waaay to nervous to drive it without INSURANCE. Its a crime what happened to it and not a day goes by that I wish I could travel back and change that one moment in time - Easy Come, Easy Go they say. And thats all I have to say about that,Im getting all depressed as I write about it. And to top it off I sold my only other car (the Storm) for Vette $$. I was SOOOOOO close to finishing the Vette and planned on driving NOTHING else. Im like Monoamous like that. So now I have no car at all....I never leave the house...pulling my hair out....driving my lady NUTS.....and always in a pissy mood when I look out and dont see a C3 in my driveway. So one day my girlfriend's sister's ex-husband and his new girlfriend (we are a close family ) tells me that her 84 Trans Am got towed and if I pay to get it out I can have it clean and clear. I only saw it once - in the dark didnt even see what color it was - but that sound....Damn did it remind me of my Stingray......And only $335......SOLD. A running, driving, inspected, RED 1984 Trans Am 5spd L69 5.0 H.O. Not Bad for a 'Bird covered in bird $hit..

and here are some pics
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9285/gedc0065x.jpghttp://img8.imageshack.us/img8/2180/gedc0055g.jpg

Man, this thing has been BUBBA'd - BAD, but thats the wasy I like it ....Im gonna tear it apart anyway.....



Ive added a stereo, and now Im in the process of Doing what I do Best - Clean lines and lotsa GO! IM BACK!!! Man I FUGGIN LOVE driving this car!!

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

One of my earliest recurring memories from my childhood is seeing some neighbors drive up and down my street in a mid-80's Trans Am, blue with silver gfx and t-tops. It was all ratted out and probably a Pepsi can by now:lmao:. Regardless of how bad it looked I still liked it, alot.

Now, my mom, in 1968, bought a new Camaro from the local Chevy dealer in town, which, sadly, has long been closed and the lot is now a Stop n Shop. Dealer was George O'Hara Chevrolet. Fathom blue, 250 inline 6, Powerglide 2 speed, aqua blue interior. The 250, Powerglide, and center console were the only options IIRC. I have pics of me sitting in that car when I was around 5 or 6 years old. My dad has pics of the rebuild he did on it in the 80s and
90s. So ever since I was a kid, I was into the whole F Body thing.

Now let's go to high school. It was getting to be the time for me to get a car, and I had no idea what I wanted. I went from wanting an Explorer, to a Neon:confused: to god knows what else. Then one day, a friend of mine pulled into school in a ratted-out 86 Firebird 6 cyl coupe. It had t-tops, and that was what sold me on the third gen cars. I went nuts doing my research on them, dad didn't want to get me a Z28 originally, wanted me to get a 6 cyl. I fought that using the argument that his 93 Silverado had a 305 TBI motor, and it was peppy, reliable, and got good gas mileage. So I set out to find a RS with a 305 TBI.

After doing some searching, I found a 1988 Camaro SC that had the gfx I liked, a 305 Tuned Port, auto, with t-tops. Me and my parents went and looked at on Veteran's Day 2001. After driving it around the block a bit, we left. I didn't think I was going to get it, but I was still excited about it.

Now we go to Christmas Eve 2001. My dad was Air National Guard at the time, and due to the Sep 11 attacks, was activated. He had to pull a shift on Christmas day, but it was OK with my family; we all knew that being in the military has its sacrafices and we still had a great Christmas, just celebrated it on the 24th. My dad bought me a cheap-o ratchet/socket set, a car cover, and some floormats, all of which I got Christmas Eve. I was wondering why I got that stuff when I didn't have a car yet; the answer would soon present itself.

My dad next gave me a box that had some novelty oversized window scraper pic on it. Inside that box was a bunch of newspaper and a small box for an oil psi sending unit. When I opened that, a set of keys fell out with an old-school Camaro key fob attached. I just looked up and asked "What are these?!? What are these for?!? Well I was led outside where on the side of the house was the 1988 Camaro SC we had looked at a month earlier. I was overjoyed to say the least.

