New (to me) 89 IROC
06-23-2019, 07:01 AM
#1
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New (to me) 89 IROC
I didn’t see a forum for new member intros. I’ll try here, admin please move if needed.
Just picked up an 89 5.7 T-Top IROC, Dark red with gold trim, red interior. Car is very original and supposed to be 33k mile car. From what I can tell and document I think it’s correct, had a harder life than a 33k mile car should have had but it’s a good car. I have a couple other Camaros and always wanted an IROC. Mission accomplished!
With any old car there are things to shake down. What one my list so far:
- Hard cold start, very rich once fired. Warm and hot start is no issue.
- Hesitation at higher RPM.
- Radio, no right side speaker front or rear.
- Front end alignment.
- Rear hatch struts.
- interior odds and ends like arm rests.
I’m sure there will be more things to shake out but that’s it so far. Pics to follow...
Just picked up an 89 5.7 T-Top IROC, Dark red with gold trim, red interior. Car is very original and supposed to be 33k mile car. From what I can tell and document I think it’s correct, had a harder life than a 33k mile car should have had but it’s a good car. I have a couple other Camaros and always wanted an IROC. Mission accomplished!
With any old car there are things to shake down. What one my list so far:
- Hard cold start, very rich once fired. Warm and hot start is no issue.
- Hesitation at higher RPM.
- Radio, no right side speaker front or rear.
- Front end alignment.
- Rear hatch struts.
- interior odds and ends like arm rests.
I’m sure there will be more things to shake out but that’s it so far. Pics to follow...
06-23-2019, 07:59 AM
#2
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: New (to me) 89 IROC
Congrats on the purchase and welcome to TGO! You'll find a lot of great people here, with tons and tons and tons of knowledge about these cars. I'm looking forward to seeing pics of your new ride! 
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69L48Z27 (06-23-2019)
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69L48Z27 (06-23-2019)
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dm3k (11-12-2019)
06-23-2019, 08:31 PM
#7
Re: New (to me) 89 IROC
If I'm not mistaken.....and I may be.....but I believe that the red interior was special order. Pretty sure ALL gold wheel (92P) and gold/black decals (88A) came with some combo of beechwood (66x) interior. Only way to get another color was to special order. -while this doesn't really add value per se, I think it's cool!
Sharp car!
Sharp car!
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69L48Z27 (06-23-2019)
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06-23-2019, 09:03 PM
#8
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Re: New (to me) 89 IROC
I’m not sure if it was special order or not. I did find something online from GM Heritage that was an order form for 89 model year. The documentation there says it’s a legit combo with gold but not silver. I thought it was strange when I saw the car the first time, I had to see if it was even available this way. I’ll be on the lookout for other dark red with red interior combos. I personally like the red interior, especially with white or silver.
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69L48Z27 (06-23-2019)
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69L48Z27 (06-24-2019)
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69L48Z27 (06-24-2019)
06-24-2019, 07:24 PM
#12
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Thread Starter
Re: New (to me) 89 IROC
I had a little bit of garage time today. Fixed some things and then scratching my head on another.
The hard start when cold issue... I got a fuel pressure gauge and screwed it into the fuel rail. Hit the key and it was in the mid 30’s. Thought it was supposed to be 42-43 but let’s see what it does. I bumped the car over maybe 4 times, no long crank. The fuel pressure got up to about 38 and it fired as good as it has yet. Shut it off and it went up to about 42. Left it sit and two hours later it fell a couple pounds. Hit the key, fired right up. Here’s where I’m stumped. I removed the vacuum line to see if it went up to 43, when I cranked it I had zero pressure, gauge fell right down. Cycled the key a handful of times, no fire and pressure. I replaced the vacuum line, I even got my vacuum pump out and pulled vacuum on the regulator, nothing. I’m thinking did the fuel pump just quit? Seriously? When in for a while and searched where to find the relay and fuse so I could check those. I pulled around the wires on the relay to find the feed wire so I could probe it. Hit the key and pressure up. It’s been fine ever since. I did the test with removing vacuum and right up to 43 it went. Something going on at the relay?
Next up - timing. Well, I guess the PO had no idea about the wire and disconnecting it. Timing was severely retarded. I set it to 6BTDC like the sticker under the hood says. Not sure if this was my hard start issue.
