I have spent close to $500 on new parts for my IROC the past couple of weeks: new radiator, hoses, sparkplugs (ac rapidfire), wires,cap, rotor, IAC, brake rotors, calipers, bearings, brake hoses, .....and then rear shocks (was working my way back) which is when I found my rear subframe is twisting and breaking the rusted floor pan around it. It is only a matter of time before my LCA and it's mount comes up through the floor and my IROC becomes a lowrider. I am thinking of not fixing it. I was just approved today for a car loan on a 4th Gen Z28 in anticipation of replacing my IROC. Has anyone else had this happen to their third gen? I love my IROC but it has been nickel and diming me for the last 5 years and this chassis problem I think is the last straw. I swore I would never get rid of this car, I might not, but I have nowhere to store it if I keep it. I may just look for it a good home with a caring hand that can put her back into shape, I cannot, I do not have the time nor space to do it. She runs good though, but I was forced to drive her through a couple of harsh winters here in Northern IN and I think ultimately that is what has done her in. What does everyone think? Should I retire her and put her on the doaners list to help keep the others like her alive or keep her on life support until I find her a cure? I had big plans for her as my sig shows, that Lt1 may be for sale soon (the Z I've been approved for already has one )

 

Im sorry to hear that, its like getting the news your "minor" accident caused irrepairable damage. Im sure somebody given the right materials could fix that area, but what other areas are rotting secretly? it might be the bets thing to just play a round of taps and be rid of the car. Parting it out may fetch money, but you may be able to sell the car for more than you would get piece by piece. The LT1 will almost definitely sell also. Mike

 

With a chassis problem like that, I'd probably scrap the car. That sounds like NO fun to fix. If you really love your car and have the time, there are TONS of "rolling chasis" cars out there. I'd strip your car and translplant all your parts onto a "new" car. There's a guy in Worcester (pronounced Wooster ) Mass in the classifieds that has a real decent 89 or 90 Iroc for sale....then again, guess you wouldn't want a car from Mass, salt and all. Anyhoo, just a thought.

Ed

 

I think you should find a place to keep/store the car.I understand about the space limits,but with the F body platform going away,the car may become something to have in the future.Also in the event you have to drive in the winter again,it would be a better choice than the new 4th gen your thinking about getting. Just my .02

 

A close friend of mine had a similar problem. The '88 IROCZ he bought was originally from the Cleveland,Ohio area. The underbody had some areas where the rust was rather nasty. So we mixed some POR-15 as the directions sat. And we sprayed it all under the car.

We next installed Spohn SFCs. That was two years ago. No problems since. That POR-15 is some bad assed stuff. Stops rust period.

Thanx,ANDYZ28

 

A weld shop can fix anything; and subframe connectors are a great idea. Any car nickle and dimes you- unless you ignore it; so I can't sympathize with THAT part of your problem. I have over 230,000 miles on my car. If I had to nitpick and add up all the nickles and dimes I've spent, I'd be an unhappy man... I'd probably go insane. And I just have a V6!

I totalled my car in May of '96. I bought a parts Firebird for $250, and stripped both to a frame in the front. I towed them to my shop, where they cut off my twisted front frame, welded the front subframe from the parts car onto my car, swapped windsheilds, and then I towed my '86 back. I put it together, and here it is, 6 years later, and my front frame is still intact; no signs of cracks. I did a ton of bodywork in '97, prepped the car, and brought it to Maaco, where they shot it for $400. Then I restored the car to perfect running and interior condition.

Here it is in 2002. I need to rebuild the motor. I need to rebuild the trans, because it slips after completing the 1-2 shift (it's done that since I put it in, this is trans #3, and this time, I'm rebuilding it MYSELF). I need to weld a rear 1/4 on the car. I need to do tons of bodywork again. I need to fix the posi in my 3.73/posi/disc axle so I can put it back underneath. I need to paint the car after the 1/4 panel fix, and this time, I'm painting it MYSELF.