Come to find out, my dad met the owner at the local mall a week after we looked at the car to give it one more look over and bought it on the spot. I was at school, he was on one of his days-off. He brought it to my neighbor, who had an empty garage, and stored it in there, going over to check on it and start it every now and again when I wasn't home. THAT CAR WAS 50 FEET AWAY FROM MY BEDROOM FOR ALMOST A MONTH AND I HAD NO IDEA! Heck even my sister knew it was there! Lots of good high school memories in that car; first make-out with a girl, first time I felt a "breast", if you will:eek:, lots of good times had by all.

Sadly, that car has long been gone, replaced in person but not in my heart. I have always wanted a 87-92 convertible ever since I found out they were made, sometime in 2003. Well, fast forward 4 years, 2007, and I found my dream vert. A black, 1991 Z28. I was in the USAF so I had the funds to buy it, which I did. I still have it, and it's my pride and joy.

I still always wanted to fulfill my Firebird wants, so I found a black 1987 GTA that needed some work in 2008, with a 350. I got it for $2000 and early this year, traded it to my friend for his 1988 GTA, digital dash, steering wheel radio controls, 305 TPI, 5 speed, t tops! It's my new project! BTW, the digital dash and pop-up lights never get old. I'm in the process of rebuilding the 305 and going carb in it as we speak.

I think with the thirdgen f body, I have found my true passion in life. There is nothing I like more than working on them and driving in them; even 27-ish years after the first 1982 debuted, they still attract lots of attention and are still popular cars. My 1991 Z28 vert gets so much attention whenever I take it out; the designers truley built and egineered a car that can withstand the test of time.

Sorry about the length, but there it is, quite possibly the most detailed telling of my thirdgen story I have ever told in my life.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

That was a good one, well told.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

well my story is short, im still in the middle of making it being only 18, Ha Ha! In 1989 my mom had a red 87 GTA 5.7 5spd absolutly Flawless!! Untill my moms little brother borrowed the car and threw the #2 rod. My mom didnt have the extra money to have the car fixed, so she sold it for a measly 1500 bucks! So fast forward to 1992, im 1 year old, and my dad buys a Brand new formula, and had that car till it got totaled in 01. I always said someday i would have a 3rd gen, cause it was in my blood. Anyways about this time im 10 years old, and my dad was cleaning out the garage and found a collector set of the smokey and the bandit vhs tapes, all three episodes. So we watched them all, and afterwards, i wanted a 2nd gen T/A even more. Fast forwar to 06, im 15, and wanted to buy a car from the money ive saved, detasling, mowing an what not. I had 800 bucks and was on the hunt.

I set out to find the 2nd gen of my dreams, and realised it wasnt in my price range. So i found an 86 iroc, black with gold wheels, all beat to hell. But it ran and was only 500 bucks, so i bought it, and had it sitting in the garage till the day i was 16, i backed it out and drove it to the dmv and took my test, and then drove around the rest of the day. It was love at first WOT! Ha Ha!! So i drove that car untill december 08, when it blew up on the interstate. I had saved up allot of money from working at mickey dee's, so i proceeded to buy a red 87 z28 that needed a tranny. No big deal, so i hooked up my handmade 4x7 trailer to my bicycle, and headed off to the local pick-a-part, and got a smokin deal on a 700r4, adn proceeded to put it in my car.

So i drove that car through the winter (bad idea) and still am. Two months ago i found a 1980 turbo T/A indy pace car, and bought it, and have been working on it ever since. So i guess i can say i have got both of my dream cars. P.S, i still have that black iroc sittin in my yard, someday i will restore it, when i grow a money tree.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

I got into camaros because of my Dad. He owned 5 iroc's and one rs. The pic of my avatar is of me when i was little on my dads new 87 yellow iroc-z. I was always around them, and loved to hear my dads car stories and how he loved those cars. When i was 16 he surprised my in the middle of the night with a white '87 iroc-z hrdtop, best day of my life. Its genetic, his passion became mine. I feel like these cars (iroc-z's) are apart of me or "made" 4 me.;)

