I am looking into buying a second car for my family. I already have a good four door sedan as a family car, so this is going to be a toy/semi-daily driver for myself (I drive about 20 miles total in a week). I've pretty much decided on a third gen Camaro, preferably the later years. The problem I'm having is deciding on which motor to look for.

The biggest factor in deciding for me is what is easier to work on. I'm not an expert, but I do know a little bit. I'm hoping to learn while I work on the car. I'm a mechanic on F-16s, so I'm pretty mechanically inclined anyway and will (hopefully) have a quick learning curve.

Basically, I need to know if the fuel-injected motor is much more difficult to work on than the carburated one. I'd prefer the (What I imagine to be) better efficiency and power with the fuel-injected motor, but I will be okay with the Carb if it is easier for a novice like myself.

Thanks for the help. I've been cruising these forums for some time now and really like how helpful and open everyone seems to be.

 

well if your looking at the later models they are all fuel injected. A Camaro RS will either a V6, or a Throttle Body Injected (TBI) V8. Iroc-Z or Z28 models will either have a Tuned Port Injection (TPI) 305 or 350. If you want a 5 speed they were only produced with the 305. all production 350 cars were automatic. It all depends on what you want to do with it

 

"It all depends on what you want to do with it"

Really, what I want to do with it is learn. I learn by doing and I want to start easy and work my way forwards. As I said, I'm a mechanic by trade, just not on cars, so I'm confident I can pick things up.

 

Either is just as easy to work on, but with a carb you have style, simplicity, and minimalism in the engine bay (if you choose too).

Nothing cooler in my opinion then redoing your wiring harness and knowing that with about 3 or 4 wires total that car will fire up and run like a champ for half a million miles unless something in the engine itself actually breaks.

Honestly, the only way I would ever do FI is with one of those fancy aftermarket TBI setups that can be mounted simply and easily with just enough wiring for the senors it needs.

 

I meant modification wise

 

find a cheap roller and drop a small block in it and have fun

 

Honestly,
You can go with an EFI model if you want, I did. You get a hell of a lot more torque and maintain your fuel economy. I get 14 consistently. However, they are not kidding when they say it's extra work. The manuals, both chiltons and haynes, are a must and you will need to understand wiring diagrams.

I love the look and the power of TPI, Its one of the things I like most about my Camaro; just expect to take a lot of trips back to the store for crimp connectors.

 

I'd say just try and find the cleanest/best running car you can for your budget and let that be your dictating factor if you are comfortable working on either. The TPI cars are a bit more effort to work on as the simply have more things in the engine bay than the carb cars do. Having owned both types of cars, I prefer the EFI side of things.

 

Brando, I have a $4000 budget. I really liked the idea of dropping in my own engine, but I don't know if I'm comfortable doing that. Is it something a semi-novice could accomplish?



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I would honestly at least have someone with you your first time. It's honestly nothing and takes barely any time at all if you have the right space and equipment and knowledge, maybe you could get friendly with a local low-key block builder and have him help ya with the actual swap.

$4000 might be cutting it a TAD close. I bought my 88 with 305 tbi for $1300 total and had a 355 shortblock build and all the parts delivered for about $2500-$3000. My friend helped me drop it in.

One thing is FOR SURE... DON'T GET AN AUTOMATIC. You mine-as-well just get a minivan for all the fun you'll have with an automatic. I never drove a manual before I bought my car. Spent 20 minutes with a friend showing me how and about 3 days being semi scared of it.

Now I couldn't dream of going back. Honestly, this car and it's manual tranny changed my life. I needed help changing break pads before I bought it, now I help others rebuild small blocks and do custom complete wiring jobs, lol. The stick and the power made me fall in love with the car and after that if my head wasn't under the hood it was buried in the internet on this site and others gaining info on our cars and engines in general.

 

Yea, I think I'm going to steer away from dropping in a new motor until I know a bit more about what I'm doing. I think after a little bit under the hood, I'll be okay (I can stuff a Jet engine no problem

I also don't have all the tools I'll likely need. I've only got a basic set of wrenches and sockets, so I'll be buying the tools I need as I need them.

As for an automatic, I'd really prefer a stick, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker if the car was right.

 

i would say 89 camaro . i have had several but i miss my 89 , feel it was best/easiest to work on . what ever you get , get a V8 with a WC T5 . i think they were 88 (maybe 87) and up . most important is a good T.O. (factory service manual) and read up on all major repairs/or up-grades . what ever you get , good luck .

 

Get the 92 Z28 Camaro, cant go wrong the 25th anniversary , anyway, welcome to the family.

 

Just as a FYI if your a handling guy the Pontiacs with the WS6 package have a better stock suspension than the Camaro got. Even if the Camaro had the suspensions package it wasn't the same. Some things stayed Pontiac and some things stayed Chevy

 

I love the body style and handling of my TA since I have had three Firebirds. The Firebirds come with 3.1 V6, and of course 5.0 and 5.7 in the newer ones, and my first was a 91. The second one I moved up progressively to the TBI (throttle body) in the 89 Trans Am. I sold that one for the one I have now, which is an 87 GTA. The Firebirds have more upgraded interior and body effects. They are set up with the same engine as a Camaro, but some came out sooner with the standards upgrades. The interior and electric and handling was an upgrade or standard equipment in the GTA/TA that interested me. I have been quite happy with the third gen stuff. There are lots of reasonable priced upgrades and bolt ons. I know just a little and am still learning a lot.