So any car can be fixed. But look at how much I've spent, time wise and $$ wise. I don't mind. But you might! Everyone I talk to (including the girlfriend) thinks I'm crazy- "Just get a new car"- but I won't. I enjoy it too much.

Think it over; good luck with your decision!

 

And hopefully I gave you an idea. Get a parts car, or just cut the floorpan out of another Camaro; any will do. Then get a Home Depot credit card, and buy a Lincoln Electric MIG welder. Then go to a welding supply store for a CO2/Argon bottle (non explosive). Then, weld up the floor.

 

A couple things to think about:

1) A good storage unit should be no more than $100 a month. My Grand Am is currently residing in one until October 1, which is when the Formula will go in. I hate spending $100 a month on storage...but hey, its better than selling the car!!! If you REALLY wanna keep it, you'll find $25 a week is an easy sacrifice...and this coming from someone who has to pay to store TWO cars!! (Although I'm getting a deal where I store the Z...only $45 a month for a co-worker's garage).

2) If I had to do it all over again, I may have held out on my 30th and waited for the right trade-in to come in (I work at a dealer)...aka my Formula. But now I love the Z, and can't sell it. I have to wait until after grad school (which I start this fall) just so I have the $$ to fix the Formula up right!! I paid $1,000 for the Formula versus $14,500 (a steal on a 30th) for my Z. I love the LT1, the 6 speed, the newer design, etc...but is it FOURTEEN TIMES more fun? Hell no. Plus, the Z has lost $1,500 in value since I bought it, even though I've only driven it 6,500 miles in that year and a half. Meanwhile, I have a total of $1,700 invested in the Formula, and its worth twice that. The depreciation hit is n/a here. Older cars may nickle and dime you, but wait until that Z is 3 years older...try a depreciation hit versus nickle and diming

3) There are SOME clean MA cars...mine's one of them. Southern cars are prferable, but ones like mine that were garaged and undercoated when new are very solid underneath...just not as great up top.

Do whatever you feel is right, and enjoy it. But don't be so quick to dump the IROC you love to jump on the 4th gen bandwagon. Consider the interest, depreciation and monthly payments on your new Z28, then consider storing the IROC for a year, driving a beater, and investing the $$ into the IROC. You may be surprised!

 

Wow. Around me, they want $100/month for a frickin closet! Yep, a 2x2x8' tall closet... and the price seems to be a standard around here. I called other places and they gave me about the same quote. haha, one guy asked what I wanted to store, I said car parts, he paused, and asked "Are they dirty?" I said no- but afterwards, I shoulda said yes. "Yes, dripping with oil, grease everywhere, they stink like hell." I think the guy was a neat freak.

 

Well, I just drove home my new Z! It doesn't give me the same feeling as the third gen's do (I also think my iroc accelerates quicker) As to what I'm going to do withy the iroc? I'm not sure I might just store it (I aleady have a 1963 Impala in storage, $65 a month, that needs work) Wife isn't really saying anything, I think she wanted a new vehicle instead

 

Enjoy the new one. Planning on parting out the Iroc?

 

As long as everybody else agreed pretty much with what I said,I want to throw another .02 into the pot.In 2000 when my TA got rear ended, the insurance company of the guy who hit me wanted to total the car because it had a lot of miles and it was going to cost more than "Book" to fix it.
I told them I wanted it fixed,or I was going to hire one of those "TV" Lawyers.Needless to say they fixed it and even painted the roof and "A" pillers.It drives straight handles as good if not better than before and will eventually get a complete paint job.The point being,if the body shop could pull this crumpled mess back into my daily driver,you can get that floor pan fixed and keep the car for a very long time. Keep it.

 

I have seen Floor pans for about 150ish. My 91 Needs one. But the holes are real small. I will find out the real damage hopefully this summer when I take a drill armed with a wire brush to the area.