Is it 89 IROC-Z or RS?

[MerF]

Originally Posted by OverAnxious

1989 Camaro IROC-Z came with the carburated L03 305 v8 standard. TPI motors were optional. TPI was standard on the IROC-Z for 1990

I agree with the above who states that it was more likely a TBI 305, not a carb'd 305...but seeing that TBI is just a carb with an electronic jet in it (plus the metering necessary) it's almost indistinguishable to the untrained eye.

[b4z]

The underside of the console lid will have the code "b4z".
Somebody already mentioned the "wonderbar."
it is a bar that goes between the 2 frame rails up near the front of the car.

[OverAnxious]

Originally Posted by 99b4c

There were no carburated Camaros in 89, the 305 and 350 were either TBI or TPI ,all fuel injected.

It is easy to clone a TBI base IROC, same motor as an RS, just look for a real 5.7 IROC with an 8 in the VIN for the engine.

My mistake, I meant TBI (throttle body) not carburated. I mis typed that. Thanks for pointing it out

[scottmoyer]

The SPID label will NOT have RPO B4Z in 1989. All 1988 - 1990 Z28s were IROC-Zs so there was no need for the B4Z code. The SPID label will ONLY have Z28 if the car is truly an IROC-Z. The reason the IROC-Z was available with the TBI LO3 was there was no longer a lesser model like in 85-87 with the Z28. You had 2 model options, RS with V6 or V8 or IROC-Z with base LO3 305, LB9 305 and L98 350.

[Vash]

It's gonna be more an issue of the overall quality of the car as to it's value IMO.

This thread is worthless without pics.

[AZCamaroFan]

I havn't seen any 89's without the TPI motor either. It should have the IROC-Z badge on the passenger side of the dash though. It would also have one on the ground effects. Also it would have foglights. If it has original chevy wheels they would have IROC-Z on the hub. Those are easy things to look for. Personally i am not sure i would buy an IROC without tpi, but if i did it would be a good candidate for a modern LS motor!

[99b4c]

Originally Posted by azfan

I havn't seen any 89's without the TPI motor either. It should have the IROC-Z badge on the passenger side of the dash though. It would also have one on the ground effects. Also it would have foglights. If it has original chevy wheels they would have IROC-Z on the hub. Those are easy things to look for. Personally i am not sure i would buy an IROC without tpi, but if i did it would be a good candidate for a modern LS motor!

There are alot of base model TBI IROCs in 88,89 and most get converted to carbs, they dont say tuned port under IROC-Z on the rocker emblems or rear bumper. I think any IROC is a good candidate for an LS swap, my 89 L98 IROC was nothing compared to my 99 LS1.

[b4z]

Yeah, all torque. the stocker TPIs fall on their face at 5000rpms-just when the LS motors start getting fun.
I did like putting my '87 into 5th gear and letting it drop to idle with my foot of the gas as i drove down the street at 25mph. But at 4800rpms there was nobody home.

[AZCamaroFan]

I saw one in a Camaro magazine a couple years ago. He bought it from some woman who bought it for her teenager, and the dumb punk wanted a rice rocket. It was an original IROC. The guy sprayed it in sunset orange metallic, and put the Iroc decals back on, and put an LS2 in it. It looked like a stock IROC, but damn that was cool! I'm a stock kind of guy, but that sort of thing really interests me, because i love the 3rd gen look. I got tired of mine because of the harsh ride, and not very stiff chassis, but if i could get one and correct those things....

[99b4c]

I love the stock IROC look also, the best 3rd gen IMO. An 88 or 89 in dark flame red with gold emblems and wheels. I will be cloning an 89 IROC using a RS hardtop and an LS1 and T56 swap. Finding a clean non abused real IROC hardtop cheap to pull apart was not working.

[BlueZee28]

The easiest way to tell if it was an actual IROC-Z is to verify the "Z28" rpo code in the console, or the compartment in the trunk. Some cars had it in the trunk, some had it in the glove compartment in the console. If it doesn't say "Z28" then it's a base model/RS.

You never want to assume a car is an IROC-Z / Z28 based on what wheels, decals, badges, and emblems are on it, heck, even the motor. All of that can be swapped out or replaced.

[Cavecock]

i agree wih Bluezee, the easiest way is the RPO code Z28, i have an 89 camaro rs, and you can trust it is very easy to get the decals, badges, and hood/tailights to make it look like a true Z, thats another thing, is after the Z28 code does it also have grid or plain tail lights (both have same color sequence, but the iroc's always had the "grid style" with the black lines,

89 irocs could have come with 305 tbi's as well, dont let anybody convince you otherwise, i almost bought one myself before i found my rs,

just make sure you check the spid sheet and match the vin to that sheet with the z28 rpo, if it dont have it, then they guy is telling the truth and it is an rs(he most likely bought it cloned or cloned it, and he's honest enough to tell you what it really is), either way or i love my 89 rs, and the 305 can be beefed up to run like a good 350 as well, they aint very fast, but they are intimidating if you throw a good exhaust with a cutout on it

[Cavecock]

also try this link

www.thirdgen.org

been a member for 2 years, all answer you need to your questions about thirdgen f-bodys

[92 Z28]

I think the Iroc-z speedometer has 145mph while the RS has 110mph thats an easy way to spot in Iroc z