Need Opinions 87 Z28

[String]

I know third gens get a bad rap but I was looking at selling my 89 RS 305 700r4 and buying an 87 Z28 that I found. My Car has a rebuilt 305 in it 3 years ago along with rebuilt trans. Also has 3.73 rear. Not much done to it other than exhaust. However it needs paint and a bit of body work including floor pans. What I know so far about the 87 Z28 is 5 speed, assuming 305 unless it was swapped out, and the paint is in great condition. Plans would be to put a 350 in it eventually. Is it worth it? I think it would be cheaper to fix the 87 than do everything to my 89.

[procamaroz28]

id get it if i liked 3rd gen its win win ur even up-grading to a m5

[Whiplash Performance]

What kind of price difference are we talking about between the two?

[jims69camaro]

on the one hand, you are taking a step backward from an '89 to an '87. on the other hand, you are upgrading to a Z28. if it was an even swap, i would probably do it. otherwise, i would have to think long and hard about it, if he wanted money on top of the deal. if you are selling your car outright, then you should be able to buy his car with the proceeds. if the guy is interested in a swap...

[String]

It's not a swap. It would be me buying his car and me selling my car to somebody else. Im going over in a few to take it for a spin and give it a good look. That should help me decide. But I'll probably get it so long as miles are ok and doesn't need floor pans. Haha.
Thanks!

[HeadlessNorseman]

I would get it just cause its a 5 speed and a z28. That would make it worth it to me. If you just want it to mod and drive fast, i would stick with the auto. Otherwise your going to have a fun time swapping t5s out lol. My 84 z28 was the most fun car ive owned so far. l69 5 speed with a few bolt ons. They come stock with 3.73 gears and are a ton of fun to drive. So i go for it if thats what you are after, just a fun car to drive

[String]

I would get it just cause its a 5 speed and a z28. That would make it worth it to me. If you just want it to mod and drive fast, i would stick with the auto. Otherwise your going to have a fun time swapping t5s out lol. My 84 z28 was the most fun car ive owned so far. l69 5 speed with a few bolt ons. They come stock with 3.73 gears and are a ton of fun to drive. So i go for it if thats what you are after, just a fun car to drive

Don't think you can mod and drive fast a 5speed? :shock:

[String]

Anyway got the Z28. Its nice and clean. However needs exhaust, (Too bad I tossed that muffler haha) and the choke light and engine light come on and off ever so often. O and it doesn't always like to shut off when you turn the key off. Here's a photo, Ill get more up soon.

[maroman88]

wow that looks really nice

[NastyEllEssWon]

Don't think you can mod and drive fast a 5speed? :shock:





well he was just mentioning that if your plans were to put a 350 in it the t5 isnt gonna last long behind that motor :nod:



nice car though

[BigAls87Z28]

Well, looks like I showed up late.
While I have a thing for 87 Z28's....I would have stuck with your 89.
If you were gunna drop a larger engine in any car, I would have stuck with the auto car. T-5's in third gens arent known for thier outstanding strength.

But is your car an L69 or an LG4? Congrats on it, 87 is a great year...

[sweetbmxrider]

the year i was born :nod: great looking car, can't wait to see it

[procamaroz28]

nice lookin car! good choice

[String]

well he was just mentioning that if your plans were to put a 350 in it the t5 isnt gonna last long behind that motor :nod:



nice car though

Thats what I figured. Figured there was a reason they only put the 350 in the 87 Iroc-z Auto. :cry:

[String]

Well, looks like I showed up late.
While I have a thing for 87 Z28's....I would have stuck with your 89.
If you were gunna drop a larger engine in any car, I would have stuck with the auto car. T-5's in third gens arent known for thier outstanding strength.

But is your car an L69 or an LG4? Congrats on it, 87 is a great year...

Believe it or not, haven't had much time to check it all out. But I am assuming its the LG4 being that its TBI. I just can't get away from the damn tbi. :-x


I am assuming the rear is 2.73. Looks like thats all they put in the 87 z28. Would it be complicated to swap out with the 3.73 in my 89 or would it be the same as when I put the 3.73 in my 89. Not sure if being its a t-5 it would complicate things over a 700r4

[FIcamaroRE92]

Nice find!
cool color too, just do away with the grill.

[String]

Nice find!
cool color too, just do away with the grill.

