cam z28 question (noobish?)

hey all ... just discovered this forum, so I thought I'd ask a question.

I'm looking for an fbody, originally I was thinking of either a 3rd gen ws6 or a 95.. but then after being sorely dissapointed by discovering the one I wanted was already sold (not many around here), I figured i'd settle for pretty much any 3rd gen and newer fbody that's in good shape (cam or fbird).

So I checked out a 1985 Z28 (apparently). What are some ways I can tell if this is REALLY a Z28, and what do I look out for in general?

I checked underneath for rust, I checked the floors, etc.. everything checked out.

the things that make me suspicious are... 305 carberated engine, only two disc brakes (and two drum).... umm what else? power-nothing? No power windows, no power brakes, etc. It was a 5-spd manual. Apparently he ordered it with everything as "basic" as possible.. but then why order a Z28 in the first place if you're going to take a 305 carb w/nothing ? Why not go for a regular cam, RS, etc?

why not go for the F.I engine or at least a 350? why not get power-everything? how come it doesn't have four disc brakes? isn't that standard on Z28's?

Anyway... for $5500cdn is that a decent deal? The paint looked almost new, it seemed to run fine.. there was a little bit of surface rust on some parts under the hood, but nothing bad/serious, and no body damage or rust (one barely noticable bubble, the rest is perfect clean).

Also, anyone have a 95 firebird/formula (5.7L) they wanna sell for 8500cdn? :P

well first off you couldn't order a 350 untill 1987, and then you could only get it with the auto tranny.

Originally posted by teke184
well first off you couldn't order a 350 untill 1987, and then you could only get it with the auto tranny.
Ok, that answers part of my question - so does anyone know about the disc brakes? My friend has an 86 RS V6 and he has two disc brakes and two drum brakes. The 85 Z28 had the same brake setup as the 86 RS? It just seems fishy, that's all.

And in any case if it is in fact a real Z28 - how is the carberated 305 and 5-speed? Decent? Durable/reliable? It doesn't appear to be leaking anything, and it didn't have any trouble during my little test drive. It didn't choke, didn't have to pump the gas (it was driven that day).

But do you think an 85 in good condition, but with all the extras stripped, is worth $5500?

Get the RPO codes. Those are the 3 digit codes for all the stuff on the car. It resides in the center console box, just behind the shifter. Flip the top up, and it should be attached to the side of the console box.

Then feed those codes here:

http://www.thirdgen.org/cgi-bin/rpo/index

Also get the VIN number and feed the number here:

http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/vin/

You may want to run a carfax on it too.

Also, read this:

http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/faq/thirdgen.shtml

Originally posted by 91Z28-350
Get the RPO codes. Those are the 3 digit codes for all the stuff on the car. It resides in the center console box, just behind the shifter. Flip the top up, and it should be attached to the side of the console box.

Then feed those codes here:

http://www.thirdgen.org/cgi-bin/rpo/index

Also get the VIN number and feed the number here:

http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/vin/

You may want to run a carfax on it too.

Also, read this:

http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/faq/thirdgen.shtml
Hey 91Z28-350, thanks for all the good info, I bookmarked them all and I'll read the last one more indepth after work. I'll definitely keep the two first links around for reference if I get those numbers (which I will if I keep interested in that car).

rear disks were an option on the Z28. So was everything else. You could get them pretty stripped back then. If it has the RPO "Z28", then it's a real z28.

There were 2 carbed motors available in 85. The LG4, which had a single-snorkel air cleaner and a whopping 155 horsepower. Combined with the 2.73 open differential, it was a real pig. The other was the 190hp L69, which also came with 3.73 rear gears, and a dual snorkel air cleaner. These cars were pretty potent for the time.

just as a pricing comparison. I recently purchases a 1990 350 camaro. The only rust is a little bit of the most minor stuff in the engine bay other then that the car is in mint condition no rust anywhere under the car. 86 thousand kilometers has never seen a winter. Runs really well has slp headers, shift kit, 3.73 gears, b&m shifter. Power everything. 4 wheel disc since all of the 350's came with that. It is an amazing car and i paid 7,200 dollars for her. The only work it needed was minor stuff like air filters, i changed the spark plugs just for the hell of it all of the normal stuff you have to do when you buy a used car. But be warned i had to search for a month and a half on autotrader to find this car. Well worth the effort.

To me, the asking price seems a bit high. I dont know though, it could be worth it if the car is in really good condition. I would have to see it. I picked up my GTA (350 TPI) with leather, power everything, and 4w disk for much less. But then again it needed attention.

Hope this helps.


--Dave

If the 305 only has 155hp then I'm not really interested. That's not much different than the 2.8L V6 offered in the base RS.

