I'm pretty sure I want a 3rd gen but I've always loved the looks of 2nd gen camaros/firebirds, just want to know what you guys think would be a better choice.
it'll be a daily driver, probably will see a little bit of winters, though i'll proably buy a POS beater for the winter months and keep the car off the road...
I want to race it up at NewEngland Dragway....Would like to be in the 13's with no nitrous....
Gotta be SOMEWHAT fuel-economic....cant drink gasoiline like its going out of style (thx to my friend for getting me into saying that expression)
Gotta look badass....although either car can do that....
Would like a manual transmission, but i guess i could settle for using an automatic....
I know this all depends on what motor/tranny/etc, but I just need advice on what I can/should do?
I've got like 5-6k to spend right now, doesnt have to be a show winner, but cant have rust holes all over it and a plastic bag holding the seat together....
What do you guys recomend?

 

I always loved the 2nd gens as well. They weigh a ton more and get worse gas mileage though (usually). But the advantages are (for some years) no emissions requirements, a super-strong 12-bolt in a lot of them, a TON of engine bay room, and easily-acquired body restoration parts. They can also have some fairly strong transmissions stock, and some even came with big blocks

 

i recommend my car
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...488246837&rd=1

 

I vote for a third gen. But for 6K you can also get a nice lt1 fourth gen. And if you go for a 4th gen, its gonna be easier to find a manual trans, and you get the 6 speed. JMO

 

13s with a 3rd gen is not problem now. there is quite a wide array of aftermarket parts, not to mention easily installed and cost-effective crate motors.

the hard part will be doing it with the T5. for decent times you'll need traction, and traction+hp= blown T5

you'd be better off with an auto. anyway, 350s were only available in the autos, which will be a much better platform for future modding than the 305s.

i would be willing to bet you could pick up a straight, solid late 80s camaro for $2000, swap out the crappy 305TBI for a nice carbed small block for $3500 (GMPP H.0. 330hp includes carb etc), have the 700r4 rebuilt for $1000 to handle power.

and most of that can be spread out over a little time, helping your budget extend farther

 

I would say go for a late 3rd gen (90-92) with the 350. They were put together a bit better than the older 3rd gens and with the usual bolt on's and traction, should easily be able to run 13's.

 

advantages to both
2nd gens look nice , can have stronger rears and some did come with big blocks (are you going for early or late 2nd gen if you go this route?)
then again, they weigh a bunch, are less fuel economic, and won't handle as good as a 3rd gen z28 or much less an iroc-z, also, they rust a bit more too sadly

3rd gens look cool too (i'm biased though ) have better fuel economy, decent amount of power if you get the right engine, and weigh less
they though, have weaker rears, weaker manual trannies, can only get 350 with auto factory

it's all about what you want more and which style you like more
i know one day i want an iroc but i'm not sure i could pick it over a 2nd gen z28
good luck with whatever you choose

 

Thanks for the replys
LT1 4th gen is out of the question because of a) insurance, and b) lack of room in the engine bay
I think i'll probably end up with an automatic and just go for alot of power in a 3rd gen....
Any more comments/suggestions are welcome and appreciated...and how hard would it be with an auto to get into the 12's without nitrous in a thirdgen? :P Gettin greedy now that i'm not dead set on a 5 or 6 speed manual

 

I haven't seen many 3rd gens in the 12s unless they just drop a crate engine in. With a TPI it might be hard to get into 12's

 

Your best bet to hit 12's with a 3rd-gen is probably to swap in an LT1 from a 4th-gen? Then with a cam (and maybe heads, if they're within your budget), the right gears, a stall converter, and sticky tires, 12's shouldn't be a problem. The problem with the stock TPI engines is that they don't make any power over ~4500 RPM. The LT1 makes power well over 5000 RPM, and close to ~6000 RPM (yet they still make low end torque too ).

I still like 2nd-gens though. I had an '81 Z28 myself, and my Dad now has a '73 Camaro, and both of them are/were 12 - 13 second cars (my '81 was a little more "streetable" than my Dad's '73 is).

Obviously it just comes down to your personal preference, and what deals you find when you're looking.

 

What does it take to get a 2nd gen into the 13's? I know peopele swap LT1's into thirdgens, but how bout second gens?

 

with an old engine in a 2nd gen (factory engine i mean) is pretty easy to get going fast
same technique but then again, fuel economy is really the tradeoff later down the line since f.i. seems to stay with reasonable mileage even with a lot of mods, cam, etc.
it also depends on what year 2nd gen, because the earlier ones before insurance, emissions hit, have better power from the factory

also, the last good thing about the 2nd gens is that most are getting emissions exempt now
i think it's 25 years or older here in ohio so in the next 2 years, all 2nd gens will be exempt in ohio
i was actually thinking about buying one before i got my 95 because they get exempt after 25 years
then it would've been time for a huge a$$ cam

 

lol
If I got an 82 or 83 third-gen i wouldnt have emmissionsto worry about either....in MA i think its 83 and before are exempt...
At dinner tonight (Applebee's) I was thinking about it while the rest of the family argued over sports and politics, and have decided this....
With a second gen, I would have no problem with the suspension and stuff, cause its not really a car that i'd concider capable of handling great...I'd probably want to paint it black with flames, do some custom interior stuff (Tweed = cheap and easy to work with, not as cool as suede or leather, but pricewise is probably better), get it looking real good, etc., and be happy with less power and speed, cause there arent many second-gen's (esp. nice ones) around here at least, and different is what I want, so that would be all set.
With a third-gen, I'd want lots of power (350 RWHP would be nice :-P ), comfort, and great handling....would probably just go for a nice, single color paint job, and a clean interior and stuff....there are lots of third-gen's around here, but almost all of them are either completly stock with decent body and paint, or are literally falling apart....so one that looks like its brand new, runs and drives like new, and still has a bunch of power would be different.
I guess there two different types of cars all together.....

With a second gen, couldnt I use fuel injection? I'd just need the wiring and computer and crap, but a SBC is a SBC (Lets not get all technical with the LS1 stuff, lol) and I'd be able to do it, right?

So pretty much its a matter of:
Second gen-Badass, true muscle car, doesnt need gobs of power to draw attention and be different, handling expectations are low, just needs to be able to smoke the tires and set off car alarms, with quarter mile times/speeds higher than what I'd expect a third-gen to do...
Third gen-Clean, sharp, lots of power, great handling, fast.....
I dunno what I really want! LOL I love them both! Both have their pro's and con's.....
Pretty much if I could get SOME fuel economy (again, would swapping a TPI or LT1 be a fairly easy job?) from a second-gen I think I'd try and get one of those....theyre just harder to find in good shape for decent $$$.....
A third-gen is easier to find in decent shape, with probably more money to spend on mods and stuff....
ahhhh! I'm never gonna be able to decide, LOL

 

I believe that Painless Wiring makes harnesses for just about any engine/application, so if you wanted to swap an LT1 into a 2nd-gen, it wouldn't be that difficult. Also, there are various aftermarket EFI systems that you can bolt onto a SBC to convert them to fuel injected. This is assuming you want a touch of "economy". IMO though, if you want a powerful car for straight out speed, do that with the 2nd-gen. They have a much heavier duty posi differential (8.5" 10-bolt vs. 7.5" 10-bolt) and having driven them before, they don't actually handle all that bad. As far as I've heard though, 3rd-gens are some of the nicest handling F-bodies ever, so I'd make that the focus of a 3rd-gen if you built one of them.