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Thanks for the nomination. It means a lot coming from the community that knows these cars best. Unfortunately, I think I have to withdraw from the voting as I sold the car last June to a family of F-body (all generations) enthusiasts. I'm not sure if they are on the forums or not. Good luck to everyone else in the running.
Here is the history of the car.
Ghetto ride was the first car I ever purchased, I bought it back in 1991. I'm the second owner. It started out life as a 2.8L Sport Coupe. I drove this car daily for over 10 years to and from school, and later to and from work.
When the V6 finally died, I was forced with a decision send it off to scrape or go all in and totally restore it. I chose to restore it, and make it better than it was when it was new.
First thing out, was the V6. Replacing it was a 5.7 out of a 92 Z28, since I had a parts car, I decided to also swap out the basic dash with the nicer more modern dash of the 92. Behind the cluster, I removed all the dim 194 bulbs with bright LED strips, to give it a even bright back lighting.
I also replaced all the carpet with a dark Graphite color, replaced the door panels and also swapped in 4th Gen seats.
For the exterior, I added the 92 style GFX (the car had none originally). Added Bi-Xenonn HIDs. And also created my own LED tail lights, soldering in 1000's of LEDs to give me the look I was wanting.
Lastly, I said goodbye to the light blue and went with Victory Red/Black theme on the exterior. Gives it a much meaner look.
In all, took about 5 years from when I started to when I could drive it again. But now that's done, the car has been a blast to drive and I actually get people coming up to me now complimenting on it, and how it's in such great shape. They are really surprised to hear it's really an 84.
Off to the pictures.
Here is how it looked when I first bought it back in the day. I don't have a whole lot of pictures from back then.
Test fitting the bumpers and GFX
RIP blackie
And how she looks after the full restoration
Exterior
Updated Interior
My Double Din conversion. Did this myself, I think it turned out pretty good.
Thanks for the nomination. It means a lot coming from the community that knows these cars best. Unfortunately, I think I have to withdraw from the voting as I sold the car last June to a family of F-body (all generations) enthusiasts. I'm not sure if they are on the forums or not. Good luck to everyone else in the running.
Thanks for the nomination.
I purchased this car new when I was 18 years old 31 years ago. Once I knew Chevrolet was to release a factory convertible again, a IROC-Z my dream car, I was in the hunt for one, only to find out, it was only available to a few selected limited dealerships. After months of searching I was able to have a dealer order the car only to find out all of the orders has been completed for the 1987 year. A few months had passed & feeling fustraded, I finally got a call from a family member who worked @ a local Chevrolet Dealership. He had gotten a call from another salesman who had located the car I was looking for in a neighboring state in a showroom that belonged to the dealerships owner & was thinking of selling the car that had never been registered. Knowing this I took a 3 hour ride with $5k in hand to hopefully negotiate a deal! After meeting the owner of the dealership & explaining my story, I was able to purchase the car of my dreams! The car is all original, still have the original Goodyear Gatorback tires. This is a high option car with the LB9 TPI egine, G92 Performance axle with disc brakes, G80 Limited slip, 5 speed manual, GM custom leather interior. It’s one of 744 ASC IROC-Z & Z28’s produced in 1987. Its a Norwood car assembled in the Original Camaro plant closed after the 87 production run. Chevrolet marked these cars as the 20th Anniversary Edition. Car is also signed by GM's Chief Designer Jerry Palmer, man responsible for the 3rd Gen Camaro's.
Last edited by Horacioz28iroc; 01-20-2018 at 11:32 PM.
cdoyle I have to commend you on going through and building a car like that. Great job! Beautiful car, theres just something about building one yourself it takes a lot of hard work and it shows.
I just received notification so I will try to post as much as I can.
I purchased my 84 Recaro from a California owner on Craigslist. Had it shipped, sight unseen to my home in northern IL.
The car ran terrible. It needed a rebuilt carb, new exhaust, new suspension and the original L69 was leaking oil, but I knew I had a great foundation in that there was “0” rust being a Cali car all it’s life.
