Interested in getting a 3rd gen...

[MAC]

So recently I've decided I again want to attempt to get a camaro. The 3rd gen interests me the most; However, I prefer the 3rd gen that doesn't have the, I'm not sure what the correct term for it is, but it's the lip spoiler...
I much prefer no spoiler, or the actual bolt on spoiler that it had in 91 & 92 (I believe those are the correct years) - correct me if I'm wrong.
I googled 91 and 92 RS camaros, and they appear to have the lip spoiler, so I'm assuming the basic v6 camaros have the bolt on?...
if anyone can elaborate this for me so I don't continue babbling on about this I'd greatly appreciate it.

Anyway, I'm highly interested in attaining a 3rd gen (again preferrably 91 or 92) - I'm not sure if the 90 had the upgraded interior or not...? preferrably white in color, V6 (for a daily). also, one that runs, and doesn't have a bajillion miles on it. - if anyone knows of one thats at a decent price, I'm currently saving my money.

I used to know this stuff but I forgot...and forgot where I got the information from lol. - or if theres anyone out there that could discuss this in PM's with me thats pretty knowledgable about the later 3rd gens I'd appreciate it.

also I was wondering what the reliability is on T-tops of the 3rd gen, i love t-tops but know they are kind've a b**** to maintain/keep from leaking. IMO well worth it tho.

Any comments / suggestions are welcome. I would like any and all standard information or behind the curtain information as I can get.

thanks!

[Xanthos]

This spoiler?



- Xanthos

[MAC]

yep. that'd be the one.

[91vortecSS]

The high rise wing pictured above was only a 91 and 92 Z-28 option , all of the others got the low " lip " spoiler. Both bolt on and both can be removed and the holes filled in . I had a 92 that we took the wing off of and filled the holes the deck lid.... it made the car look really good IMHO !
Trying to find a low mile V6 thats 18 years old is going to be a problem . You may want to look for a 25th aniv. (92) RS or Z with a V8 that someone has not put many miles on and put up for an investment. You are going to pay a little more for it up front but you'll be money ahead in the long run.
On the T-Tops , you can get new seals for them if they leak in 91 some of the cars got lexan t-tops , they were lighter and wouldn't break if you dropped one but they had problems with them peeling or delaminating. There was a silent recall on them and they were relaced with glass ones for a limited time. This problem did not effect the performance of the T-Tops just appearance . I have seen people have the lexan ones painted black or body color and it was OK to look at just different.

[MAC]

so the lip spoiler is bolt on too? for all 3rd gen years?...or just the 91 & 92?

[MAC]

it doesnt need to be "low mile", but i'd prefer it not to have an obnoxious amount of miles on it.

[MAC]

was there cruise control on the 90 91 or 92?...

[Supercamaro64]

they also look pretty nice w/o a spoiler. mine doesnt hav one, and it looks pretty good. but mine is also an 86 berlinetta, and i kno tht they changed the rear slightly to accomodate the HMRL after the 86 model yr.

[91vortecSS]

yes they are all bolt on for all years 82-92 if you buy a 91 or 92 Z-28 and want a short spoiler , all you have to do is drill a few holes in the rear fenders and bolt it on . If you buy a RS and want the Z-28 wing you have to fill the extra holes in the fenders and drill a couple of extra holes in the deck , and yes they have Cruise Control on 91 and 92 .

There is also another rear spoiler floating around on 88's ( I think ) they ran out of the regular short spoilers and started putting a shorter version of the 91-92 Z28 wing . I think it was only on 88's and maybe a few 89's

I see your from Ca. so you can prob. find a car thats not rusted away , I'm in the snow belt so seeing nice 3rd gens is rare, thats why I miss mine so much. Good luck with your L.E. career , I've got 14 years in.

[mikes7960]

Mac, you interested in a 1985 silver iroc with 62k in mint condition? If so call me at 608-290-3707. Mike

[Iroczlover]

cruise control was an option for almost all years of the 3rd gen Camaros.

if YOu want a 350 (the big motor) then you would want a 87-92 with the Vin code 8. or risk something someones messed with or trying to pass as a 350 when its really a 305.

I have a 87 Iroc with the 350 & have had several 3rd gens over the year, I HATE the high rise spoiler & think it makes the car look like a childs toy.

[MAC]

actually I'm going for a daily driver - just a v6. plus I wanna have enough money to spruce it up a bit.

how hard would it be to hammer out the dent on the driver side door?...he said it just has some paint chipped but no rust.

this is the camaro I'm gonna test drive tomarrow:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/1058541487.html

I know, new tranny...but it's only 60k miles!...
and the price was lowered to 1100...he said hes the second owner, and doesnt know why the tranny was replaced. (i assume someone was just a little too hard on the first one)
which is about how much i paid my mom for my current car that has a replaced tranny...I'm just hoping it works just as well as my current one is (at the moment). (if not better)
I'm sick of my ford taurus despite its almost immaculate exterior (god damn it doesnt look a day old after I wash it lol)

only bad side - I just got new tires for my current car. ugh.