Word. However that will be the last thing to replace if ever. Already cleaned out the bank buying the car. Need to fix the mechanical issues to make it reliable like my trusty 89! haha

[BigAls87Z28]

Believe it or not, haven't had much time to check it all out. But I am assuming its the LG4 being that its TBI. I just can't get away from the damn tbi. :-x


I am assuming the rear is 2.73. Looks like thats all they put in the 87 z28. Would it be complicated to swap out with the 3.73 in my 89 or would it be the same as when I put the 3.73 in my 89. Not sure if being its a t-5 it would complicate things over a 700r4

Rear is a direct swap. I would deffinatly swap the two rears before you sell it. It will be an advantage giving the 89 better gas milage!!!

LG4 is the low-power carbed 305. L69 is the hi-po carbed 305.
Neither are TBI. TBI didnt show up till 88 or 89..my third gen knowlage is fading...

[//<86TA>\\]

Believe it or not, haven't had much time to check it all out. But I am assuming its the LG4 being that its TBI. I just can't get away from the damn tbi. :-x


I am assuming the rear is 2.73. Looks like thats all they put in the 87 z28. Would it be complicated to swap out with the 3.73 in my 89 or would it be the same as when I put the 3.73 in my 89. Not sure if being its a t-5 it would complicate things over a 700r4


if its tbi, its the lo3, the lg4 is a carbed motor, so is the l69
last year fo rthe l69 was 86 and only a handful were built

[NastyEllEssWon]

Rear is a direct swap. I would deffinatly swap the two rears before you sell it. It will be an advantage giving the 89 better gas milage!!!

LG4 is the low-power carbed 305. L69 is the hi-po carbed 305.
Neither are TBI. TBI didnt show up till 88 or 89..my third gen knowlage is fading...





tbi showed up in 89. most kids confuse tbi and carbs. silly kids :nod::lol::rofl:

[String]

tbi showed up in 89. most kids confuse tbi and carbs. silly kids :nod::lol::rofl:

Yea, my 89 is TBI. I know the difference if I looked at it. However I haven't looked at it. Im going to take a peek now to figure out whats going on under the hood.

[String]

Rear is a direct swap. I would deffinatly swap the two rears before you sell it. It will be an advantage giving the 89 better gas milage!!!

LG4 is the low-power carbed 305. L69 is the hi-po carbed 305.
Neither are TBI. TBI didnt show up till 88 or 89..my third gen knowlage is fading...

BEAN! Were swapping the rears just so you know! Don't make me do it out in the street again in the cold cold middle of winter. I want to swap the engine too haha, but that will be a pain.


I always get the slow cars haha.:rofl:

[NastyEllEssWon]

stock 305 5 speeds will hold their weight once its all said and done and most of the turd gens are in the trash :nod:

[HeadlessNorseman]

stock 305 5 speeds will hold their weight once its all said and done and most of the turd gens are in the trash :nod:

My z28 was a good bit faster than my formula, but thats not saying a lot. The sucky part is the small bore 305, weak trans, then the rear holding you back. makes me want a third gen again though!

[NastyEllEssWon]

My z28 was a good bit faster than my formula, but thats not saying a lot. The sucky part is the small bore 305, weak trans, then the rear holding you back. makes me want a third gen again though!




i meant in the value dept. 5 speed v8 third gens (stock) are getting harder to come along

[HeadlessNorseman]

i meant in the value dept. 5 speed v8 third gens (stock) are getting harder to come along

Ah, yes thats true. I regret getting rid of mine for that reason alone. If i ever find another t/a or cam 5 speed for sale im gonna grab it.

[String]

I love finding goodies under the hood. Got one big handful out of there.

[NastyEllEssWon]

shoulve looked at the car more thoroughly when checking a car out :nod:

[String]

I was more concerned about the body and frame being my car was a rust bucket. Cheaper to fix mechanically than to do all the body work. Especially when you have alot of parts for it. :nod:

[NastyEllEssWon]

well yeah but once they describe the condition that the car is in you can start subtracting money off the asking price random crap found like that :nod: :lol:

[String]

well yeah but once they describe the condition that the car is in you can start subtracting money off the asking price random crap found like that :nod: :lol:

O i did. got 1000 down. and new wheels. Best I could do, the other guy that was supposed to buy it before me showed up while I was driving it. It was a good time.:rofl:

[maroman88]

TBI was the base V8 in F-bodies STARTING IN 1988!!!... 87 was the last carb'd year :)

[Teds89IROC]

looks like a clean car, good luck with it!