After deliberating for over a year, I decided to replace everything nose to tail.
Here are some pics of the car, pre restoration and during
Original owner purchased in Burlingame, CA as a Y84 Recaro L69 5 speed Trans Am. Only 1321 made. I have the build sheet.
I purchased from a California seller in 2012. Spent its first 52,000 miles in a dry, sunny climate. Still has original paint. Entire Body is devoid of any rust or corrosion. Some surface paint oxidation is present. Has been faithfully garage kept and only driven on roads with no salt during mild/warm days in Illinois. Averaging about 1000-1500 miles a year.
Car was rebuilt in 2013/14 during a very hotly contested divorce. I managed to make this project my "therapy" session. My goal for the build was to unf*** what an economy minded, mass production run GM did. Everything from the engine, trans, suspension, interior. I did some mods with a nod to some kind of Pontiac originality (Pontiac Blue block color to pay homage to the old Ram Air motors of the 60s-70s)
Some say, "Why did you yank out the L69 and kill the originality"? -- Honestly- can anybody say that an original L69 -with all of its underwhelming 190hp can be considered more desirable than a 400 hp 355? It’s not like a 78-79 6.6 liter or a SD-455
Originally is a double edged sword. It holds value to the eyes of the beholder yet to keep it original is a sacrifice. Want more power? Nope, can’t do that. Want better handling? Nope can’t do that.
My decision to go from 100% original to what it is now was not easy. So conceptually I decided to bridge the "gaps" between Orginality, Creativity and Performance. Which to me, turns this car into a work of art that few people if any can fully appreciate.
Summary of rebuild-
Powerplant-
1989 L98 350 rebuilt to 355 cubic inches. Painted in Pontiac Blue.
Vortec heads cleaned a ported.
Custom Erson Cam-226 Intake/234 exhaust
Custom Dyno Don 1-3/4 inch headers running straight back to a Magnaflow muffler.
Estimated 400 HP at the crank. Running on Mobil One synthetic
Engine and Transmission have about 3000 miles.
Highly modified CCC quadrajet fuel system.
Carburetor was completely rebuilt.
Throttle plates were sanded down and new idle tubes by Cliff’s High Performance
Higher flow jets installed.
Custom GM COPO PROM and chip.
Modified to custom specifications to run with the custom made Erson Cam.
Car idles steady at 1000 RPM with some audio aggression.
Dual electric fan with triple core Be Cool radiator. 160 degree temp sensor.
Dual Snorkel intake and hood intake. K&N Air filter.
Transmission-
TKO-600 5 speed with overdrive.
Dual friction clutch
Suspension/Rear End
UMI outer subframe connectors and Alston Inner connectors installed by Schwartz Performance
TDS Wonder bar
34mm Front Sway
28mm Rear Sway
Founders Caster plates
Founders Adj Panhard
Founders Adj Lower Control Arms
Founders LCA Relocation Bracket
Koni adjustable Shocks and Struts
Rear end completely rebuilt by Schwartz Performance - replaced 26 spline with 28 spline axles.
Aluminum Driveshaft
Tires/Wheels- 2 options
4 All season Goodyear matched to the Original 15” alloy wheels
2 front BFG Summer 245/50’s matched to 1989 gold GTA wheels
2 rear Mickey Thompson 255/50’s matched to 1989 gold GTA wheels
Summer tires have been stored in basement during winters
Exterior-
Original Paint.
Original 1984 Y84 Bird Sail Panel emblems. Also have NOS in box, awaiting repaint.
Interior-
New carpet
New headliner
Like new leather Knee bolster pad.
Rebuilt and resurfaced Recaro seats
RetroSound stereo with Preamp
New dash cover
Like New Steering wheel – Original “Full” Leather style
Dynamat sound deadening throughout interior body.
Kee-rist! I thought this was a straight-up duel between cdoyle and Horacio..then Chuck slams in with an equally terrific origin/build tale. This has got to be among the tightest COTM showdowns ever, no?
I..I vote for all three cars.
01-20-2018, 09:44 AM
