hi guys im pretty much decided my next fbod's gonna be a 3rd gen camaro. the car WILL NOT remain stock. itll be a project car. in other words : new paint, new wheels, new suspension, new motor, t56, new interior,etc. no fuel injection, gonna go carb on this one. thinking maybe a 400 sbc, 454 bbc, we"ll see, cause thats not really the issue here now, if i find a car with some things that it has that i already like (lets say for example the paint is nice, or the interior is really clean) or whatever, its fine with me. the car will not be built immediately when i buy it , but slowly over the course of a year or year and a half maybe (for the major things). i dont want a convertible. t-tops im cool with and would probably be a +

now, getting more to the point, the years ive mainly been looking at are the 91-92 models. newest of the 3rd gens, newer interior, nice gfx, different hood maybe (??). but, those only come with the 10 bolt. no t-tops on 350 cars (hence, harder to find a 91-92 t-top car vs a pre 90 one i suppose). what else is "majorly" different from the pre 90 models (irocs)? if those are the main differences, if i were to get an 89 iroc for example, all id have to do is swap dashes, gfx/spoiler, to make it the same as a 91-92 model? tpi cars (85-89) come with the stronger 9 bolt ( as i learned in another thread) which is a BIG + imo

now, in your guys opinions, which year/s would be best for what im looking to do? budget beeing the major factor here of course. im not gonna buy a 10 000$ 92 z28 and put another 10 000 $ into it. dont want a rustbucket either. am i doing right by looking at 91-92 models? or, considering my goals, should i go back a few more years (88-89), and get the same for a bit less $$?

opinions are welcome , thanks

 

Structurally all the third gens are the same. It's cosmetic appeal that makes them different. I have an 87 IROC. I don't like the look of the RS, etc so it's more what you like not what someone else likes. Ground effects, hood, spoiler can be added to any model car.

 

Structurally, the best year for a 3rd gen car is 1992. GM realized that the dies they used to stamp parts were getting old and worn and that the cars didn't fit together as well as they once did so they used aerospace adhesives to "glue" the cars together (as well as the usual welding). This was only done in 1992 and makes them a much better chassis (no, it won't save the world, but they stay "tight" much longer and seem to flex considerably less) than the earlier cars. If you are planning "big horsepower", I'd look for a hardtop from 1992 to start.

My thoughts.

 

in ur case,i would stay older. i dont think ur gonna find a decent/slighty beat up 92 Z28 as easily as a older 1,like late 80's. it seems like all those are in need of restoration. t-top cars are a dime a dozen so thats no problem,its alot harder to find a regualar hard top car anyway,atleast around here.

 

structurally, fine , theyre probably the same. but, theres quite a few differences between lets say an 89 tpi car and a 92 car. 9 bolt vs 10 bolt coming to mind first and foremost. other than that, i suppose the rest is all cosmetic?? (dash, gfx,etc.?) if thats the case then, id most likely be better off spending 1.5-2k on an 89 iroc in not bad shape, rather than 4k on a 92 in the same condition? right?

how would you say said years (89-92) structural rigity compares to 4th gens? practically the same? looser (cause of age)? wayyyyy looser? for example, a few years ago i took a ride in one of my buddies 89 mustang gt, never been in a "looser feeling" car in my life. everything was rattling bad.
thanks

 

makes sense

 

yea stay older 2 reasons like said earlier price and since you already stated u want to carb the f-body why not get one thats already carbed quite a big difference in price there.

 

I would look for a '91 with a nice straight body and good paint. I figure it's cheaper and easier to swap in a 9-bolt than it is to change the whole dash, change the GFX, and then have to get the car painted. The '91 will be cheaper than a '92 (since '92 was the 25th anniv. year) and you still get the updated looks.

You can pick up an RS since you're not worried about the powertrain and save some $$ there, and if you really want to, stick some Z28 badges and a foglight grille on it and very few people will be able to tell the difference. With an RS you don't have to worry as much about the unibody being twisted (TBI305 didn't make enough torque for that) and you can pick one up with the F41 suspension (factory 16" wheels are a dead givaway) and have a nice tight handling car that probably hasn't been beaten on too much.

