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IROCDave Member
Joined: 16 Jan 2010 Posts: 957 Location: Snohomish WA
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 5:54 pm Post subject: Opinions needed, what do I do with my car... |
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Owned it since 1991, dropped the ZZ4 shortblock, TF heads and T-Ram in it around 2000. Had the drivers door ripped off in 05, spent a alot of time stripping everything off of it and getting it ready for paint, then paid to have the car re sprayed in the same color. Spent more time color sanding and buffing it out,. Spent to much money and replaced all of the lighting fixtures and stickers that I could still buy new from GM as well as the T-Top weather stripping.
Swapped the heads for AFR 195's and a bigger cam a couple of years ago. The cam gear ate the distibutor gear. It hasnt moved from it's spot in the garage for a couple of years.
I know I should pull the engine again and have it gone through, then buy another cam and distributor gear and get it running again. Just not feeling the enthuisiasm I once did for the car.
Should I sell it or just man up and do what needs to be done to get it back on the road?
I am wondering. What is my car worth? I know, the answer, only what someone is worth paying for it, but I am in a weird spot. The T-Ram is worth more than a TPI, the fresh paint / weather stripping / exterior lighting etc make it appear factory fresh. The interior is original but has no blemishes other than discoloration from age. The car has 110K on it, or less than 20K since the stock 305 TPI was swapped out for the ZZ4. The suspension was rebuilt when the ZZ4 was dropped in as was the transmission.
What would you do with my car? |
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QwkTrip 11sec Club

Joined: 17 Feb 2004 Posts: 3942 Location: Peoria, IL
1989 Pontiac Firebird
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Only you know if you're tired of it and want something different. We can't decide that for you. I don't know what could be worth, but I do know it's worth a lot less not running. You're better off with a running engine whether you keep it or sell it. |
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aaron_sK Member
Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 8834 Location: Back in beautiful Tacompton
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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| IROCDave wrote: | | What would you do with my car? |
Me personally? I would go down to the yard, buy another distributor, throw a recurve kit in it, change the oil and go rip brodys.
But that's me, and as the man said:
| QwkTrip wrote: | | Only you know if you're tired of it and want something different. We can't decide that for you. |
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RSFreak The other "John"

Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 2946 Location: Renton
1989 Chevrolet Camaro RS
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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| aaron_sK wrote: | | IROCDave wrote: | | What would you do with my car? |
Me personally? I would go down to the yard, buy another distributor, throw a recurve kit in it, change the oil and go rip brodys.
But that's me, and as the man said:
| QwkTrip wrote: | | Only you know if you're tired of it and want something different. We can't decide that for you. |
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Sounds like a plan!  _________________ '86 Trans Am - 5.0L TPI - LT1 cam - 700R4 - WS6
'85 Camaro Berlinetta - IROC clone
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Twilightoptics Hardcore (12sec Club)

Joined: 13 Jan 2004 Posts: 9191 Location: Auburn , WA
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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Pretty sure we went over this already :O)
Drive the shizzle out of it and get some enjoyment. _________________ A redline a day keeps the carbon away! |
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iansane Member

Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 5742 Location: Bothell
1991 Pontiac Trans Am
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 8:57 pm Post subject: Re: Opinions needed, what do I do with my car... |
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| IROCDave wrote: | | Just not feeling the enthuisiasm I once did for the car. |
And you're not going to unless it's back on the road. Working on it now is going to be pretty mundane. The only way to know for sure if you want to keep the car is to fix it and see if it tickles you the way it once did. Other than that, it's all speculation. I'm with Aaron though. I'd get it running dirty and see if it has that spark again. Then you can decide if you want to swap an LSx into it.  _________________
| Quote: | | Sometimes I actually think I'm slightly retarded in the mouth. |
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RSFreak The other "John"

Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 2946 Location: Renton
1989 Chevrolet Camaro RS
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 9:41 pm Post subject: Re: Opinions needed, what do I do with my car... |
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| iansane wrote: | | IROCDave wrote: | | Just not feeling the enthuisiasm I once did for the car. |
And you're not going to unless it's back on the road. Working on it now is going to be pretty mundane. |
The reason you still haven't finished your turbo install?!?!  |
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aaron_sK Member
Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 8834 Location: Back in beautiful Tacompton
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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That seems to be a general Crew problem:
Start turbo project, buy commuter due to uselessness of project car, work on turbo project slows to a crawl, everyone complains that you're not working fast enough.  |
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iansane Member

Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 5742 Location: Bothell
1991 Pontiac Trans Am
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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Hey, I'm all but done. I just need to scrounge up enough money/time to have it tuned/program the MAF delete. Oh and a bung welded into the intake tube for an IAT sensor...
Too many other projects keep zapping funds/time. Motor swaps on the bmw, the balancer on my mom's vette has separated and I need to replace that, the exhaust is broken off the s10, steve's volvo has a massive oil leak at the cooling lines, and I'm debating on doing a favor for a friend and doing the tbelt/h2o pump on her 1.8t mk4 gti. I need a bigger garage or real shop so I can just have all the projects going and work on one until I get bored, move on to the next for a day, then the next...  _________________
| Quote: | | Sometimes I actually think I'm slightly retarded in the mouth. |
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Alphius Peanut

