I recently purchased a 86 I-roc with T-tops I have wanted one of these cars since I was a teenager. I have had numerous f-bodys over the years but never a t-top car. My question is how much HP & TQ will the t-top cars handle with out having to do major modifications to the car?


Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

There really is no cookie-cutter answer to your question. It depends greatly on the life of your car, itself 25+ years old. Does it have rust issues? Prior damage? Was it driven gently its whole life or wailed on and put away wet each time? Without knowing the exact answer to those questions, you can't really safely say what your "I-roc" (sic) can handle. As such, I would recommend before planning on any power upgrade you first determine the condition of the chassis you expect to handle it. Check the front frame horns for cracks, especially behind and under the steering box. Check the strut towers and rear shock towers. Look at the gaps between body panels and how they align. As you drive it listen for creaks, clunks, and rattles.
If you don't find any major issues, I would still recommend subframe connectors. The good news is the T-Top cars got extra bracing from the factory, but age and abuse take their toll. Hopefully your car already has a wonderbar (it should if it's an actual IROC-Z). If not locate one or install an aftermarket one. Strut tower braces are a decent investment for little cost as well, especially on older cars or those with weakened front ends. Keep in mind this is only discussing the body, not the driveline.

 

Chimaera pretty much nailed it, sub frame connectors are a must when adding power to these cars.

 

+10 for SFC's. They'll keep the car from twisting itself into a pretzel. Without them, I wouldn't go much over 300hp at the motor. With them, 500+ easy.