The "boxy" style one. Anything I should look for when looking at them. Some are V6 and some V8 . Any insight on how good or how the V8 is on gas in contrast to the V6?

So far they've all been manual the ones I have found and will look at next weekend. This will be for daily use so should I just get a Buick instead?

I think you're talking about third gens. They went from 82 to 92. Got incrementally better every year.
The later base V8 cars were 305s with TBI. 170 HP. (Or 305s with Quadrajets, 87 and down.) TPI came out in... 85 I think.
All of the TPI V8s were also 305s up until 88 (I think.) Then the 350 became available.
I'm pretty sure that the 350 was never available with a manual. Certainly not in T-top cars, due to body flex.
Of course, by now, many 305s have been swapped out for 350s.

The V6s were 2.8s. Essentially identical to the Fiero's. Later V6s were 3.1s. Same basic engine. MPFI. Iron heads, etc.
I can't compare fuel mileage. I never owned a V6 Camaro.
I had an 88 Firebird Formula with the TBI 305 and 5 speed. It wasn't a pig, but it wasn't stellar, either. Ran out of wind by 4500, but was still a riot to drive.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 08-10-2014).]

Awesome thanks man!

yeah I remember them running throughout the 80s. So typical good GM car? No electrical issues if the car has any power options, Dash , Stuff like that?

[This message has been edited by DanDamage (edited 08-10-2014).]

http://www.thirdgen.org/tec...785-so-starts-8.html


post #335, the guy ran into some health issues and is selling the car/project

Always have to be weary when looking at these cars just because a majority of them were probably beat to $hit.

Don't forget you may run into some 4 bangers too. Thre Iron Duke was put into the early years of this generation of F bodies.

My parents own a 89 that I actually made the down payment on for them. They are leaving it to me when they pass (already in the will) since I did the down payment and it being my graduation year and all. Over the years they have had an issue with the steering column, bushings went bad or something like that, making the column kind of flop back and forth a bit (thankfully they replaced it). Other than that it's all been normal wear and tear type stuff, alternators, batteries, brake pads, starter... You know typical things, nothing major like rings, valve job, headgasket or new motor/trans. There's is a convertible RS with the 305 TBI V8. It's automatic and back when I was in my late teens/early 20's it was a blast to drive. Not as fast as the Trans Am I had of the same era, but still fun. Oh, probably the most expensive thing to trplace on it is the soft top. They've had to have that done several times over the years, but it's convertible and I'd consider that "normal wear and tear" also. So if you don't want to have to shell out $500 or so every 5 years or so to replace the top, don't get a convertible model.

Thanks guys. I remember reading on here the duke was in earlier models. The transmission is much different in that one correct? I dont care much for t tops or verts, though t tops are cool.

90-92 were the best years as the issues were mostly nailed down

Avoid the V6's models if you want something that can get out of its own way. If you just want a cruiser, they are fine. TBI cars arent powerhouses, but are still fun to knock around. TPI systems had lots of torque, but no top end. All are reliable, even after 20 years. Of the 24 3rd gens Ive owned, the V6's got the worst mileage, in the low 20's, TPI's mid 20's. Ive cracked 30mpg with a TBI/700R4 over flat highway a few times, but they usually average around mid 20's. TBI's are the simplest to service and replacement parts dirt cheap. Ive cracked 300,000miles totally stock on a few TBIs. T5 cars are more desirable, but harder to find as only 1 in 5 3rd gen was ever built with a stick. If you flip cars often, Id pick a V8/T5 because they are easy to unload, even when a little rough around the edges

Im particular to the banshee birds (91-92) but all 3rd gens are basically the same underneath. If you want to do a LS1 swap into it later, shoot me a msg

I've owned this all original (including paint) 1984 Z/28 for the past 15 years.



Mine is a carbureted 305. MPG aren't great in town, it will do mid-20's strictly hwy. I don't daily drive it but it has been a relatively problem free car. I wouldn't want a 3rd gen for a daily driver but then, I'm not a young man either.

VERY difficult to find 3rd gen Camaros that haven't been hacked up or molested by previous owners. Good luck in your search.

what engine is this, will the tranny hold a 350?

[This message has been edited by DanDamage (edited 08-12-2014).]

quote Originally posted by DanDamage: what engine is this, will the tranny hold a 350?

That looks like the V6. I don't know about the trans though, I've only had experience with the V8 models.

Edit: Yeah it's the V6. You can see it has 6 runners in this pic.



The TPI V8 would look like this.



And the TBI V8 would look like the one in the convertible Camaro that my parents own above.

[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 08-12-2014).]