Joined: 05 Sep 2006 Posts: 2429 Location: Grand Mound
1984 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
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Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 5:05 am Post subject: |
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You sound like Aaron with the excuses. We want results! _________________ 84 Camaro Z28 - LS1/T56
85 Silverado - Low and Slow |
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QwkTrip 11sec Club

Joined: 17 Feb 2004 Posts: 3942 Location: Peoria, IL
1989 Pontiac Firebird
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Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 9:10 am Post subject: |
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You guys are hilarious. I'm cracking up reading the replies.  |
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91RSVert Member
Joined: 16 May 2007 Posts: 2736 Location: AR
1991 Chevrolet Camaro RS
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Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 5:04 pm Post subject: Re: Opinions needed, what do I do with my car... |
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| iansane wrote: | | IROCDave wrote: | | Just not feeling the enthuisiasm I once did for the car. |
And you're not going to unless it's back on the road. |
x2. Thats why most of my projects I try to do one or two things at a time. It sucks ass having it down for a long time and no enjoying it. _________________ 2008 GMC Z71
1991 Camaro RS Vert
1972 Jimmy 4x4
20ft Longhorn Car Hauler
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RSFreak The other "John"

Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 2946 Location: Renton
1989 Chevrolet Camaro RS
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Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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| aaron_sK wrote: | That seems to be a general Crew problem:
Start turbo project, buy commuter due to uselessness of project car, work on turbo project slows to a crawl, everyone complains that you're not working fast enough.  |
Says the guy who still gives me grief about how long my engine swap took!  |
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Twilightoptics Hardcore (12sec Club)

Joined: 13 Jan 2004 Posts: 9191 Location: Auburn , WA
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
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Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 9:24 pm Post subject: |
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My engine is still on a stand. But the car runs and I enjoy it. The mission remains the same no waiver. _________________ A redline a day keeps the carbon away! |
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IROCDave Member
Joined: 16 Jan 2010 Posts: 957 Location: Snohomish WA
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
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Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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Lol, guess I just need some encouragement. Aarons right, just get it running again. Not having it running is why I'm questioning keeping it.
Thanks for being honest, thats why I keep coming back to you guys for real in put on decissions. I know the grass isnt greener, but sometimes need to hear it from some one else. |
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QwkTrip 11sec Club

Joined: 17 Feb 2004 Posts: 3942 Location: Peoria, IL
1989 Pontiac Firebird
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Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| And don't forget, the car you don't have is always more expensive than the car you have. Starting over with something else can be a real money drain. |
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aaron_sK Member
Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 8834 Location: Back in beautiful Tacompton
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
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Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 7:45 am Post subject: |
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| QwkTrip wrote: | | Starting over with something else can be a real money drain. |
In general I would agree, but if you wrangle it and you have value in the parts you want to unload you can make a lateral move. When I scrapped my '85 Z28 and bought the yellow sport coupe it was a monetary wash after I had sold the duplicate parts and scrap metal. I think with the AFR's and T-Ram Dave could probably buy an LS1 for the sale price of his SBC parts.
| IROCDave wrote: | | Thanks for being honest, thats why I keep coming back to you guys for real in put on decissions. |
There's too much internet worry out there already. You can count on the crew to say "ehh, f**k it"
FWIW I often cut open filters and I have seen then catch plenty of metal in good running engines. Even if a chunk makes it to the pan the sump screen will snag it.
I know it's apples an oranges but take a look at this junkyard Ford engine:
The sump screen had actually collapsed in on itself from the force of the pump pulling against the chunks of nylon sprocket for so long. New pump, new sump, new timing set and an oil change and it ran fine with good oil pressure.
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IROCDave Member
Joined: 16 Jan 2010 Posts: 957 Location: Snohomish WA
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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If the T-ram could fetch the 3500.00 I was offered a while ago it as well as my car would be down the road. I have a brand new HSR on the shelf and would install it on my 87 if the T-Ram sold. That's the dilemma. With he HSR on my car I would guess it would fetch around 6K - 8K. The 90 convertible will be worth around 5K - 6K. If both sold I would not be able to take the proceeds and buy a single replacement vehicle. But.. it would be a decent down payment on one. Lisa loves the 5th gen Camaro. I don't. I love the 05 - 06 GTO's, Lisa doesn't. We would both like a C5 or C6 Corvette, but the proceeds from the 3rd gens would not cover the corvette purchase.
I still enjoy driving my IROC when it's running correctly. Just seems that that hasn't been the case in more than 10 years. |
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