 

see, this was my initial reasoning as well. 91=nicer gfx, newer dash, and just plain newer than anything older obviously. i was mainly looking for RS's, with the t5, cheaper as you said + itll be just that much easier to swap in the t56. for the paint, i actually dont want it to be too good save some $$ + get my own paint job ( a good one). cant be too sure of the quality if the cars already painted. for the z28 badges and foglights, i really dont care about either good point on the "305 not enough tq issue as well"

now, ive been looking at the dashes (91-92 vs. pre 91), and to say the truth, i think i like the iroc (pre 91) dashes better.

so, what it basically comes down to, is if i were to get a 91-92, itd need the 9 bolt (or 9" or 12 bolt). if i were to get an 89, id only need the later models gfx.

but, all in all, it may actually be better to get a 91 305 car, newer + less abuse on the unibody. ahh, i dont know

 

To be honest just get what you're going to be happy with. I'll admit I wish I would've gotten a newer Camaro. In fact not 2 weeks after I got my 88 I found a 91 Z28 for sale not to far from my house. Arctic White and just perfect but as I drove by I realized that I should just be happy I got a Camaro at all. I may have an 88 Sport Coupe and be at the bottom of the 3rd Gen food chain but money can change that. And trust me by this time next year i'll be eating rice for lunch and mustangs for dinner. What's going to be best for you.......from what it sounds like the Older Maro will be better, but if u want the GFX go to thirdgenresource.com from what i've seen they're pretty cheap.

 

if your truly going to build one up learn from my mistake and get the cheapest cleanest one you come across....the newer the year the more money you'll save and make on selling parts.

 

i dont get what your saying exactly getting the cheapest cleanest one, yes. its the second part of what youre saying thats confusing. if i understand correctly what youre saying is to get the cheapest,cleanest,newest one possible right? figuring that even if i were to get a newer one for a bit more $$, not having to replace as many parts and selling "newer" parts that i dont need, would come out to the same, right?

btw, what was your mistake? buying an "expensive" one (clean, low mileage, etc.)??

and again btw , youve got a beauty on your hands see, my approach to the project would be different yet at the same time similar to yours. similar in the sense that it needs to be CLEAN when done. maybe not THAT clean, but clean

3rd gen cars have waaaaayyyyyyy more differences in them than 4th gens. so im just trying to learn as much as i could before buying one and then thinking ah f**k, shoulda got this one instead cause yada yada ive been doing research on here and thirdgen.org. thanks for all the help everyone

 

just how i stated it....the cheapest cleanest one obviously is the best bet. the newer one you get the better chance you have of making more on selling any parts you don't use as well as saving money on custom applications.



my mistake was i took a low mileage car and started to mod it. knowing what i know now i could build my car for at least a 1/3 less. however i never made a mistake in using a 91-92 base though having the high optioned L98 z28 saved me alot of money through out the build up.

 

Just keep an eye out on autotrader. If almost bought a 91 RS with no engine that was VERY clean for only $500..it sold fast unfortunatly

edit:

http://autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ca...r=&cardist=115


like this one im about to call about right now!!

 

Id say go for a ttop iroc if i were you. Get a carb or tbi car. If you want the gfx buy them later. But alteast with the iroc models youll get all the thick stabalizers and the wonderbar and the nicer sterring box right. If your going to lower it then the iroc springs are no good to yah anyhow...but you could sell parts like that from a iroc (ex, springs) 10times faster if it was just basemodel parts no one would want them.
Get a set of sub frame conectors to stifen it up. If you dont like the dash you could always do a 4th gen dash swap. Youll want a set of 4th gen seats too. If your looking to do an engine swap find a car with a blown engine or a knocking one with a good paint (especially look at the body job) and the nicest inter. you can find (witch is hard to do, common thing with 3rdgens). If the guys trying to sell a car with no motor or a busted engine or tranny shows you the guy is broke and dosent have the $ to spend on fixing it so youll beable to knock down his price real fast.....plus if you buy only part of a car some places will give you a tax break on the car.