This thread is where I will document anything I do to my newly acquired 89 Camaro RS hardtop. I'll be updating it frequently (hopefully). If there is a separate thread related to a modification or repair then I'll paste it here also so that this thread will be a summary of the adventure.

I got the car on Saturday, March 14, 2009 from LAN_Lord (Brad) just north of Houston. I paid $1200 for it with the stock wheels and a set of chrome 17" and tires. Modifications when I got it were: flowtech headers, Eibach sportline lowering springs, 94 Camaro Seats.









Walk around video.
http://s578.photobucket.com/albums/s...t=MOV00312.flv

Some of you have commented on the 17" wheels and yes they are a bit pimptastic but I chose to put them on rather than leaving the stock ones on there with the tires that were nearly as old as the car. Unfortunately I didn't realize that the tires on the stock wheels were that old before I drove it 60 miles home, but I made it safely.

When I picked the car up it was raining and only the driver's side wiper was close to being in good shape. The rubber was mostly off on the PS. The lift struts on both the hood and the hatch were blown also. So the first thing I did was put a new set of rainX wipers on it and replace all 4 lift struts.

Right now I am working on fixing some things so that I can pass inspection and get the car on the road. The brake lights did not work when I picked the car up also (my friend followed me all the way home) so I started investigating that. Turns out the fuse for the brake lights/hazzard/anoying door buzzer was missing. Fuse installed, all is good. The 3rd brake light in the spoiler doesn't work but I am pretty sure that its the bulb, plus the housing is missing a screw and the spoiler is cracked around it.

The horn doesn't work so I am in the process of fixing that. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...sing-part.html

I bought a Grant steering wheel today on ebay.

In case you are wondering the model number (I did), I asked the seller and they said it was a limited production wheel that Grant never cataloged which is why you won't see it on their site. The model number is 802E. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...TQ:MOTORS:1123

The big thing I'm concerned with passing inspection is the emissions. The Flowtech headers that are on it do not have a provision for the A.I.R. tube. From what I've read there is a tube that goes from the cat to the exhaust manifold? And there is also a smog pump (not sure if this is part of the same system). Either way there is no place to hook up the air tube to the headers and there is nothing hooked to the smog pump hence the loud poping/clicking sound in the video above. Brad (the seller) told me that when he took it for inspection it only failed on NOx at the 15mph test (passed at 25mph) so I though since NOx goes up with combustion temps that putting a colder set of plugs might give me just enough to pass. So I installed a new set of AC Delco R44TS plugs and Bosch wires. While installing the wires I found that the distributor cap was destroyed and I cannot figure out how the car ran at all. The pin that the coil wire connects to and rests on the rotor was broken/burned out of the cap and the wire was just resting on the (extremely corroded) rotor! So new cap and rotor also.

I think I just need to get the horn working and then I'll take it in to see if she'll pass inspection.

 

I just found some new information in the exhaust sticky on A.I.R. that explains a lot. Apparently the O2 sensor signal is bumped by the ECU to compensate for the air injection. So when you remove the AIR system the engine runs a little bit lean at certain throttle positions (part throttle light load). This would explain why the car failed in NOx at the 15mph test. Lean condition raises combustion temp and NOx emissions.

 

looks good. I thought about that car but have to many projects as it is.

 

what are your plans for the motor?

 

I've met Brad a few times and have seen that car several times, just not in the last 6 months or so. He used to work in Tomball area, but it's been awhile since I've seen him..

Bring it out to the July 25th show!

 

As of right now I don't have any plans for the motor other than a tune up and getting the emissions stuff back together so that it will pass inspection. I am going to focus mostly on the chassis and suspension for autocross.

I plan on bringing it out to the meet in July!!

 

Step 1) 150 shot of nitrous

Step 2) Get headman headers and Y pipe, not the junk blowtechs

Step 3) Good 3 inch cat back

Step 4) Carb and intake swap with Vortec 305 heads(when time and money allow)


I am not for waitsing money on a 305, but it would be easy way to make power and it would do great. My route would be a 350+ ci swap ASAP. Glad you found what you were looking for.

 

Nice ride bro, nothing like Maui Blue on a third gen looks clean for $1200. You should look into getting those seats reupholstered, like mine

 

Thanks. Maui Blue, eh? I didn't know that. I liked the color when I saw it. You don't see many in that color for sure. As far as seats go I was thinking more along the lines of some racing seats for autocross. Maybe swap in some good factory seats from like an EVO, STI or RX8. Or maybe some Corbeau A4's.

 

a friend is selling a 350 tpi out of a 89 trans am a4
with harness, he bought for swap, but wrecked the truck it was going in.

 

Always glad to welcome new third-gener's, but the regional boards
are for group activities. Suggest moving this thread to the
"Appearance/Detailing" forum, with sub-forums specifically for
member rides/projects, etc.

Again welcome...
You'll find that the expertise available is only occasionally eclipsed
by gas-bags & goof-*****. (But we luv 'em all...)

kk

 

I wasn't sure were to put the thread since it's a general project thread. If one of the moderators/admin wants to move the thread to an appropriate forum that'd be great.

I plan on being at the meet. I'm going to get the car inspected tomorrow so hopefully I'll have it on the road this week!

 

If you want it moved, just let me know where you would like it and I'll take care of it.

But if you want to leave it here, so that the locals will see it, that's OK too.

I can also move it with a "redirect" so that it will appear in both places for a while.