Here's the deal!! Bought an 84 Iron Duke last May. Needs quite a bit of maint. just to be something decent to drive. Will need seats, carpet, etc. later on. Some light body work will also be needed at a later date (new fender and door, filler to repair dent on roof panel). This one IS running a 2.5 Iron Duke mated to a Saginaw 4-spd. Which is not running at the moment (fuelpump!!). This car looks like crap, due to the numerous dents, scrapes & bruises. Needs new brakes all the way around & new tires. New shifter, seats, carpet, headliner, & various light bulbs.

Today....found (looks like another 84) base coupe like above. But....this one's running a 2.8 and 700r4, both rebuilt. Other than a good cleaning on the inside.....car looks brand new. Looks like this one needs a new battery, tires & A/C recharge. The dude is asking $1450. This one's about the nicest 84 around. Is it worth it???? Or should I spend the $1000 just on the maint alone on the Iron Duke above? Mainly....is this car worth the $1450?

Brandon

 

v6's are completely worthless if you ever want to upgrade anything.. there are just about zero on aftermarket parts you can put on them (aside from CHC's headers which are a rare thing now)... if you want something to get around then yea that will do.. if you want something to work on.. don't waste your money...

 

V-6's are worthless to some, and a precious commodity to others. One Gas can be expensive in the V-8 as well as young peoples insurance.

If you going to blow 1000 on the Iron Duke I would say get another 200 and offer the guy 1200, he might bite, and keep the 2.5 car as a parts car, or slowly fix it up and replace that 2.5 with a 5.0, you could keep it as a project, and have some fun with it while driving your V-6.

 

Zirtbow and Joe_L........

Would love to spend the time fixing with 2.5 up with a good running V-8 and a semi restoration job. But my time is precious with my wife as I'm a truck driver. It'd just take a couple years to get this car the way I want it. Or just say "screw it" and get something already ready to go. Only thing is....the color! Light blue with dark blue seats. But like I said....it's clean as hell and ready to go. Just something to think about in the next couple weeks. Certainly not thinking about the 2.8 to hop up. Just thinking about the clean car.

Brandon

Another thing.....I wouldn't be in a hurry for a V-8 swap as I am with the Iron Duke (since it's not running the greatest). I.E.....more money saved for a better V-8. Again....the color sucks (light blue with dark blue seats)! The 2.8 doesn't mean squat to me either....the body does!

 

ZirtBow, the V6s are NOT worthless, the V6/60 has PLENTY of aftermarket parts available.

- It has 10+ different kinds of camshafts available, everything from computer controlled to carbureted cams, legal and non legal.

- It has a few different kinds of intakes available, mostly for the carbureted ones.

- There are a number of aftermarket injectors available for the MPFI system.

- There ARE headers available, for different specific cars. In the f-body, they have headers, but you need to fabricate your own y-pipe.

- There are roller rockers, roller lifters, etc.. all aftermarket, all available. Performance heads, you name it.


I had a 1985 Fiero GT 4-speed with the 2.8 V6/60 in it, and I can pretty much guarantee it would kick your car's butt. Well, if you can beat a 14.82 at 89.3mph, then you can beat it.

Don't think I'm an all out V6 nut, I've got a ~360hp 1974 350-4bolt chilling in an 81 TransAm at home.


I'm just saying, the 2.8 is a decent motor. It might be less than optimal for the weight of the f-body. But then again, the 2.8 wasn't meant to be a screamer in that car.

For HIS personal needs, $450 extra dollars is DEFINITELY worth the money over blowing $1000 on your current car.. considering the condition it's currently in.

I think $1450 is definitely worth the money so long as you have PROOF that the engine and transmission were REALLY re-built.

However, I think you might be able to find a decent 3rd gen with a V8 in it already for about that price.

 

Hey, V6's are cool thirdgens too. I have had a great summer of just cruisin around in my killer firebird ....snak'in and break'in the countryside...excellent fuel economy...very surprised I can keep it hammered and ignore the pumps. My first t-top car too.....I'm hooked!.....Now, I can always go down to the garage and dream of what the Trans Am is to become someday.....a little cash and some long winter nights is gonna be well spent Well, probably alot "a little cash" is more like it.

 

My little 3.1 V6 tears its s__t up! It is pretty quick and gets the job done, then again its no performance master, and will probably lose to a frickin' Toyota Echo, but its a classic American car in great shape. I say buy the good condition one w/ v6, because I bought a good condition v6 and it is very little to keep up and runs like a champ. One thing though, wouldn't it be nice if the rare Iron Duke F-Bodies were worth something someday? Think about it, although it is THE WORST performing engine in these cars, they are rare, and could be worth something later on. Just something to think about.

 

Guys...this is driving me nuts! Looked my Iron Duke Camaro in the eyes today. It said....."Don't you give up me you SOB!!!". Again....this car would have a V-8 alot sooner than the blue one. It'd just be a sh*tty looking car running a mediocre V-8. Wish I could have both! What kind of performance are out there for a 2.8 V-6? What's the most "streetable" hp that can be had from a 2.8?

Brandon

 

the 84 is a carbd car eldlebrock makes a intake for the car and they recmond you use a holley carb. Also i foudn a site a while back that makes a blower for carbd V6 engines.

 

84 Challenge,

What is preventing you from buying the 'new' 82 Camaro with the V6, and setting the 2.5 liter 1984 Camaro on the side?

Just thinking about it. If you HAVE the space, the Iron Duke camaro isn't going to cost you any more money while it's sitting idle.

I figured if you have the space, you could get the NEW 2.8 V6/60 in the 82, then take your 1984 Camaro and completely fix it up...

like, replace the bushings, etc... pull the Iron Duke out and store it somewhere, and then when you have some money, go out looking for a V8 to drop in your Camaro.

This idea works of course, if you're living out in the middle of no where in Nebraska. But if you're living in the D.C. Suburbs of Northern Virginia... it's not going to happen.

 

Good idea! The wife won't buy that, though. Money is "very" tight at the moment. Was thinking of selling the Iron Duke car for $500 or there abouts. I get second thoughts about selling everytime I glance at the Iron Duke car. Something tells me to keep and fix up one peace at a time.

Brandon