My brother and I want to embark on a car project journey (or whatever).
We want to spend a MAX of 1500 on the car and we just want it to run OK. We just want a car we can fix up and make pretty fast.
We are looking into a Camaro/Firebird V8 in a 5 speed.
Questions:

-Which year and models are the quickest 3rd gens in stock form?
-Which year and models are the easiest/cheapest to make fast?
-Which year and models are physically the easiest to work on engine wise?
-Also, with a convertible, what kind of issues should we look forward to versus a hardtop or T-top car?

I am brand new to the third gen scene so please bear with me.
Thanks a bunch!!
Nick

 

The newer the car the more HP the car had stock.
A late 80's early 90's 350 TPI can make power.
A T5 tranny won't hold much power, a 700R4 rebuild will hold better.
GM designers got paid to use more vacuum lines, the TPI has alot of wires and hoses like any modern EFI car.
Hardtop is always a little stronger but a t-top car is cooler and with a little work can be reinforced to handle plenty of HP.

Ease of work = carb, but the only decent motors were the late TPI 350s, you can rework them to be MUCH better, but again you will be forced to deal with EFI and all the fun involvedwith hoses and wires. If you want to go carb then buy a 305 camaro any year, and pick up a crate motor or build a 350.

 

you sure have asked a broad question...........

it costs money to have power.

for that amount the only true way to go "fast" is N2O.....not that the stock engine will last long with a large amount but it will work.


what is your idea of fast.....14's,13's,12's?

 

Not going to find a whole lot other than earlier carbed 305s for $1500. You can make them decently quick (250hp) with bolt ons and a cam that won't cost that much $$$ for mods (headers/exhaust being the most money) especially if you scrounge used parts when possible. Have to spend a decent bit more money to get much more than that with the 305. A budget 350 is clearly the best way to go. Not sure exactly what you're meaning of "pretty fast" is though...

 

I think he mean't he wants to pick up the CAR for 1500$, and then spend more money to do work on it. He doens't want to spend more then 1500$ on the car itself. (am i right)

 

MY idea of fast for this car is sub 13s. 13s are nice, but 12s are nicer. (Especially when you already have a low 12 sec. LS1 )
OK...I will look for an auto then.
I'll try to look for 88-92 350s
These are good suggestions. Now how to get a 350 into 13s and or 12s?
Nick

 

if that's the case then what would it matter.....?


just get the best condition car you can and alter it from there.


the 91-92 L98 350 models will cost the least to get the most out of. but realistically the price you'll spend on a nice one of those you could have gotten an earlier style that was simply a rolling chasis and built it.


it all depends on the budget, anyone can make something scream if funds are unlimited.

 

correct. 500-1500 on just the CAR
Then we will use more money to mod it, but still not crazy money.

Nick

 

12s and 13's? That's gonna cost $$$ unless you have alot of equipment and are a really good at engine building. I was lucky enough to be offered a 400HP 350 for free and the same guy is going to let me use his garage/tools to do the swap. However even getting a HO motor is not even 1/2 the problem, then you have to think about bombing the tranny with 400+HP, then you have to think of your rear handling the power, then you have to REALLY make sure your frame will hold the HP cause if you rack the frame thats pretty much it for that car. Just alot of things you have to factor in if you want to run high 12's or low 13's. It's gonna cost money...more or less depending on how much of the work you can do yourself and your resources.

 

I may be better off going with a 88-92 5.0 mustank for the dough
Nick

 

i bought an 89 formula 350 for $1850, rebuilt the tranny and put a 150 shot of gas on it and run high 12s in the 1/4 with slicks. but since i am the 9th owner of the car i am not sure what has been done to it, i just stummbled on to a good deal.

 

For 12's check my sig and add:

Holley Stealth Ram

Ported stock heads with 2.02 1.60 valves added

Suspension stuff

Good tires.


I should be able to hit 12's this year.

 

You will not be able to get an L98 car for cheap. It would be a better idea to get a Third Gen has what you want (350 and manual) swapped in already.

 

the best thing for you i would think would be to find one with no motor or trans any year. i would think you could pick something like that up for about 500 dollars or less. get a crate motor with about 300-350 horse, spend another 200-300 for a lumpy cam, and a race t350 . you could probally pull that off for about 5000 and definitly be in the 12s. dont know how much you want to spend though. you should probally tell us how much you want to spend on the car total and we could better figure out what is possible.

 

Check my sig. It did not cost too much to get where I'm at If I had it to do again I would go with a Steath Ram. I had the SuperRam well befor the Stealth Ram came out. That would have saved me about $700.00