Hi all. Newbie here. I've been looking & lurking around sites like this trying to not only find a 3rd gen convertible for myself, but also in attempt to find out what "truly" is an IROC and what is, ultimately, a clone or a modified one.

My question to everyone is, did the 87, 88, 89, & 90 IROC convertibles come with a factory 350 5.7L option or was the only engine option on a vert a 305?? I've read and heard different stories from different sites on this and am looking for some clarification before I drop a bunch of money on something that may or may not be the real deal. A couple of places like the CarDomain websites have owners who mention that the IROC vert was only available from the factory with a 305 and that if you wanted a 350 you have to get t-tops OR, obviously, do an engine swap.

Thanks in advance for any replies. -Scott

 

1. No factory verts. The ones people refer to as factory were converted at ASC, and have an appropriate VIN number to designate the car is a convertible. The only thing making the ASC converted cars more factory than earlier conversions was GM's blessing and GM's VIN assignment. GM worked with ASC to make and produce the cars and titled the cars appropriately.

2. Yes, its possible to have a car that came with a 350 that is a vert. No, you wouldnt go to the dealer and check off a box next to 350 and next to convertible. I did finally come across a customer owned car that was sent to ASC for conversion so without any doubt, someone with a 350 t-top car could have, in theory, had it turned into a convertible by the same people that did the rest of the 'factory' verts. It would not have a VIN that would designate it as a convertible though. I have not seen one, but the possibility exists and I think (I'd have to go back and look again) there's a person here who says he's seen a real one. Thats as close as you'd ever get to a 'factory' 350 convertible, no GM VIN for vert, and maybe not their blessing but they did let that sort of thing happen.

So, what you should do if you want one is buy a 305 car, and put what you want in it. Chances of finding an Iroc that came with a 350 and was converted at ASC would be a near impossible task.

 

this was years ago and i didnt know anything about third gens then, but my dad used to have an 89, i think it was, RS vert that had a 350. i know your asking about irocs, but it is a 350 vert. apparently there were some verts that came out of canada that had 350's in them, but i dont know when they shut down the california plant.

 

I seriously doubt that. Bet you it was a 305.

 

A 350 RS convertible? Did it have TPI or TBI? Never seen a RS with TPI or a 350 with TBI(in a F-body), so I also bet he had a 305 TBI convertible. Someone probably told him it was a 350.