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

My 88 SC was a christmas gift from my parents when I was in high school (needed a car for college). I got that, a chiltons manual and the infamous how to tune and modify your camaro book (still have those, too). Think they paid around $1200 dollars for the car. Its lasted 10 years, so I guess it was a good buy. Although its had multiple engines/transmissions/rear ends in it as I continually swap things in and out of it.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Wouldn't the Camaro be the Vette's big brother? I mean considering its age? :lmao:

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Well lets see I was 16 or 17 there was a car dealership that had a 82 sc v-6 auto for $2700. and a 1982 gt for 3500.00 I wanted the gt since my dad had one. well he didn't want me to get one and the camaro was mine with alittle help from him. so drove the car for about 6 months and was on my way to see my G/f and a guy backed out of his driveway about 30 ft infront of me I didn't have enough time to stop and it was totaled. a few cars later I was finallyable to get into another camaro it was a 87 sc v6- 5speed . I had it for about a year and i borrowed it out and they hit a dear with it totaled. so then I bought a body for 300 it was an 82 sc and put a 305 with a 488 292 cam in it and the true dual exhaust and headers the exhaust was two pipes that run side by side in the stock location. sounded real nice with the big cam. after awhile of beating on the car and racing it alittle the motor let loose and the body wasn't worth the effort to rebuild off the the junk yard it went. so i bought a 83 firebird repainted it cleaned it up. car was real nice I meet my first wife and she wanted a mini van and the car was gone as a trade in. about 6 months after that a friend got caugth drunk driving and he owed me money so he told me to go get the car out of impound and it was mine it was a 86 sc auto. well off to work one day and on my way home from work i see my car driving the oposite way down the road i get home and she tells me she sold the car . a few months later I bought a 83 trans am with a blown motor and trans from a long time friend for 300 I had a 86 5.7 out of a vette so in it went. and i drove it until the ex wife through a rod in it racing a mustang so i sold off all the parts to it it had alot of new parts. and junked the rest. Fast forward a 12 years i found a 90 rs for 500 bought it and did alittle rebuild on it. and someone came to me and bought it for 1500 only thing I had done to the car was clean it and put seats in it for 50 bucks. so then i found a 92 rs with no motor I put a nice 350 in it with the 700r4 and got it running but never drove it. sold it about 1 1/2 years ago. then bough my current project which is a 86 Iroc that now has a 468 BBC in it.

the 87 sc http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._5435608_n.jpg

the 90





http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._4557505_n.jpg

the 92http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._1255592_n.jpg


the 86 Irochttp://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...7_283556_n.jpg

MY sons 85 it was a freek no radio (radio delete) 305 5 speed

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._1660374_n.jpg

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

my brother got this iroc and had it for about 5 years and decided to go threw it so he pulled the motor apart and painted the car (this is ware the rs body kit came in apparently the original was in bad shape)and it sat for about a year and before he could get it back together he was getting divorced, so i took advantage and told him i would give 500 for it he said it was pretty much ready to go together but when i went to his ex's SOMEONE had go through the garage, needless to say stuff was missing of course to add problems about a week after i got it the shop i was working in closed :mad: so it sat like this for about 2 years


https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...pictureid=6871


then we bought a new house so it got moved again no motor under the hood then finally a phone call from my dad gave a ray of hope a rebuilt 350 with a mild cam and an aluminum intake for 300 bucks i said ill take it had to pull it out of a truck from a junk yard (an impound apparently truck was in good shape ) three days later i drove the camaro home from my dads :lmao:


https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...pictureid=6776

then winter came i changed the heads (bigger valves 64cc chambers ported) ported the intake in this process i found it was border 60 over had flat top piston and a gear drive (could hear the gear drive but wasn't sure) also it really was a very fresh rebuild lifters can out with my fingers over a 1000 miles and the oil was like new . the rest is history

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...pictureid=6774

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

well i do not have such a story as i know the fate of my 1986 formula firebird. back in the fall of 1986 i was in need of a new ride after my 1983 ford escort EXP blew its motor. i decided i would be damned if i ever bought another 4cyl especially a ford. the local GM dealer had a bright red t-top 305 formula firebird on the lot so i scraped the down payment together and they gave me 2800$ for my escort as trade and i drove off with my first V-8.

