My friend has a 91 z28 w/ 305 automatic. I love his car, looks really nice and has some nice power to it, but not enough for my liking. I'm getting a pretty good sum of money soon to buy another car. So I have some questions about the third gens.

How much money does it take a 305 to run high 13's? Is it worth it?

Are third gens with 350's relatively easy to find? Are there ANY problems with the 350's in these cars?

What numbers do the stock third gens w/ 350's make? What about the 305's?

That's pretty much all of my concern right now. Thanks.

 

which year do you want to know about?? there was a lot of change between 82 and 92. the 350's aren't that hard to find...but they're not that easy either. well, a good one anyway. 14 year old cars are gonna haev some problems so be prepared. and to get a 305 into the 13's, i would say N2O nah, it doesn't take much: cam, intake, heads, gears, blah blah...

good luck with it man!

 

If the car is clean with no rust and no major body damage, runs good, I would say get it. Theres nothing wrong with an older car. My IROC is bone stock and she dynoed 214 at the wheels, thats a 350 though.

With the money you wanna mod, swap the motor out for a nice L98. Its a pretty easy swap. Is that car a manual or an A4?

Either way, I would say go for it. I have had 2 3rd gens, and I really wanted an LS1 car, but i just love the 3rd gens, something about a clean one running good and pulling hard, not a dime a dozen like 4th gens...... Good luck to ya!

Will

 

Only thing I like about my TA is its FASTER I started my Camaro up today and pulled it outside(No Insurance)And just had to look at it for awhile I really miss driving it. So IMO getting a nice 3rd gen is harder than getting a nice 1-2nd gen.In my area there are only 5 nice 3rd gens....but about 20-30 nice 4th gens

 

If you do end up going with a 3rd gen, DEFINATELY find a 350 car. If I had it to do over again I would've shopped around for a used L98 and done the swap. Now I have a decent running 305 (way too much $$$$ on a rebuild) and I'm kicking myself for not going with a 350 or bigger! But I've always appreciated the looks of a nice, clean 3rd gen over any newer model. And I've owned both ('95 TA), so I'm speaking from experience. However, I do miss the raw grunt of the ol' LT1, not the monthly payment though!

Hey Sean, does my '91 make the top five list??? lol.

Joe.

 

the facts. I found a 1990 350 camaro through autotrader. It cost me 7200 canadian, never seen a winter, 86 thousand kilometers. the only rust is so minor its hilarious the thing is virtually spotless. The thing has slp headers...a shift kit...3.73 gears and thats pretty much it. It runs high 13's low 14's the way it is right now. The only problems with the cars is that the trannys werent horribly strong and from 90-92 they switched to a weaker dif. so even if you wanted to drop 2-3 grand to get your engine up to wow for that money id say over 500 ponies? youd also have to invest a lot of money into getting a beefed up tranny and potentially a new dif. Thats where they can get expected but if you want to run high 13's get a 350 and do basic mods you shouldnt have any problems what so ever

 

Yes joe yours does make it in the top 5 just by a hair thougth lol..mine is'nt the fastest but I think the looks do it justice.

 

Definetly worth it, just make sure you get an L98.

 

i got my 3rd gen for 400 bucks! it had a blown 305 in it, but was in good shape other the motor. i put a 94 lt1 in it. cost was 1000 bucks. odds and ends for handling, and i think i have...maybe 2500 in to it. yes, i have been to the track with a pretty close to stock motor, and it turns low 13's! btw..engine has 155,000 miles

 

Thanks guys. If i can find a clean 3rd gen with a 350 for a reasonable price I may just purchase it.

Just out of couriosity...An L98 motor, is that a 350 from 1998 with an aluminum block? Or am I totaly off?

 

98 and up camaros have the LS1........ Our cars, aka L98 are still cast blocks. I do believe that the vettes got alum heads for their L98's, but not the f bodies.

 

Thanks.

 

Go 350. The only downside would be the A4 since the manual wasn't even an option.

 

The other thing to look for is the rear end ratio. You'll want one with a 3.27 9-bolt (87-89) or a 3.23 10-bolt (90-92) The 2.77 9-bolts are very expensive to upgrade to the better gear ratio.

 

But then again, finding a nice 3.27 rear isnt that hard. I got mine for 100 bucks with 60K miles on it, out of an 87 iroc...... The rear gears are not the biggest conrcern if you find a nice clean iroc but she has 2.77. Mine does, and its great on gas..... but I will eventually do the swap..

Will