'87IROCZOWNER69

iTrader: (1)

I have an 87 IROC with a stock 350 that puts out 225 horse and 330 torque and I was wondering what kind of towing capacity it would have. Im asking because if I were to buy a parts car I might need to tow it and this is really the only thing I could use. For example my grandpa had a 1969 mach 1 that he used to tow a 71 Boss about 20 years ago and he towed it about 500 or so miles with no problems. So I wanted to know if my car would be able to do the same and how much weight it could pull.

KnottyBuoyz

iTrader: (2)

Probably not much. There's no frame in these unibody cars to handle any kind of load. The trailer hitches I've seen on 3rd gens have notches to go around exhaust etc. and they only bolt to the rear sub members. You'll twist the sh*t out of the chassis towing anything more than a utility trailer. I'd suggest borrowing a bigger rig to tow a car. Another camaro with trailer will go well over 4000 lbs.

Atilla the Fun

With a custom-fabricated load-distributing hitch platform, my '91 RS LO3/auto towed as much as 5500# without incident. That was just one emergency, however. It was my mom's camper trailer, when her old pickup broke down about 9 miles from home. The first 3 miles were city driving. The trailer had electric brakes, but my Camaro didn't have a controller. It did have 3.42:1 gearing, and subframe connectors, and T-tops.
This hitch platform, I fabricated it myself, from 1/4"-wall square tubing, and 1/4"-thick angle iron, 4" x 4". I ran long bolts all the way through the rear boxed "subframe" and used 1/8"-thick 4" steel plate on the other side.
I had to really cut the trunk, plus cut a hole in the rear bumper, and a smaller one in the bumper cover.
PITA.
It was for towing a jet ski, but I also towed a small utility trailer when I moved from one apartment into another.
If you're gonna do much serious towing, a full rollcage would help.Weld the hitch to the rear bars of the cage.
I had no incidents, but I've done way more than my share of towing over the years. I've had 11,000 pounds behind an S-10. With electric brakes fully functional.

camaronewbie

I wouldn't try it. Atilla did great things because he's a fabricator and as he mentioned did a custon setup. Our cars run hot and overheat pulling their own weight - can't imagine doubling that.

Rent a truck.

Atilla the Fun

Since you mentioned it, I remember overheating it when towing my Fiero on a U-Haul car dolly. I was heading North, out of Heber city, UT. There's a long, steep grade, and I didn't make it up. Not because the LO3 lacked power, though it did, but because I had ripped loose the secondary airdam, the one directly under the radiator.
I performed a blatantly illegal u-turn, and returned to town. I parked where I could, then walked to the ACE Hardware store. I found enough stuff for a temporary fix. I walked to Checker Auto Parts and bought a gallon of pre-mixed.
By now it was late afternoon, and well over 80. I started North again, and made it in second gear, no problem, no more overheating. Nor did it overheat 2 days later when I repeated the trip, this time towing my heavier '89 Mustang LX 5.0, which I still have.

MTXaudioSYSTM

your going to kill your tranny. unless its built. thats why i love the 4x4 trannys for. there built for towing and other bs

skinny z

I towed an 8' enclosed U-Haul trailer with a run of the mill class I hitch (500lbs tongue weight/5000lbs towing capacity) 2200 miles from Toronto to Edmonton via Duluth. Packed the trailer carefully to keep as much weight from the front as I could (without over balancing) however the trailer was hardly at capacity. Although the engine was more than capable, I found engine temps stayed at about 230F for the entire trip. Finding premium fuel in the US or Canadian boonies wasn't easy either and it was a struggle to keep my 10:1 iron headed 350 out of detonation. Months later, the engine started to get a little noisey and a tear down revealed the #6 rod bearing was starting to go away. Luckily no real damage (at least to the eye). Talking to my engine builder, he says engine oil typically runs 20 -30 degrees hotter than the coolant. That trip undoubtedly did the bearing in. The 10" convertor (with a non-functional lockup) didn't seem to mind the extra work though.

Atilla the Fun

Aside from the output shaft configuration, there was nothing special about the 4WD versions. Any stock '87-up 700R-4 or '88-up T5-WC is strong enough for 4000# with a stock engine, assuming non-abusive driving style, and proper maintenance.

Atilla the Fun

Who tows with non-synthetic oil? It's cheaper than a teardown and bearings.

skinny z

Synthetic all the way. Just an old tired small block that has seen a re-ring and re-bearing after a flat tappet cam went flat. (THAT was poor maintenance and the wrong engine oil)

'87IROCZOWNER69

iTrader: (1)

I guess if I need to ill just borrow my dads minivan. It already has a tow hook attatched to it anyways but if he needs a replacement ill let him borrow my intrepid because I dont think he can handle the power of the V8 let alone pay for gas in it!.

alexiroc

I've got a '89 with original 305 TPI and a 5-speed. been able to pull a 1000 lb trailer with a 500lb load, + another 500lb inside the car (tools, metal, heavy stuff). Drove 300 miles that way to/from NYC. Just watch out for wet roads, leave lots of room for braking. I would not push it any more, cause the car is too light, but the drive train is strong.
BTW - NYC sucks! Pay 7.50 to cross a bridge, its its always under construction and riddled with potholes. Constant traffic, must listen to traffic report 24x7. What a rip.

alexiroc

Oh, it was summer, I removed my thermostat, and have one of my fans wired to a swith in the car in case it approaches 220. That right-side fan is contolled by the water temp gauge in right side of block, and only goes on at 240, way too late and unreliable. Also, have a 2000lb hitch bolted to the rear frame. Car can do it, weather permitting

FRMULA88

is this a joke?!

you want to tow another car with a sports car

low ground clearance is one of many issues

Atilla the Fun

First, these cars are factory-rated to tow 2000#. Second, they are not light, some few V8 examples come in at 3000 pounds, but most are closer to 3500, while mist V6 versions are over 3000. And you haven't studied anything about towing, or you'd know that most tow ratings range from a trailer of equal weight to the tow vehicle, to a trailer weighing twice as much as the tow vehicle. Look at the any pickup, from S-10 to 1 ton dually, and even the '80s Monte Carlos were rated to tow 5000#, though they were 3500# cars. The only reason our cars are under-rated is lack of structure back there. We don't have any better brakes or anything than the Monte Carlo did, and likewise the 4.3L S-10s, which also used our same brakes and rear axle guts, and like the Monte, were rated to 5000#. As someone who has towed 5000# with a 2WD 4.3L S-10, I can say it went well once I got the load balanced, that trailer had surge brakes. I've also towed 4500# with a '91 Camaro RS LO3 / 700R-4 / 3.42:1, using a custom hitch I fabricated for that S-10, and this trailer had electric brakes. I did not install a controller in my car, since it was a one-shot deal, only a few miles, and that also went well. Though I was mindful to try it early on a Sunday morning when traffic was scarce. If your car can't handle 1000#, then check your hitch, your alignment, your bushings, your tires, your balljoints, your wheel bearings, your struts, your steering linkage, and whetever else could contribute. Towing safety is more about the driver than the metal stuff.