while going to college and working nearly 100 hour work weeks lots of 16 hour shifts and such the work and class load finally caught up to me and i fell asleep driving. rammed my baby into a telephone pole at 55mph. however that isnt the end of the car. after several weeks of memmory loss and short term memmory being totally wacked my mom informed me that i had done 10,000$ worth of damage and the car was valued at 11,000$ by the insurance company. so it was up to me if i wanted it scrapped or fixed. that was a no brainer. fix it. 6 months later i got my firebird back. about a year after that at the end of 1990 saddam invaded kuwait. and we started the military build up to go relieve that guy of his holdings. i decided i had had enough of the liberal crap in college and my new found inability to memorize things much at all and repeat it back to the communists that ran the college finally decided for me i needed a change so i joined the army and left my firebird behind.

while i was serving in the military and getting my head back together after the wreck my little brother decided it was good idea to take my firebird and tool around in it. being a kid he decided it was a cool idea to use stop lights as starting signals that you find at a drag strip. racing the lights was fun for him and he spent time just staring at the lights and waiting for the changes not paying attention to other traffic and it finally caught up to him. one day anticipating a green he sped out into traffic with looking and got plowed by a cattle truck going 55mph that failed to yield. once again the GM F-Body saved another member of my family but that was the final straw for my firebird and it was finally sold for scrap.

20 years later there was no old firebird for me to go and find and look for and the only other option was to find another firebird in good shape. so i decided i would find the car with all the goodies that i wanted in it. i spent months online looking at firebirds and finally hit on the one i wanted and there i am. i truly feel far safer in my no antilock no airbag 1989 formula than i do in my 2003 silverado. its just a shame i have to store her for the harsh winters here in wisconsin.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...pictureid=6351
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...pictureid=6352

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Not much a story here, but I saw the car under a car cover across the street from my house, and talked to the guy. He wasnt going to sell it, and planned on restoring it fully. Then one day he decided to sell it and I took it over. A lot of pics though for your viewing pleasure

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53...2/P2285236.jpg

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Getting painted

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http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53.../CAMARO016.jpg

Attachment 426757

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Swapped the old 82-84 style rear lights

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53...2/CIMG0245.jpg

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Speedo Swap
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Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Back in '87 I was a junior in high school. The IROC had been out a couple of years, and was the car to have, but I didn't have the income to support the insurance rates for a 17 year old. At the time I drove a '78 Camaro... nice car, but not much in the performance area. My buddies and I went to the local Chevy dealer and they let me testdrive a used '85 IROC-Z. It was blue, TPI, T-tops, and I didn't stop grinning 'till I had to give the keys back. Forward to 2007... Out looking for a GTA or T/A and I ran across a blue, TPI, IROC for sale. One spin around the block brought back lots of memories, and I knew this was the car for me. Had her now for two years... still in love and awe of such a FUN machine.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Well i've always been into cars, my best child hood memory is of my dad 69 rs/ss camaro he put an old school LS6 454, m20 muncie four speed, and a 12 bolt in it it was a sick ride. he sold it in 1999. Ever since i've been in to chevys and especially camaros.

I got into thirdgens when i say this video on you tube of a 468 bigblock camaro,SuperCharged BBC 468 Camaro Part 1, i was soo awesome. i started looking into thirdgens. I even read alot of threads and article on TGO to get info on them.

Then one day i found the perfect one on craigslist, It was about 50 miles from me and had been sitting for 8yr. it didn't run and had to be towed. I got it For $800. I got my uncles Flat bed for the day and i bought it. MY mom didn't like the idea becuase i just quit my job at the time and i thought, "with out a job i need something to take up my time". So i used some of my saved up money and i had my self a Project.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Well, Since im only 16 years old, I guess my story goes back to 1993. According to my family, ever since I was old enough to comprehend, Camaros and Firebirds have been my absolute favorite cars.. And well, heres where it gets cool, the first car I ever rode in was a 1984 Z/28, which belonged to my grandma =] On the way back from the Hospital :). I always loved that car, Always, but when I was younger.. I didnt understand how much that car would go on to change my future. She sold the Z/28 when I was 8 years old :(, I remember it as a very sad day. The car had 92,000 original miles, the paint was original, not a scratch on it, completely stock, not a scratch, it was a new car.. more or less. Two weeks later we saw the car in Chico, CA with a smashed fender, covered in a layer of mud, I remember how sad everyone was. Especially me and my grandma. Just this year I started searching like crazy for a 3rd Gen, it took me months to find the right one.. At first all I would tolerate would be a Camaro, but when I saw my firebird.. My outlook changed. My Trans Am has 64,000 original miles =] Super clean body (For the most part, needs new paint), it also needs some new weather stripping. Other than that, at the age of 16 a third gen car was reintroduced to the family, my grandma couldn't believe it. =] She loves my car. Hehe.