Another discovery. In context there’s really nothing jerry rigged on this car expect for one thing so far. The smog pump ‘box’ above the passenger side rocker cover had zip ties centering it. I cut those off, couldn’t figure out whey they were there. Had the car running and I could hear this fluttering noise coming from the smog pump. Grabbed the box that had the zip ties and sure enough I could change the sound. Figured the zip ties were stopping the noise. I look down at the back of the smog pump and the two tube bolts are ready to fall out. Screwed the, back in and now it’s fixed.
I also found a $10 bill when I was cleaning under the seats. First time for finding paper money in a used car!
The hard start when cold issue... I got a fuel pressure gauge and screwed it into the fuel rail. Hit the key and it was in the mid 30’s. Thought it was supposed to be 42-43 but let’s see what it does. I bumped the car over maybe 4 times, no long crank. The fuel pressure got up to about 38 and it fired as good as it has yet. Shut it off and it went up to about 42. Left it sit and two hours later it fell a couple pounds. Hit the key, fired right up. Here’s where I’m stumped. I removed the vacuum line to see if it went up to 43, when I cranked it I had zero pressure, gauge fell right down. Cycled the key a handful of times, no fire and pressure. I replaced the vacuum line, I even got my vacuum pump out and pulled vacuum on the regulator, nothing. I’m thinking did the fuel pump just quit? Seriously? When in for a while and searched where to find the relay and fuse so I could check those. I pulled around the wires on the relay to find the feed wire so I could probe it. Hit the key and pressure up. It’s been fine ever since. I did the test with removing vacuum and right up to 43 it went. Something going on at the relay?
Next up - timing. Well, I guess the PO had no idea about the wire and disconnecting it. Timing was severely retarded. I set it to 6BTDC like the sticker under the hood says. Not sure if this was my hard start issue.
Another discovery. In context there’s really nothing jerry rigged on this car expect for one thing so far. The smog pump ‘box’ above the passenger side rocker cover had zip ties centering it. I cut those off, couldn’t figure out whey they were there. Had the car running and I could hear this fluttering noise coming from the smog pump. Grabbed the box that had the zip ties and sure enough I could change the sound. Figured the zip ties were stopping the noise. I look down at the back of the smog pump and the two tube bolts are ready to fall out. Screwed the, back in and now it’s fixed.
I also found a $10 bill when I was cleaning under the seats. First time for finding paper money in a used car!
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69L48Z27 (06-24-2019)
06-24-2019, 08:38 PM
#14
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: New (to me) 89 IROC
I absolutely love that color combo. I have seen several flame red GTA'S with red interior, but i dont think I've seen it on an IROC yet. I am a huge fan!
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69L48Z27 (06-25-2019)
06-24-2019, 11:19 PM
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Car: 1988 IROC Z Convertible
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Re: New (to me) 89 IROC
Nice car!
My buddy had an 87 dark red with red interior.. different on the 87 but brings back memories!
My buddy had an 87 dark red with red interior.. different on the 87 but brings back memories!
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69L48Z27 (06-25-2019)
06-25-2019, 09:24 AM
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
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Re: New (to me) 89 IROC
I had a little bit of garage time today. Fixed some things and then scratching my head on another.
The hard start when cold issue... I got a fuel pressure gauge and screwed it into the fuel rail. Hit the key and it was in the mid 30’s. Thought it was supposed to be 42-43 but let’s see what it does. I bumped the car over maybe 4 times, no long crank. The fuel pressure got up to about 38 and it fired as good as it has yet. Shut it off and it went up to about 42. Left it sit and two hours later it fell a couple pounds. Hit the key, fired right up. Here’s where I’m stumped. I removed the vacuum line to see if it went up to 43, when I cranked it I had zero pressure, gauge fell right down. Cycled the key a handful of times, no fire and pressure. I replaced the vacuum line, I even got my vacuum pump out and pulled vacuum on the regulator, nothing. I’m thinking did the fuel pump just quit? Seriously? When in for a while and searched where to find the relay and fuse so I could check those. I pulled around the wires on the relay to find the feed wire so I could probe it. Hit the key and pressure up. It’s been fine ever since. I did the test with removing vacuum and right up to 43 it went. Something going on at the relay?
