My 1988 IROC-Z, LB9 5-speed
05-14-2017, 07:59 PM
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Car: 1985 IROC-Z/1987 IROC-Z/1988 IROC-Z
Engine: Four 305 TPI LB9's
Transmission: Two 700R4's/One WC T-5
Axle/Gears: Posi's 3:42/2:73/3:55/2:73
My 1988 IROC-Z, LB9 5-speed
Hey there everybody, just wanted to share one of my third gens to everybody here. I picked this car up back in 2014 after 8 years of searching for an original 5 speed IROC TPI. Here where I live it is very difficult to find these type of cars, because they all seem to come from the northeast, as was the case with this car. It was just by chance that this car had made an incredible journey in its life as it originated from New Jersey, then went to Pennsylvania and went overseas to Germany; then back again to the U.S to Texas in Brownsville where I picked it up. As a result along the way the car had showed its age, but concluded on inspection that everything was fixable. Now when I picked this car up in Brownsville, it was not running right. Three sensors were no good, vacuum tubing was crumbling, timing was retarded, exhaust leaks, spark pug wires arcing through, radiator leaking like a sieve, hood hinge was broken when opened, and the reverse gear was no good. At first I was skeptical, but I accepted the challenge and made this car to what it is right now, and boy this 5-speed is wayyy more fun to drive and much quicker than all my other third gens I have. This car only lacked the G92 option and thus did not have rear disc brakes and the oil cooler, but I did not want the 9-bolt as it is scarce and can not be updating with aftermarket parts, so I converted the rear drums and put my 3.55 gears with a Yukon duragrip. Car is also T-top and not a hard top, so I'd imagine finding a t-top 5 speed third gen is difficult to find as most of them were hard top. I also rebuilt the T-5 myself and replaced the reverse and added the billet steel plate for the cluster gear. To this day that T-5 has survived hard driving and my 315/35-17 drag radials with the spec stage 2 clutch in front of it. This project is still ongoing and not finished, and their is to much stuff I have done myself to list, so tell what you all think. Thanks guys 
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05-14-2017, 08:04 PM
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Car: 1985 IROC-Z/1987 IROC-Z/1988 IROC-Z
Engine: Four 305 TPI LB9's
Transmission: Two 700R4's/One WC T-5
Axle/Gears: Posi's 3:42/2:73/3:55/2:73
Re: My 1988 IROC-Z, LB9 5-speed
Here are some more pics..
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05-17-2017, 04:17 PM
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Car: 1985 IROC-Z/1987 IROC-Z/1988 IROC-Z
Engine: Four 305 TPI LB9's
Transmission: Two 700R4's/One WC T-5
Axle/Gears: Posi's 3:42/2:73/3:55/2:73
Re: My 1988 IROC-Z, LB9 5-speed
Thanks everyone, forgot to mention that I also added a set of Comp cams 1.6 ultra pro magnum roller rockers and pushrods. This car picked up pretty good and I also have a loudmouth type of an exhaust set up, so its pretty loud. Just finished taking out the eibach pro kit yesterday and installed ground control weight jacks. I'll snap a picture later on. I'm also getting ready to install a cam, but cannot decide whether to use the comp 08-302-8 or the lunati 20080660. What do you all think?
05-17-2017, 04:58 PM
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Car: 92 RS
Engine: LT1
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: My 1988 IROC-Z, LB9 5-speed
How are you liking the weight jacks? What springs did you use? I have my rear jacks in but have to do the fronts still.
05-17-2017, 09:58 PM
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Car: 1985 IROC-Z/1987 IROC-Z/1988 IROC-Z
Engine: Four 305 TPI LB9's
Transmission: Two 700R4's/One WC T-5
Axle/Gears: Posi's 3:42/2:73/3:55/2:73
Re: My 1988 IROC-Z, LB9 5-speed
Just tested them after traffic died down this afternoon. The car rides smooth and not harsh but the lower deflector and exhaust pipes are scrapping on speed bumps and humps, then again the front fender is just below 25" from the concrete to fender lip! I need to raise the front up just a 1/2" so my tire does not rub anymore when turning. Front height is 24.98" and rear height is 26" flat. The car tracks straight with previous alignment and with the KONI yellows all the way around and entire spohn suspension, the car handles well. Just need to correct rear panhard bar height.
05-22-2017, 11:30 PM
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Car: 1985 IROC-Z/1987 IROC-Z/1988 IROC-Z
Engine: Four 305 TPI LB9's
Transmission: Two 700R4's/One WC T-5
Axle/Gears: Posi's 3:42/2:73/3:55/2:73
Re: My 1988 IROC-Z, LB9 5-speed
The rear rims are 17x11 and the front are 17x9.5. Rear tires are 315/35-17, and front are 275/40-17.
05-23-2017, 02:50 AM
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Car: 1969 RS Z28 X33 Norwood built
Engine: 383 Stroker
Transmission: T10 4 speed
Re: My 1988 IROC-Z, LB9 5-speed
Great job fixing her back up! One of my favorite colors too. I had an 87 5 Speed G92 with Ttops a few years back that was blue. Yours looks great! Very nice job!
05-23-2017, 07:59 AM
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Car: 89 Firebird
Engine: 355 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt.Posi-3.73s
Re: My 1988 IROC-Z, LB9 5-speed
I'm sure its a blast to drive! Id love to come across a nice 5spd third gen they are getting hard to find.