I was originally attracted to these cars by the WS6 sporting 240/285 (or more?) hp/tq. Then I read about the LT1 and LS1 and that made me drool.

I'd like a 95 formula some day, but any 3rd gen fbody would be fine for now as long as it has decent power! These cars weigh 3200-3500lbs, I'm not settling for 130-150hp. 150hp is for 2000lbs 4bangers (Cavalier, Civic Si, Neon, etc) :P

oh well. guess i'll keep searching. thanks for all the replies so far!

id definitly go with a 350. Kind of sucks having the auto IMO but you can always drop a t56 6 speed into it. Btw not sure how much experience you have with sporty cars but im 16 and my mildly modded 350 honestly scares me a little bit to drive. The things are so powerful and so much fun.

Originally posted by doug791
id definitly go with a 350. Kind of sucks having the auto IMO but you can always drop a t56 6 speed into it. Btw not sure how much experience you have with sporty cars but im 16 and my mildly modded 350 honestly scares me a little bit to drive. The things are so powerful and so much fun.
Well I've driven a few 305 TPI (240hp) firebirds, but I wouldn't consider myself experienced with sporty cars. I am confident enough in my ability to keep myself alive, though.

my point being get a 350 with only minor mods theyre soo powerful and so much fun

yea i get you, but since the 240hp 305 TPI is as powerful (or more powerful) than most of the old stock 350s, what difference does it make? :P

im assuming your comparing the third gens to the ws6? Well my point is was if youre going to get a third gen dont settle for a 5.0 get the 5.7. And if you really want to get on my bad side ;) what difference does it make? Well i will revert back to the age old saying that theres no replacement for displacement. But that all has to do with how much modding you want to do to the car.

Your best bet is to look for a 89 up with a 350. After you have it for a while you will want to mod it. It is best to start with a 350 as a base to start with. A friend of mine sold his 88 350 Formula with a ton of mods on it for $5500.00. I mean this car was better than new. For that kind of money I would wait and find a 89 up and get the better car to start with. Just my .02

Originally posted by Chris Ja
Your best bet is to look for a 89 up with a 350. After you have it for a while you will want to mod it. It is best to start with a 350 as a base to start with. A friend of mine sold his 88 350 Formula with a ton of mods on it for $5500.00. I mean this car was better than new. For that kind of money I would wait and find a 89 up and get the better car to start with. Just my .02
The problem is I'm looking for a daily driver and I'm trying to find one ASAP.

I know I might be better off waiting and finding an 89+ 350, but the chances of me finding one in good condition soon are very slim.

The 85 305 I'm looking at is at least in very good condition (not a spec of rust, perfect underneath of body, suspension is good, tires/wheels/brakes/all the little things are ALL perfect. Out of all the fbodies I've checked out in the past two months, none of them looked this clean, except for ONE which was a really sweet deal ($3k for an 89 white formula 305TPI in perfect condition). Since then I have found nothing worthy, and this 85 305 comes closest.

I could always swap the motor/tranny could I not? What's important to me is the body/interior condition. Which are near perfect. Why nto get this car and work on it from there?

I just remembered, there is a possibility of a red 85 firebird with a 350 and auto tranny for CAN$3500. It's t-top as well, nice red interior. It's not in as great condition as the Camaro, but I think it's rust-free (gotta check it out again, it's been a while).

If the guy still has it (it wasn't for sale publically but he was willing to make a deal), think that might be a good one to go after? The power was sweet, but it is an auto and I prefer to have a standard. But it was pretty nice...

Could I just go for the 85 firebird and save up for an LT1 or LS1 6-speed swap? I'd be saving $2k by going for the Firebird over the Z28, so I'd have about $5000-5500 left if I get the Firebird.

The firebird was fully loaded, nice red interior, etc. What do you think?

Originally posted by zcypher
The problem is I'm looking for a daily driver and I'm trying to find one ASAP.

........

I could always swap the motor/tranny could I not? What's important to me is the body/interior condition. Which are near perfect. Why nto get this car and work on it from there?

If your looking for a daily driver so much you shouldnt be so concerned with power, nor with a motor/tranny swap because it would take the car off the road for a considerable amount of time

Originally posted by mrronatron
If your looking for a daily driver so much you shouldnt be so concerned with power, nor with a motor/tranny swap because it would take the car off the road for a considerable amount of time
Well, yes I am looking for a daily driver but I also want to make the car exactly how I want it, since I'm never going to find a car that is already EXACTLY how I want.

I don't mind if it's off the road for a bit being upgraded, I can take the bus in the meantime, I've been doing so up till now anyway.

For the paintjob I can get a relative who runs a body shop to do it, so I'll get the best deal/quickest service possible. for the engine/tranny swap I have no idea so yea that'll take some time

anyway thanks all for the helpful replies to date.