The hard start when cold issue... I got a fuel pressure gauge and screwed it into the fuel rail. Hit the key and it was in the mid 30’s. Thought it was supposed to be 42-43 but let’s see what it does. I bumped the car over maybe 4 times, no long crank. The fuel pressure got up to about 38 and it fired as good as it has yet. Shut it off and it went up to about 42. Left it sit and two hours later it fell a couple pounds. Hit the key, fired right up. Here’s where I’m stumped. I removed the vacuum line to see if it went up to 43, when I cranked it I had zero pressure, gauge fell right down. Cycled the key a handful of times, no fire and pressure. I replaced the vacuum line, I even got my vacuum pump out and pulled vacuum on the regulator, nothing. I’m thinking did the fuel pump just quit? Seriously? When in for a while and searched where to find the relay and fuse so I could check those. I pulled around the wires on the relay to find the feed wire so I could probe it. Hit the key and pressure up. It’s been fine ever since. I did the test with removing vacuum and right up to 43 it went. Something going on at the relay?
Another discovery. In context there’s really nothing jerry rigged on this car expect for one thing so far. The smog pump ‘box’ above the passenger side rocker cover had zip ties centering it. I cut those off, couldn’t figure out whey they were there. Had the car running and I could hear this fluttering noise coming from the smog pump. Grabbed the box that had the zip ties and sure enough I could change the sound. Figured the zip ties were stopping the noise. I look down at the back of the smog pump and the two tube bolts are ready to fall out. Screwed the, back in and now it’s fixed.
I also found a $10 bill when I was cleaning under the seats. First time for finding paper money in a used car!
I also found a $10 bill when I was cleaning under the seats. First time for finding paper money in a used car!
Welcome to the site, most of us are pretty nice and willing to help. If you cannot find it in a search, just ask, it probably has been answered before, but ask anyway.
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69L48Z27 (06-25-2019)
06-25-2019, 07:51 PM
#17
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Thread Starter
Re: New (to me) 89 IROC
My cars start hard when cold, Usually what I do is I turn on the ignition and listen for the fuel pump, when it stops running I crank the engine and it seems to help. Fuel pumps are notorious for going out, if anything probably the weak spot on these cars. Please do not do the "trap Door" to replace it.
It could be, timing does play a roll. If you use Premium fuel you can advance the timing a little to get the benefits from the better fuel.
Nothing like getting a rebate on a car...
Welcome to the site, most of us are pretty nice and willing to help. If you cannot find it in a search, just ask, it probably has been answered before, but ask anyway.
It could be, timing does play a roll. If you use Premium fuel you can advance the timing a little to get the benefits from the better fuel.
Nothing like getting a rebate on a car...
Welcome to the site, most of us are pretty nice and willing to help. If you cannot find it in a search, just ask, it probably has been answered before, but ask anyway.
I started the car car this AM cold. I still have the gauge on it, read 0 this morning. Rolled the key and pump brought me up to about 32lb. I bumped the engine twice and it fired. Fuel pressure went up to 38lb. Seemed better.
06-28-2019, 07:29 PM
#18
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Re: New (to me) 89 IROC
So it looks like a fuel pump is in my future. Check my thinking and see if missed anything.
- Changed fuel filter.
- With the car priming itself from zero, the two second thing, I get about 30lb. Bump it over and it goes up to about 38 and fires on the third bump cold. Shut the car down and it goes up to about 41. Pressure will hold for several hours.
- Next I ran a jumper to the relay harness and sent power straight to the pump. It gets to about 40 and that’s it.
- Next I pinched off the return line and I still only get 40 psi.
This is tells me this pump is only ever gonna do 40 psi no matter what the load. I’m a few psi below where I should be.
Would you you change the pump or run it? The car falls flat at high rpm but I haven’t driven it yet since I change the timing. So, it’s either running out of fuel or the timing was that far off.
- Changed fuel filter.
- With the car priming itself from zero, the two second thing, I get about 30lb. Bump it over and it goes up to about 38 and fires on the third bump cold. Shut the car down and it goes up to about 41. Pressure will hold for several hours.
- Next I ran a jumper to the relay harness and sent power straight to the pump. It gets to about 40 and that’s it.
- Next I pinched off the return line and I still only get 40 psi.
This is tells me this pump is only ever gonna do 40 psi no matter what the load. I’m a few psi below where I should be.
Would you you change the pump or run it? The car falls flat at high rpm but I haven’t driven it yet since I change the timing. So, it’s either running out of fuel or the timing was that far off.
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