Well thats my story. I hope it was good enough for this post. I've read some very very good stories =).

:driving:

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

well i got my camaro of my mother, in 93ish my mother was driving in her nova ( an 80s nova ) and see saw the camaro at a car dealership and as soon as she saw it she wanted it. she bought it right then and there. she would do full time at her work for a year to pay off the car which i dont understand but i guess she just wanted to get it over with paying for it so she just worked her azz off, anyway she didnt think much about camaros or any car but she loved the iroc and it also remined her of her 77 datsun 280z that she had back then that she loved, the 280z was also blue and will be a car i hope to build :).but the camaro was used to drive just to work and to little places and occasionaly to the beach doing around 120mph adverage.

this is in 1998- my mother was on break from work so she bought a bunch of grocieries and she kept a valuable diamond ring and gold necklace that were from her grandmother and then she also has a alabama leather jacket, the title, and a bunch of other expensive stuff because my father would always steal her stuff and she didnt have no where else to put the stuff exept in the camaro. but then the iroc was stolen in front of her work from a bunch of gangbanger guys and they took it to cali ( we live in oregon ) and the people that stole her were in this big international i belive gang that would steal valuable cars and then strip them or something similar. and well they finally got caught about 3months later and they were caught because they were actualy just about to go sell the car to some other guy and there was a car behind the iroc that was along with there gang and the car started swearving and luckily a cop was behind them so he pulled over the 1 car and the iroc also pulled over so the cop was suspicous so he also checked the irocs liscence plate and it popped up stolen. so it was towed back from cali to our place. but the car was stripped the bose stereo was stolen, everything dirty, custom computer chip stolen, big fat slicks on the wheels, all her valuables stolen including my baby pics, title stolen, a new lebra, along with her credit cards used to buy thousands of dollars worth of stuff including a chainsaw and a big tv. well these people already had a mile long wrap sheet of crimes including probaly hundreds of car theavies, assults all that crap and guess what they were in jail for a freaking whopping month! stupid and we didnt get ANY thing out of this just a pair of some ok tires thats it, insurance didnt cover crap.

but before we got our car back my mother bought a new 98 escort zx2 so that was the daily driver and we eventually moved a couple years later into a duplex that barley has a freakin garage so it was kept outside (still is ) and my mother just let the car sit with a full tank of gas so eveything was cloged up with old gas so the car didnt run and it was outside for 5 years( with nothing protecting the paint not a cover or wax ) and well i got into cars a lil bit ago and i really wanted to get the camaro fixed even in our finacial situation and well i finaly talked my mother into it and we got it fixed 1500 dollars later but it runs strong now and its just a blast. before the car was even running i would still wash the car and wax it but was just not the same as it is now even though we dont drive it really only in a neighborhood because we need a title, regestration,and tags. but im just glad to have her running and it looks so much better then it did when i first started waxing it.

and to make this clear im 13 years old with a strong passion for cars and the camaro is a 1987 IROC-Z camaro in sapphire blue with 305tpi/auto with just a few apperance mods and she is basically fully loaded with the bose stero ( now gone though most theres speakers but it just sounds like crap ), all around disk brakes, delux cloth interior, t-tops, ac. that pretty much covers it but hit my cardomain link and you can learn a lil more about the factory options. and this is defintly a car i will for ever keep and i have many plans for her but going to keep her basicaly stock looking and the car just means way to much to me to ever risk damaging her though. sorry about the long confusing storry just theres alot to say about my baby. if i was into cars before the camaro sat we would of NEVER had this problem but 5 years ago i was what 8? ya all i was into then was pokemon and power rangers yep lol.

