First Yank Tank ??????????
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm starting to think I really need something with a nice V8 and some cool points in my life. Problem is I'm on a limited budget ( under £4k ) and need to be able to fit a child in the back as well. As I say, must have V8 for the noise and a good amount of cool points other than that i'm open to your thoughts.
I'm starting to think I really need something with a nice V8 and some cool points in my life. Problem is I'm on a limited budget ( under £4k ) and need to be able to fit a child in the back as well. As I say, must have V8 for the noise and a good amount of cool points other than that i'm open to your thoughts.
Roo said:
Depends on what you're looking for.
'94 onwards Mustangs are in that price range. If you want something completely obscure I bought this for less than your budget.
Mustangs would be cool i guess but am i wright / wrong in saying they are a little......wet for want of a better word around this time? I think yours is a little understated for me. I'm thinking loud pipes and showing off really. Am also a fan of 80's cheese so anything from then could fit the bill????'94 onwards Mustangs are in that price range. If you want something completely obscure I bought this for less than your budget.
It's a 1991 Chevy Camaro Z28 5.0 TPI. As far as ownership goes its very good. Never had a problem with it (had it 2 years now), and the sound it makes is out of this world. I can get 30 mpg on the run and about 15-8 mpg when pushing it around town. This generation of Camaro was made from 1982 to 92. In 1990 they changed the dashboard for a more modern one including airbag also added new ground effects on Z28 and IROC-Z. IROC had sport suspension but Z28 was kind of top of the range. Iroc and z28 had only 5.0 and 5.7 engines, unlike RS which had also 2.8 and 3.1 V6. You need to be careful as many 5.0 are sold as 5.7 because its hard to spot the differences between them. Always check the VIN and dont buy heavily moded ones or from boyracers, gearbox and engine gonna be thrashed . Fuel injected models (TPI)came in 1988 (I think) so if you want to do some DIY on the engine it's better to go for carburated models (TBI). Also remember that there was no 5.7 with manual gearbox, auto only. To be honest with you, if I would be buying one again I would go for 1990 iroc 5.7 (there was no irocs made in 91 or 92). All I just said above also goes to Pontiac Firebirds (except the model names), the firebird to go for is GTA or Trans Am.
Some facts and figures might be slightly off as I'm at work at the moment and its all from the top of my head. If you've got any more questions just gimmie a shout.
Some facts and figures might be slightly off as I'm at work at the moment and its all from the top of my head. If you've got any more questions just gimmie a shout.
A 2nd gen for under £4k would probably be a ropey late 70's one (like Chevy Stu's 
) and any 2nd gens rust like anything 
A 3rd gen will probably have a 4 speed auto (if you want/need a slushbox) and the injected ones are surprisingly frugal. Quite compact for a Yank, huge options for making them go/stop/handle better, but great fun and capable as standard too.
Same goes for 80's 'Fox' bodied Mustangs, but not sure when they switched to 4 speed autos (this really makes the difference on Motorways), much bigger owners club scene if you like hanging around with blokes in cowboy boots and T shirts with wolves on
Sorely tempted to have a standard'ish 3rd Gen as a daily/2nd toy
) and any 2nd gens rust like anything A 3rd gen will probably have a 4 speed auto (if you want/need a slushbox) and the injected ones are surprisingly frugal. Quite compact for a Yank, huge options for making them go/stop/handle better, but great fun and capable as standard too.
Same goes for 80's 'Fox' bodied Mustangs, but not sure when they switched to 4 speed autos (this really makes the difference on Motorways), much bigger owners club scene if you like hanging around with blokes in cowboy boots and T shirts with wolves on
Sorely tempted to have a standard'ish 3rd Gen as a daily/2nd toy
Ye Hah Motown Junk said:
....A 2nd gen for under £4k would probably be a ropey late 70's one (like Chevy Stu's ) and any 2nd gens rust like anything ....
Oi..... All the rust is painted over on mine, thank you.. ) and any 2nd gens rust like anything .... My 'ropey' 77' Camaro
Motown Junk said:
...Same goes for 80's 'Fox' bodied Mustangs, but not sure when they switched to 4 speed autos (this really makes the difference on Motorways), much bigger owners club scene if you like hanging around with blokes in cowboy boots and T shirts with wolves on
Bit like the dayvan scene then..... 
I'd go for a 3rd gen (1982 - 1992) Camaro or Firebird. I had a 1986 IROC Camaro as my first yank and loved it. Easy to live with, quick enough, turns heads, sound great, ok (ish) MPG... and 4 seats.. !!!!!
