I posted this in the TPI board but did nit get any response, Ok im about to give the old heave-ho to the 2.8 bird and get some real power, an 87 305 IROC with only 87,000 miles. So far i looked over the car and it looks very clean, besides paint but thats cosmetic. I noticed he said the engine will only turn on only when the heat is turned on, also their is only one tail pipe exit instead of two, like a single dual outlet, he has the MAF connect to the TB with the dual k&n set up,also noticed the oil psi will rise and fall when gas is pressed, and volt meter will bounce a little up and down too when ideling. Now stuff that i mentioned above should i worry about and is their any think that the 87 IROC's are notorious for as far as breakdowns or any thing? The guy already has has 2 people check the car out so i wanna no asap if i shoud go ahead and get this before they ****** this, thanks. Also the car is going for $3,000

 

Other than the "heat needs to be on for car to turn on), sounds like normal stuff to me; pay $50 to have a mechanic check it out. He keeps your $50 either way (if the car's great or sucks), so he'll be honest. If it's got an automatic, check out the trans fluid. Check out the tailpipe for oily deposits. See if he'll let you pull the plugs and do a compression check.

 

Its a 15 year old car thats probably been well abused. Expect to repair something every month or so and you won't be too disappointed. I can also tell you right now, in 6 months you'll wish you'd held out for a 350. Price doesn't sound bad, but then again its hard to guess from an online description.

 

I won't lock this as long as you GIVE the 2.8 to me. I need another car...might sell mine soon for a 91 Z28 Convertible L98, but this time (I kept holding out cuz I knew the tranny was going) it has a 6 speed.

 

:sillylol:

 

LOL

 

Be careful with this one. I may be wrong but I thought IROC's came with a 350 and most definately had duals. The thing with the heat having to be on means there is a short in the wire harness or someone has been screwing with it , either way it can be a nightmare. The volt meter should stay pretty stationary at an idle . The oil pressure should go no lower than 35 psi at idle and operating temperature on an engine with only 87k on it.
Check to make sure the oil isnt extra thick . Like it has had something added to it.
In my opinion , I would pass on this one.

 

Yep, you're wrong.

 

no, irocs came with:
305tpi's from 85-90
350tpi's from 87(some say late 86)-90
305tbi's from 88-90
305lg4's from 85-87
and 305 l69's from 85-86
i think this is right

oh, and take it from me, have EVERYTHING checked out. i have had bad luck with 3rd gens so far-my 91 rs had everything on the car replaced, and it only had 92k on it, and my 91z, well, the price was decent, but it needs a lot of ****. i love third gens, but they tend to have many probs. check the title for the previous owner before current and contact them. since its not their car anymore, then they will be honest with you. and if the current owner wont let you look up the old owner then dont buy the car!
good luck

 

there's lots of mixed opinions here, is the IROC really gonna give me that many problems like u guys say, and is the 350 really worth it if i hold out longer, and my bird is going for $1,500 OBO if anyone is interested.......

 

it sounds kind of iffy to me...if you like to shift for yourself, then hold out for a 5 speed and 305, but if you want more power, and reliability, get a newer tpi or tbi car...you can swap out the tbi for a tpi setup (that's a lot easier than the 5 speed swap) it just depends on what you want...
this car sounds decent, but i think it prolly has some problems than will haunt you later on...

 

I have a question for you. Why do you need another car, you have a 02 GrandAm? Just curious.
Tim

 

b/c once you have a third gen you almost cant live w/o having one i went through this for like 3 years between having my rs and my z28...it sucks