After 4 years of simply browsing forums i'm finally going to be in a position where I think i'm going to be able to swing getting a camaro. What i REALLY want is a 5.7 with a 5spd. I found one for about 6k, but the problem is that 6k is about the most i want to spend. I'm really not sure what all is done to the car since its not going to be another couple weeks till i can do anything and i don't want to call the guy up weeks before i'm ready to buy. but i don't want to spend all my money on a car and then have to come up with even more so i can fix it.

I'm debating on whether i should just get a 5.0 with the 5spd (which i could get for about 4-5k), since i can get one for several thousands less, and then have money to fix stuff and mod, but i know that i will not be happy with the 5.0 since i would really like the 5.7.

Basically i'm asking if you were in my position, would you spend all your money on the car you REALLY want, and then have to put off mods, and hope that it doesn't break. OR would you buy the 5.0 w/5spd, and just be happy that you have a camaro, and still have money incase something breaks.

and its not that i really don't like the 5.0's, its just that i know i'm not mechanically inclined enough to do an engine swap, nor would i have to funds to do so for a good while.

so let me know what you think

Thanks
-Bob

 

I didn't know that 5.7's did get 5 speeds..I thought they were all Auto's with a 3.23 gear ratio.

With your budget, I'd go and get the 305 (5.0) TPI 5 Speed. Not much difference really..230 HP vs 245 HP for the 5.7L and mod it somewhat.

OR..you could pick up some pretty nice '93-'95 Z28's for $6000 and outaccelerate ANY thirdgen around..

 

well technically the 5.7's didn't get the 5spds. that is why i had such a hard time finding one, cuase the person would have had to already have done the 5spd swap.

and i don't want a 4th gen, just cause i perfer the older boxier look over the 4th gen's smooth look. and even though it may be faster, i figure that there area enough people with 3rd gens that can beat ls1's so in time (with mods) i would have no trouble with an lt1.

although there is a pretty nice 95 convertable for sale with a 6spd. , but i dunno, i just always had a thing for the 3rd gens.

 

What I like about thirdgens is that they sit lower than 4th gens. In your case, I'd go with the 5 speed 305 TPI..$6000 for a 5 speed conversion 350 is too much considering a mint 350 with 83K miles will run you about $4500 - $4750.

 

yeah i suppose i would be better off spending less on the cars and having more money for mods..

just outta curiosity, would the standard 5spd hold up to the 350? cause i was looking at www.thirdgenresource.com and they have a 5spd conversion for like $850, so i might actually consider just getting a 5.7 with an auto, and then once the snow hits the ground, and the camaro goes in the garage, just doing my best at a tranny swap.

anyone know if those are stock trannies? and if they would hold up to a eventually built 350? and if not how much do other 5spds cost?

 

imo, id go with the 350/auto.. and save up to do a t-5 or t-56 swap(more a t-56, cuase t-5s suck). cuase if u get a 305/5peed u will now have a 305.. and want to mod a 305 instead of a 350..and we all know how good 305s r (not trying to start anything, 305s are decent engines, but if ur going to dump some decent $$ into the engine, u might as well start off with a 350.. i had a 305 when i got my iroc, and its was a godo engine, but to make power, i knew i had to get a 350 in it).

or.. just look for a 3rd gen where someone has already done the 350 swap... just make sure the the engine is a 350 and not a 305 (either by checking vin, or then showing u proof its a 350.. if u dont know how to spot the differenced).

EDIT:

about the t-5 thing. a t-5 can handle a 350, as long as that 350 isnt makign alot of power. again, why i say get a 350/auto and get a t-56.

 

Buy one with a 350 and a 700r4 and swap the tranny later. You will have a lot more fun modding a 350 than a 305.

 

aint that just what i said

 

next summer im buying an 89-90 5.7 auto iroc with t tops
i already have a cool camaro and i know if i dont buy what i want exactly i will always want one
if it doesnt have t tops ill want them
if it doesnt have the big engine illl still want one

 

anyways id go with the 5.7...What i ended up doing was searching for a car on autotrader for over 2 months....finally found one it was a 1990 5.7 mint condition no winters 86 thousand kilometers mildly modded for 7200 canadian. Needed about 200 dollars worth of repairs to get it emissions legal and a bit of wrench time but so far hasnt caused any real problems. As far as the auto goes its not too bad for the time being just because this car is so damn powerful its still fun to drive. However my next major mod would be to put in the t56 that d&d performance makes its a tremec dog viper tranny converted to fit in our cars...2500 bucks american but well worth the money and the wait...

 

The 350 didnt come with a 5 speed so I would tripple check to make sure that it is really a 350. Alot of camaro owners think that their car is a 350 in reality it is a 305 (the guy i bought my car from is still convinced that its a 350). I also wouldnt garuntee that that t5 is going to hold up to that 350 anyway, and that wont be a cheap repair. If I were you, I would hold out and find a car that seems legit.

 

i'm definently gonna get a 5.7, probably an auto since it costs less and i'm going to probably want to get a different hood, and a nice new paint job.. I know that in order for it to be a 5.7 it had to of been swapped already, i just figured it would be better for me to get a car already swapped since this will be my first car i can actually do work on.. Chances are i'll get a 5.7 with auto, then over winter swap it with a 6spd..

I'm assuming a stock 6spd, will hold up with a 350, and the extreme abuse i'll probably be putting on it (mainly from me being a newb to a stick).

 

yeah a t-56 out of the fourth gen works and wont set you back too much as long as your doing a bunch of the work your self....A MESSAGE OF WARNING....I have recently learned to drive a stick and i did it on a '92 saab 9000. That car runs on an inline four and puts out a fairly low amount of horse power and torque. I can tell you right now that if i had learned to drive a stick on a car with as much power as a 350 i probably would have snapped the car in half....If you are ambitious enough to learn stick on a monster like the car your planning on buying good look to ya

 

The T-56 is factory rated between 450 and 500hp. I think it'll be fine with a 350.

Oh and borrow someone's 4-banger for a day to learn a little stick-work. It won't be fun with the torque of a TPI 350.

 

yeah, i never really thought about how much harder it would be to learn on a 350.

anyways.. thanks for the help, hopefully in the next 2 or 3 weeks, i'll have somethin to post pics of and put in my sig.