Cascade Crew

GoldenRhino · New Member Joined: 11 Jul 2011 Posts: 3 Location: Bend, OR

Greetings all. I just acquired an 89 Camaro RS in pretty dang good shape over the weekend. What I know is that it is an LB8, 5spd, 3.73 posi . I have always been a rice tuner and decided it was time to play with something a little more meater. I have never owned a Camaro before and am curious what the first things I should be looking to do to it might be.

1) The steering wheel is floppy as heck but the column is solid. Found a procedure for getting into it and tightening bolts. The tilt control works fine and doesn't slip, just that the whole steering wheel moves up down left right at least 3" (right at where the tilt control meets the column). Any words of advice here is greatly appreciated

2) I plan on sticking with the LB8 mostly for gas mileage at this time. I would like to keep this car as original as possible. I would like this to be built more for Pro-Touring than a speed demon or track car. What's good to upgrade for that? Exhaust and intake would be my first thought on other cars and maybe some beefier internals (cam?).

3) Rear latch is loose. I haven't dug into it yet but it appears the little white plastic runners are worn completely out. I have to hold up the receiving unit from the inside, while someone closes the hatch from the outside to get it to catch. Is there a rebuilt part for this or should i be looking junkyard side for a whole new assembly?

So...please feel free to pounce the noob but I really would like to meet a local Camaro guru. I'm a hard worker and I'm smart...minimal direction would be nice or even someone to have a cpl beers with while looking through it for anything that "sticks out". I've done amazing things with rice burners and laptops, N2O, S/C's, Turbos...name it Smile

Heck I've even done a A/T to 5spd conversion before but that was on a 4th Gen Maxima lol.

91RSVert · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 4:33 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the site.

1. I am no help, sorry.

2. Exhaust and intake are the normal main upgrades. The y-pipe is usually the worst part because its more a "T". But upgrading size all around is good. 2.75-3.0 after the pipes come together should be more then enough for alot of upgrades. More then it sounds your wanting to go.

3. Topdownsolutions.com has rebuilt kits. Its not cheap, but its good stuff and good customer service. you will have a core-charge you will have to send back. This is a VERY common problem, so most junkyard cars will likely have same issues.

You can also tune your car with a laptop and is recommended after a few mods. Just not as easy as your imports as you have to replace a chip in the ecm that you burn in a little device. Not programing a "brain" thats always inside the ecm.

Edit:, btw, I'm trying to put 2+2 to get 4 and I'm stretching. But you happen to have 5 siblings? One who is a female that did/does modeling? As well a brother who did some too?

Xophertony · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:50 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the boards!

1. the thing you are talking about with the bolts should fix this. this is where they wobble when the tilt mechanism bolts back out of the column. the tilt mechanism will still work in this case. I recommend a spot of red loctite in each bolt hole.

2. what I would recommend is to do almost nothing except regular maintenance to the car. At some point you are going to realize the amount of effort building a 305 will take compared to an engine swap to a 327, 350 or GENIII* and you will be glad you saved your money, or spent it on platform modifications instead of engine mods.

3. The TDS full rebuild is the way to go. You can also try and kitbash a few units together and get enough working parts to make a full unit. I myself have about 5 units worth of parts in a bucket I would be willing to sell for pretty cheap. I would ALWAYS recommend buying new guide bushings (the white plastic bits). if you buy just those from TDS you can save some dough.

*GEN III refering to a 3rd generation GM smallblock. commonly referred to as an LSX. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_LS_engine

GoldenRhino · New Member Joined: 11 Jul 2011 Posts: 3 Location: Bend, OR

GoldenRhino · New Member Joined: 11 Jul 2011 Posts: 3 Location: Bend, OR

iansane · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:02 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the site! Gas mileage is no reason to stick with the tiny six. Stick an LSx in there. Very Happy

Xophertony · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:19 pm Post subject:

i figured he mistyped LB9.

LB8 is the MPFI right. not a bad little engine as long as you don't pair it with the power sucking 700R4 Auto. Surprised

aaron_sK · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:44 am Post subject:

My two cents: Don't put a damned nickel into the 2.8. Unless your nickel is spent on a hairdryer it's not worth it. You already have a T5 which, as Tony alluded to is the true upgrade for those motors. They do not like the 700.

91RSVert · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:17 am Post subject:

Yep, that 2+2 didnt work. Sorry for the confusion.

Ok, didnt realize that was the 2.8 motor. 2.5" pipe is mooorree then enough for anything you do to that motor except a turbo. But still have the "y"pipe rebuilt. It lacks blowing Laughing

As for internals on a 6... First, make sure that timing chain is good! That is the weak point of the motor. Anything for power gains, start by upgrading to the 93-95 3.4 rwd block(bored n stroked 2. Cool

. Toss in a cam, and leave it at that. Anything else internal is not cost worthy unless you plan to turbo it.