Morning all, I've posted this in TBI so thought I would post here to see if opinion differs

im from the UK and over here we have relatively slim pickings of cars - although I love reading about builds, crate motors and 6 speed swaps, popping to the junk yard etc - in reality in the UK this is ££££, sorry $$$$$

anyways...

so I'm looking for a third gen as a weekend toy

on offer there is a 1988 RS 5.0 TBI 5 speed stick T5 camaro (been resprayed but with IROC hood and wheels)

or either 1986 Trans am (low miles)

or IROC average condition, lowered and with corvette servos
-both 5.0 TPI auto

all for the same bucks

now I've googled and read so much from here I feel pretty confident but I haven't found the answer to one question.

in the UK we use 0-60 whereas you guys use 1/4 times.

what would you choose? the L03 T5 or LB9 700TR?

how do the cars compare. I know it's 170 HP vs 215 but with the different transmission.....?! Is auto comparable in speed but less in fun factor? Or is the auto slower?

there will only be mild mods - exhaust, filters and posssoble headers and intake.
thanks for any advice/ opinions

matt

 

The TPI hands down, if you want a manual get an LB9 5 speed. They are out there, in fact I bought a near pristine 88 in the UK a couple years ago.

 

As a toy yes TPI hands down. My Auto TPI 5.0 car was 1.5 seconds faster in the 1/4 mi than my TBI car stock. While I would love to have a stick and do prefer them a 700R4 with a better torque converter and a shift kit makes them 100% better I can tell you I am very pleased with mine. I will say the TBI car has run flawless and have had ZERO problems out of it. Ive had two TPI cars and honestly they were both temperamental and stayed in the shop a good bit. Still I would take a TPI car over the TBI any day unless the TBI car was in pristine condition which is why I bought mine. I will put my own engine together later on I always do.

 

I don't know your budget but there is a really nice 90 ish red z28 tpi for sale in the uk for around 10k pounds

I'll see if I can find it

Found it

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132105392945

This one isn't bad either but not as clean and certainly not a 5.7

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152422236888

I personally like the 91 z28 being a 5.7 without ac and the better looking base interior and manual windows. Could be an 1le but you'd have to see the rpo sheet

 

Thanks guys,

Twin_turbo I'm watching these currently although top end of my budget.

The £10k car looks amazing and the '86 car does too but I've just found out pre '89 cars don't have rear 3 point belts!

There is a nice TA for £6k on eBay, and I know of a guy in my club selling the TBI car...

They're all coming out of hibernation now!

 

Why isn't that one a 5.7?