I'm really hoping it's as good as it sounds...+ i've never seen a camaro that color...was that an original color?...(light blue) - ill prolly end up painting it white...

btw thx for all the information about the spoiler...I'm gonna get the z-28 kind most likely asap...unless I prefer it without a spoiler entirely.

[GTAHVIT]

I 3rd gens...

[Dave McFly]

Originally Posted by 91vortecSS

There is also another rear spoiler floating around on 88's ( I think ) they ran out of the regular short spoilers and started putting a shorter version of the 91-92 Z28 wing . I think it was only on 88's and maybe a few 89's

it was 88 only model year all NON IROC coupes and convertibles had a unique rear wing, and the rocker panels and rear bumper cover were also unique to the 88. instead of a and the words RS or IROC it said CAMARO. I know i had a 88 coupe with the TBI 305. the previous owner painted over the badges on the rocker extensions on the side. I ended up damaging them trying to get the paint off. i went to my local Chevy dealer to order them and they said the badges and the panels they fit into were 88 MO only. If i would have kept the car (it was totaled just after i sold it) i would have replaced that stupid narrow rear wing for a 91/92 Z28 wing.

[Vash]

In my opinion you could be hurting yourslelf worring about the spoiler.

Old cars.. you want to look at each particular car. By wanting it without just saying you might be passing up a better overall vehicle.

I think they can be unbolted and the holes bondo'ed and painted if you really wanted too.

[scottmoyer]

The ground effects on the 88 were the same as the rest from 85-90. The emblems were the only difference.

Also, there was no shortage of the rear spoilers forcing them to use the shorter high rise. It was a design choice for the sport coupe in 88 only. Chevy changed back to the regular "lip" spoiler mid way thru the year. If you don't want a spoiler, look for an 85 or 86 sport coupe with no options. Most of the cars came with the spoiler because of the desired looks. The 91/92 Z28 came with the high rise spoiler and was available in 305 V8 or 350 V8 only. All v6s came with the lip spoiler or low rise spoiler starting in 88.

Also, the interior changed to the airbag style in 1990.

[Dave McFly]

Originally Posted by scottmoyer

The ground effects on the 88 were the same as the rest from 85-90. The emblems were the only difference.

i wish that was true but there is no way a emblem with the bowtie and the word CAMARO next to it will fit into a spot that originally said RS or IROC. I have seen enough 85 up cars to see that. hell my best buddy had a very sweet 'triple black' 89 IROC t top coupe and even he could see that the side moldings and rear bumper are different enough between my 88 coupe and his 89 IROC and we had both cars parked side by side.

[Super83Z]

If you want to get even deeper a few 88 RS's were built but sold only in california. My 83 had cruise, A/C, "leather", and cross-fire but now it looks like a 91-92 Z28 with a SS hood.

[TheGrimReaperToMustangs]

My 85 has cc, air and the like. My mom ordered her in 1984 and it has been in the family ever since.

[Dave McFly]

Originally Posted by Super83Z

If you want to get even deeper a few 88 RS's were built but sold only in california. My 83 had cruise, A/C, "leather", and cross-fire but now it looks like a 91-92 Z28 with a SS hood.

heh, mine was built in Van Nuys California in 87 according to the paperwork that came from the car via the original owner (also had the window sticker rolled up in a cardboard tube along with the brochure).

[scottmoyer]

Originally Posted by Dave McFly

i wish that was true but there is no way a emblem with the bowtie and the word CAMARO next to it will fit into a spot that originally said RS or IROC. I have seen enough 85 up cars to see that. hell my best buddy had a very sweet 'triple black' 89 IROC t top coupe and even he could see that the side moldings and rear bumper are different enough between my 88 coupe and his 89 IROC and we had both cars parked side by side.

I'm glad you have seen this with your own eyes, but you are wrong. The emblem with the bowtie goes on the rear bumper cover, not the side rocker! I agree that the bowtie emblem will not fit on the rocker, but since that's not where it goes, that's a non issue. The factory ground effects on all Camaros from 1985-1990 are the same.

Here's the rear on an 87


Here's the rear on an 88


Here's an 89


I also attached the rocker images of an 88 coupe and an 87 IROC-Z for comparison. They are from different angles so they won't look exactly the same but look at the height and length of each rocker emblem.

[mike302]

Scott that is a beautiful IROCZ you have there! It takes me back to a time just out of high school and me standing in the lot of my local Chevy dealer totally bummed out that I couldn't afford the insurance on one that looked just like yours. I am in my late 30s now and I am going to be looking for one like yours. Wish me luck. They are hard to come by these days. Especially in the condition yours is.

[99b4c]

I love 3rd gen Camaros, miss my 89 Iroc L98 flame red and gold with tan interior,totalled in winter of 95.

I just bought a 89 RS hardtop flame red to clone my old Camaro but with LS and T56 power.