i'm looking to purchase a third gen camaro. i've owned an 87 sport coupe with the 305; although i enjoyed owning that car, i needed something faster. what is the preferred year to buy that is easy to mod, and comes fast stock? any info or opinions is appreciated!!!!!!!

 

Any 5.7 would be a good buy IMO. From the factory these run mid 14s. If you want a 305, the G92 option cars I believe were mid-high 14s.

Also depends on the styling you want, IROC, Z28, or if you're a bird man. I would definately stick with getting a TPI car as these are more fuel efficient and the stock TBI/Carb motors weren't that fast.

 

The fastest camaro that you'll be able to find will be the 91-92 350 or 305 tpi 5 speed cars. Look for one with low miles if you want to mod it instead of replacing the engine, tranny, rear, etc.

 

The 91-92 models were the best looking IMO.

1st choice is one with a 350/L98
2nd choice is one with a 305/LB9
3rd choice is one with a 305/LO3

I'd try to get one with a manual tranny, but these may be harder to find.

 

It seems you are looking for a Camaro so you're either looking for an 87-90 IROC-Z or 91-92 Z28. IMO the IROC-Z's are nicer/better.

The fastest cars are the 350 Auto G92 then the 305 5-Speed G92's.

 

Snag yourself a carburated 305/5spd combination, preferably the L69 optioned cars. Low 15's stock.

Get yourself a real cam, heads (vortec or World Products, hell maybe even aluminum L98's) and exhaust (slp/hooker headers, + catback) and rock.

In my area, TPI cars are quite brutal when it comes to emissions testing, any cam even remotely hotter than stock and you fail.

My brother owns a trans am GTA with a 350, auto tranny (barf), hardtop (reettchh). It goes decent, but breaks down like every other day. It is a total pile, although looks nice. My buddy owns a 305/5spd TPI with a 350 dropped into it. Same thing, maintenance nightmare, total P.O.S.

In my opinion, TPI belongs on trucks, or schoolbuses or something. Grab yourself a copy of desktop dyno and run some combinations with TPI on top of your car. Wow, look, your HP is gonna hit a brick wall at around 320 ponies, and last time I checked I built my entire engine for less than what a SuperRam is worth. Actually, I could've built it twice.

Plus, the novelty of being able to work on your own car is quite satisfying. I could comfortably sleep underneath my hood, where as even changing the plugs on my brothers TPI is a complete epic.

The only problem is, finding a carb'd ride that isn't beat to ****. Seeing as how only complete rednecks and punk kids own these cars, they're usually beat to hell.

Don't get me wrong, in my opinion fuel injection is the preferred way to fly if you have deep pockets with drivability, mileage, etc, but on a practical level it's a waste of time.

Also, by brothers GTA clocks in about 450 pounds heavier than my '83 T/A. Why they made his hatch 100+ pounds I'll never understand.

PS : Don't buy edelbrock headers or I will smash your skull. Ok, wait, no, buy my used ones. They're great. Actually, no, wait, don't buy anything that says Edelbrock anywhere on it.

Hope this helps,
Later.

 

Your question is simple ... and the answer is also simple. The best non-rare thirdgens (i.e. not a firehawk, not a 1LE, not a B4C, etc.) to buy if you are looking for power is ...

Either a 1990 350ci IROC-Z with dual cats and peformance rear axle (L98, N10, G80, G92)

or

1991-1992 350ci Z-28 with dual cats and performance rear axle (L98, N10, G80, G92)

You don't want to buy a 305. If anybody is trying to convince you to buy a 305 then run away from them ... they are caught up in THEIR OWN 305 world. Fact is - there is no replacement for displacement. The 350 will always provide more POTENTIAL down the road when you start modding your car. The later 305 vs. 350 cars provide very similar performance numbers from the factory ... but, the 350 has much more potential in terms of modification.

Now sit back and watch all the 305 lovers come to the rescue of an engine that has less potential. Kind of funny.

Tim

 

It is my humble opinion that the best purpose a 305 can serve is #1. Boat anchor, and #2. Cool thing to throw off the edge of a quarry. Let it be known that I hate 305's with the white-hot intensity of 1,000 suns.

 

I like the 91-92 Z28. The 350 is rated for 245 hp. I also like the dash and ground f/x better than the earlier years. just my .2 cents.

Not trying to put down the earlier cars, I like them too.

 

lmao!
:sillylol:

 

The one good thing about a 305 car (not a 305 engine!) is that it might have come with a 5-speed, whereas the 350s were consigned to suffer as automatics. It's easier to swap a bigger motor in than do a trans change.

IMHO the 91-92 5-speed Z28, or the L69 5-speed Z28, would be the way to go. But it's really tough to find a L69 car any more that isn't hacked to pieces.

 

I would say somewhere money has to play a part. Obviously a carbed 305 would be a cheaper ride to mod. If it is not money you are concerned with then yes by all means get a 350 car.

 

thanks for the info people. i got about 4,000 dollars to spend so buying a 91 or 92 would probably be out of the question. although i would love to attain one of them. i'm probably looking at getting a late 80's iroc or if i'm lucky a 1990. like i said before, nothing against the 305, but i owned an 87 sport coupe with the 305 carb and it wasn't fast enough for me. so tpi is the way to go huh? hopefully i can stumble upon a cherry red 1990 iroc tpi with t-tops and low mileage. i'm probably dreaming!!!!!!!!!!

 

The best years (early/mid/late): 84, 87, and 92

Next best (early/mid/late): 82, 89, and 90

There are several reasons for my stating those and they include all trim levels and driveline packages, not just the higher level cars; as well as technical improvements for those years.

 

Yeah but put any power in front of that tranny and you have to change it anyhow.

 

what do you mean that all L69 cars are hacked up

i bought one last fall and its in almost perfect condition.

andwith the 5-speed and 3.73's it has plenty of speed, at least for the cops around here

 

82 was the car of the year for that year even though it had that crappy crossfire injection. But hey it was car of the year!

 

I can't agree more. Of course, I could be a bit biased.....