I know this will be a killer highschool car though! cant wait tell i start driving this beast! but thx for reading and i just had to let you all know how i got my camaro.

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

weird i have that some identical club for my camaro! i have no idea where the key is though i need a new 1

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

I used to be into little rice cars in high school, I blame it on all those F&TF movies when I was younger. Any how, my dream car back then was a 300ZX TT. I loved the idea of a fast car with T-tops.

Fast forward to College. I was driving home one day from Ohio and I drove past this bright red firebird. I would normally never pursue it but my now fiancee told me to call the guy about it. I got my first bank loan and bought it! I still could not believe that I did it even with the keys in my hand.

I kept the car secret from my family for over a year while I made my payments and the next summer I surprised the hell out of my folks with it. When I pulled up my mom did not recognize me and then she thought I stole the care.

I paid the car off early and probably would not have gotten as engrained into the car culture until I wrecked it and rebuilt it. Now I am forever an fbody fanatic!

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Well I was 18 and working at a local amusemant park as a roller coaster mechanic. A friend of mine had an 88 firebird with the T/A body parts on it. My dad bought a 2000 SS convertible that I absolutely loved. I told my friend I wanteds to buy a camaro that was the same generation as his firebird so he and I could swap parts and have trips to the junkyard in common. He called me up one day telling me that a guy at his work has this cool camaro he will sell because it just sits in the dealers back lot. I went out and looked at it... I quickly observed it was a convertible Z28. I brought his asking price of $1000 the next day and drove it home after reassembling the shifter mechanism and figuring out how to lower the roof. I thought the price was right. I loved the look on my dads face when he came home that day to see an extra camaro convertible sitting in front of the house.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...pictureid=8760
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...pictureid=8758
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...pictureid=8757
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...pictureid=8756
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...pictureid=8760

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

qwow all this stuff is pretty damn neat. mine. hell i always had trucks since i am a big guy. the first one i fell in love with was my brothers. i believe it was an 84. man i loved that car. the next one was a buddy of mine who used to be on here. fatal's car. beautiful car, and still is and always will be. also the fact that nascar had the iroc series and dale earnhardt drove one. then a buddy of mine got a 91 b4c car. we put in a 406 small block and we got her into the elevens. i would help out all the time on it. have loved them ever since. like the other ones but they were my favorite. well my buddies race car blew up 10 years ago. still go visit my buddy with fatal. have seen it transform for years to its current state as well as see it win first place in many shows at thanksgiving. still had trucks. one was a 12 second 2002 chevy extended cab pickup.

then is now. married the most wonderful lady in the world. i am now 40. when i was 39 we were married. come near december last year she wanted to find me a gift. and at the time had no idea what it was that she was getting at. we started looking at cars. vettes and camaros. older vettes and newer camaros since i built a mnay of ls type truck and ls1 cars. i also tuned mine. it wasnt until that one day on craigslist that she came on. 4 hours after posting the add we called. 4500 bucks. she said lets gfo look. asked on the phone what was the lowest. 4000. got there and started looking and found a few minor problems with cash in hand. today for 3500. we bought it. before we left she told me something.

happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i think i **** myself. what a gift. been working on her ever since to make her special. here is a few before and after pics. goota love my wife!!!!!!!!!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...i/100_0261.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...100_0257-1.jpg

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

here she is now
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...li/one92rs.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...i/100_0549.jpg

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

bump to keep this one going. these are some good stories

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Long story somewhat short...

I got my first Camaro, an 89 RS, back in the summer of 2000 as I was about to start my freshman year of college. My buddy Travis had a beautiful blue 91 RS convertible in high school. I told myself I would like to find a Camaro for myself. Picked the RS up for 900 bucks from a guy who I worked with at the time. I wanted this to be my daily driver, since I was driving a GTO at the time, but after letting my friends engine builder talk me into it, it became a borderline street/strip car with a carbed 355, solid lifter cam, 12:1 compression, TH350 trans with a stall. I ended up doing all the bodywork and having a buddy at the time spray it red for me. Had alot of fun and met alot of friends during the process of building the car.