Edited by chevy-stu on Friday 19th February 02:49
chevy-stu said:
Motown Junk said:
...Same goes for 80's 'Fox' bodied Mustangs, but not sure when they switched to 4 speed autos (this really makes the difference on Motorways), much bigger owners club scene if you like hanging around with blokes in cowboy boots and T shirts with wolves on
Bit like the dayvan scene then..... Edited by LeighW on Friday 19th February 16:24
chevy-stu said:
Motown Junk said:
Motown Junk said:
...Same goes for 80's 'Fox' bodied Mustangs, but not sure when they switched to 4 speed autos (this really makes the difference on Motorways), much bigger owners club scene if you like hanging around with blokes in cowboy boots and T shirts with wolves on
Bit like the dayvan scene then..... ...but the dayvan probably handles better 
I'd look for a Fox Body or 3rd gen Camaro. The fly in the ointment is that the later 4th gen 3.8V6 from 1996-on has 200hp which is more than most of the V8s.
To correct a few facts on the Camaro, the car was introduced in 1982 and facelifted in 1985 which was when the TPI (tuned port injection) was introduced on the IROC. The 5.7 came along in 1986. The IROC was strictly a Z28 option so you could buy either but the IROC had the better chassis. The Z28 disappeared from 1998-1990 when it reappeared as Chevy lost the right to use the IROC name. The 4 barrel carb version of the L69 engine-equipped car came with a 5 speed manual (T5)but the later TPI LB9 (5.0) got either 205 or 215hp but was auto-only. Bear in miond that the first 3rd gen Camaro Z28s only put out 145hp. Note that the 1985 TPI was more powerful than the 190hp '86 which used the LG4 camshaft.
The lesser RS version came in 2.8V6 but later switched to a 3.1V6 in 1990. The 5.0 had a single point throttle-body injection as opposed to the multi-point TPI. The RS V8 or LO3 was rated at 170hp.
The 4th gen was a better car in many ways with plastic panels bar rear wings and hood though you'll need to uprate the suspension on the V6 for best effect.
In truth, even the 145hp early 3rd gens "feel" fast as they surge instantly on a wave of torque and a V8 rarely disappoints.
I know less about the Fox Mustangs but the gearchange isn't as good and the handling isn't as good as the Camaro/Firebird twins. They are also increasingly rare.
To correct a few facts on the Camaro, the car was introduced in 1982 and facelifted in 1985 which was when the TPI (tuned port injection) was introduced on the IROC. The 5.7 came along in 1986. The IROC was strictly a Z28 option so you could buy either but the IROC had the better chassis. The Z28 disappeared from 1998-1990 when it reappeared as Chevy lost the right to use the IROC name. The 4 barrel carb version of the L69 engine-equipped car came with a 5 speed manual (T5)but the later TPI LB9 (5.0) got either 205 or 215hp but was auto-only. Bear in miond that the first 3rd gen Camaro Z28s only put out 145hp. Note that the 1985 TPI was more powerful than the 190hp '86 which used the LG4 camshaft.
The lesser RS version came in 2.8V6 but later switched to a 3.1V6 in 1990. The 5.0 had a single point throttle-body injection as opposed to the multi-point TPI. The RS V8 or LO3 was rated at 170hp.
The 4th gen was a better car in many ways with plastic panels bar rear wings and hood though you'll need to uprate the suspension on the V6 for best effect.
In truth, even the 145hp early 3rd gens "feel" fast as they surge instantly on a wave of torque and a V8 rarely disappoints.
I know less about the Fox Mustangs but the gearchange isn't as good and the handling isn't as good as the Camaro/Firebird twins. They are also increasingly rare.
LuS1fer said:
The Z28 disappeared from 1988-1990
That's right but interior dash badge still read `Z28 IROC-Z', rather than just `IROC-Z' as on exterior badges.
LuS1fer said:
The 4 barrel carb version of the L69 engine-equipped car came with a 5 speed manual (T5)but the later TPI LB9 (5.0) got either 205 or 215hp but was auto-only.
In 1987 5.0 (LB9) Iroc came as standard with 5-speed manual and Borg-Warner rear axle (stonger 215HP version) as opposed to automatic on 190HP one.After that all Irocs and Z28 with 5.0 (LB9) came out with 5-speed manual as standard on the more powerful models and automatic on all the others. Obviously the manual was still available on every 5.0 (LB9 or LO3)as an option (not very popular one). But it was never available on 5.7 (L98)
Gassing Station | Yank Motors | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff