As you guys know I have an 88 Camaro Sport Coupe. It's been a good car over the last year. Taken alot of abuse, but recently it's age just started to show. Last month my ECU crapped out that was a 430.00 bill combined with another 70.00 in towing fees total I spent 500.00 getting the Camaro fixed. I love my car don't get me wrong and i'd love to restore her. But i'm wondering if that's too much of a daunting task. I'm getting ready to go to college in the fall. And I plan on majoring in Secondary Education - Social Studies/U.S. History. It's going to take me two years to get my Associates Degree. Right now with me gearing up for college I don't think I should take on a full restoration of a Third Gen. So with that in mind....should I sell the Camaro and look for another 3rd Gen? Or just break down and buy a 4th Gen? I'd like to find an '87 - 89 IROC since that was truly the Camaro I wanted. This one just fell into dad and I's lap and it was the first one we test drove. Yes stupid me I should've shopped around but at the time it's all we could find. Should've waited b/c not more than a week later I was driving in my Camaro just beaming when I saw a '91 - '92 Arctic White Z28 for sale. I know I want an IROC with a 5.7L TPI since it's the engine with the most potential out of the Later Gen I SBC's. But i'm willing to settle for a 5.0 TPI, any advice comments or w/e are always appreciated. Thanks guys

 

I would say since you've already forked the 500 bucks out for the ecu, to keep it and try to get that back out of it. If you have a garage to keep the car in just keep it in there and work on it when you can. Just don't keep it outside in the same spot for very long, sitting vehicles tend to attract all kinds of creapy crawlers. I was in the same position you're in with my 87, and I decided to swap the engines. I didn't have alot of money, so it's taken me from July of 03 to finally get the car driveable again. All depends on how much you're willing to do, and how long you're willing to wait. But since you've already spent alot of this car already, I'd say to finish it, or atleast get the ~400 back for the computer and get what you can out of the car for parts.

 

Well this car is my daily driver so I can't really store it and work on it when I can. I'm thinking about selling it taking what i earn from my dad's business combined with about 40% of my paycheck and the money from the Camaro and just buying an IROC. I know there's good ones out there for under 2K, and I can nail one with a 305 TPI and have more potential with it than I do my TBI 305. Which as far as i'm concerned is good for one thing.....a boat anchor.

 

Keep it and drive it around with a for sale sign in it and look around for the deal you want. Then when it comes up see if you can borrow some money to get the new car, while selling your old one and pay off whoever you borrow the money from

-Lance

 

That is doable but my dad was the one who bought this one for me. I don't know if he'd be keen on loaning me money to buy another one even if it's just a percentage.

 

$430 bill for an ecu? what else went wrong.... i hate to hear when people are taken advantage like that.



being in your spot many years ago i would say sell it. if you are still in love with the car when you get your associates treat yourself and pick one up. the money you are about to fork over to get that car anywhere near an iroc as it sits makes it worth selling alone if that's your intentions.

save yourself the hassles...

 

That's what I was thinking just save myself the hassle and sell her off. I hate to do it b/c like I said I had alot of plans for it. But right now it's just going to be cheaper in the long run to sell this one and find a good IROC-Z with a TPI 305 or if i'm lucky a 350. Now as for what else went wrong with it. I found out something about this car when it was in the shop. It didn't have the stock ECU what it had was one from a Caprice. Also when the ECU crapped out it took one of my ignition modules with it. They say they cut me a good deal by only charging me 430.00 lol the guy even said that was their Christmas Present to me. Ha some christmas present yeah it runs lol but idles like crap sometimes idling at 500rpm and barely hanging on. If i'm correct the idle is supposed to be 750rpm. Sometimes when I try to get off the line i'll have to floor it and the thing barely moves. I'm holding the pedal down for literally a minute and she's barely moving before suddenly speeding up. So i'm ready to sell it probably find an IROC or even a Trans Am.

 

If you can find a 91-92 Z28, then I would go with that. All the same goodies as an IROC except the name. Plus the 91-92's have a bit more power (as long as you get the right package), are slightly newer and are put together a little better.

 

Save a couple grand and buy an older Corrolla. I bought a'93 for $1800. Had it for 18 months. No problems. Park your Camaro and work on it when you have spare time/money.

 

90' IROC is the way to go

-Lance