Heres a picture I took right before I sold it...
https://www.ls1tech.com/forums/attac...aro-camaro.jpg

I had to sell it because I overbuilt the car. I needed a daily driver and living with my parents, couldnt have another car in the driveway. So I refused to sell my first car and let this one go, figuring I could pick up another someday. I sold it to my engine builder who then sold it to someone. I did end up seeing it later that year at the dragstrip, the current owner replaced the hood with a 4 inch cowl and put a cage in it. Not sure whatever happened to it, but hopefully its being taken care of.

So i went through a F150, a lifted 00 Silverado (turned into a project truck and some people may remember me from gmfullsize.com and fullsizechevy.com as 4.8Silv4x4) then a LT1 Camaro which I still have (also Black94z28 on ls1tech.com) Drove a black 99 Trans Am convertible for awhile too.

I just got back into a thirdgen as a coworker had a 91 RS that he smashed up and instead of fixing it, bought another car. So picked this one up for 300 bucks and going to fix it up and have it as a daily driver. This time not going overboard. Ive always regretted selling my old Camaro so I feel alot better with another one, while its rough, i have a project and know that Im saving a Camaro and I can create my old car (minus the engine)

https://www.ls1tech.com/forums/attac...camaro-001.jpg

https://www.ls1tech.com/forums/attac...camaro-002.jpg

Lets see what time brings...

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

Well, I guess it started (sort of) at the age of 13 when I purchased my 1979 BMW 320i for $650. I started mowing lawns with my brother when I was 11 for $4.50 an hour and decided I would save up for my first car. My parents said we can take a look at the car to see if it might be a good idea, so the guy that own actually traveled to my town on a daily basis to build his house. The car obviously needed new shocks, ignition, exhaust, and paint-asking price: $750. I was ready to just write him the check for the asking price because I was young and stupid , so next thing I know he is talking himself down on the price to $650 because it needed a few things to make it roadworthy. Over the next two years I restored it to "original condition" with a few changes including new sound system, upholstery, front 320iS spoiler, turbine allow wheels, and changing the color on a few painted trim pieces(did the painting myself).

Before
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After
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Before
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After

Attachment 422052

So after that my Mom said I should buy a Camaro because she had an 84 Z28 H.O. between 84 and 90. So I searched on line for a Camaro at least in Colorado and found an 87 Z28 for $1800 on cars.com. Behold, it is actually an 87 IROC-Z28 5.7 TPI for $1800, looks like a real project.
Attachment 422053

Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

With just as much TLC as the Bimmer, Betty is reborn!
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Followed by my 94 F-150

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And Vanessa

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Re: How did you get into your Camaro/Firebird?
 

ok, my story starts way back when my dad was in high school. he bought a 79 camaro 305. he did the normal kid stuff. remove sound system different intake. 4 foot straight pipe out of headers(loud). 125 in a 15:lol:. never seen a winter
FF to 92 where he puts it away in our barn so he could buy a more family oriented vehicle because i was comming along,awww.
all my life it just sat in the barn covered in bird crap. ever since i was 14 i wanted to take it out and restore it for my first car. didnt happen. i was 16 already bought my saturn. one day i started cleaning the barn to pull it out. my dad came over and i was expecting him to yell at me. but he started helping me. so a few hours later we dragged the camaro out. wouldnt go into nuetral. so we got it into the yard. poured gas in the carb and it started right up put automatic fluid in tranny and it moved after not touching it in 18 years, cant kill the gm small block. (interesting side note my dad hit a huge racoon when he was in high school and it screwed up the linkage, so the floor shifter was stuck in park, but on the steering column there is a selecter that you can twist like a truck shifter huh) so after a while i saw a 87 bird 305 hadnt been on the road in 8 years. needed some work but so did the camaro so i purchase it for 450$. so me and my dad could have a father son duel f-body resto. but winter snuck up on us too fast. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3811554