[BigAls87Z28]

Do you want a set of 85-87 IROC's? Silver color, not gold.

[sweetbmxrider]

great, another 3rd gen rear swap. hopefully this one actually goes a bit smoother :lol:

i need to work on my car :-?

[String]

Do you want a set of 85-87 IROC's? Silver color, not gold.

Thanks for the offer but I think i'm swapping the rims off my 89 and I also have a set of 4 mags sitting at the guys house, (didn't want to try and fit them in the car).

[String]

great, another 3rd gen rear swap. hopefully this one actually goes a bit smoother :lol:

i need to work on my car :-?

Hey it wasn't that bad when I did it the first time in the street with a set of sockets, so simmer down.

[sweetbmxrider]

so do it again :-P

[String]

Fine, be that way. :evil:

[String]

SeaFoamed the hell out of the car today. Got a headache from all the smoke and fumes. that stuff is great! Thanks bean.

Im gonna get the 89 back over yonder so I or WE can swap the exhaust and figure out the whole fan relay problem. Want to at least do the exhaust asap so i dont die from the fumes coming in the car. Just sucks with having to get everything done from moving at the same time as buying another car, haha. Never enough time.

[sweetbmxrider]

hahahaha

[String]

The engine light code is coming on because of low temp. I think its because of what the jerkjob did with wiring the fan to constantly run through the power window fuse. what a jerkjob. and thats the only code its throwing.

[sweetbmxrider]

i hope we can find that one wire......

[String]

Word. What was the wire that was missing? the orange one?

[sweetbmxrider]

ya i think so. that was cut out of the harness so i'd say yes. the other one is obviously jumped and going through the firewall.

[String]

I think I found the one end of the orange wire. It starts by the battery but goes along the firewall behind the engine. gotta look at it later and see if I can follow it to the other end. working on the exhaust right now. got the back half off but the long pipe has to be cut by the axle to pull it out unless i jack the car, don't feel like doing that haha.

[CamaroJoe1987]

O and it doesn't always like to shut off when you turn the key off.

wen it has problems shuting off and it sounds like a tractor, thats called "dieseling", it mostly happens durring the first 5 minutes after you start it, you have to let the motor idle down and after that, you can turn it off normally. Ive had 2 cars that did that on me, durring the colder monthes, its more frequent.

[String]

wen it has problems shuting off and it sounds like a tractor, thats called "dieseling", it mostly happens durring the first 5 minutes after you start it, you have to let the motor idle down and after that, you can turn it off normally. Ive had 2 cars that did that on me, durring the colder monthes, its more frequent.

:nod: the idle is high on it all the time. got to adjust it but going to rebuild carb first.

[firebirdcrazy]

I had three 3rd Gen. An 86 Formula, 87 Trans am, and 87 IROC. The 87 Trans am was the only one to give me nothing but problems. It was a nightmare plagued with ignition problems, electrical shorts, and tranny problems, etc etc. I later traded it for an 87 300Z.

[Syzygy]

i have a T5 sitting behind a 360 pushing 542 hp, so far so good, shifts like the day it rolled off thee assembly line. i just hope to god i never get traction.

take it easy and itll last, never drop the clutch if theres a hope of hooking.

[String]

i have a T5 sitting behind a 360 pushing 542 hp, so far so good, shifts like the day it rolled off thee assembly line. i just hope to god i never get traction.

take it easy and itll last, never drop the clutch if theres a hope of hooking.

word. Well when the time and money is right I will get the good trans to go with a nice 350, however now, no time no money. Just want to work on making it look good and freshen up the engine and whatnot. :nod:

[98Gsxr750]

Car should be sweet when its all said and done. If ever. Haha

[String]

Car should be sweet when its all said and done. If ever. Haha

yea give me ten years :lol:

[98Gsxr750]

I'll take 15 years for mine to be there

[jims69camaro]

I'll take 15 years for mine to be there

that's not funny. i bought the '87 back in '01. the math says it's been 8 years, and we're just getting started on it. it should be done in 2. well, if it's not, then my daughter won't have a car. i plan on getting all of the body work done this summer and yank the motor in the fall. wish me luck.

[LTb1ow]

Good luck Jim.