97 CAIVIAROSS

Whats up guys and gals.
my uncle bought an 89 Iroc-z convertible. He said it has 38,xxx original miles on the L98 but I ran his Vin and it comes up a 305 tpi. motor. The car has the 5.7 liter tag on the back and all the emissions labels say it is a 350. He has the car in Florida so I can not physically look at it but how can he check if it is really an L98 or not. He said the seller told him he was the second owner, and the mileage was original but did not have any documentation on the car.

The Vin: is IG1FP31F9KL160415

Can someone run a carfax report to see if the mileage is correct?

Anything else i can tell him to look for on the car?? It is an auto and his said it has a posi rear. Also has 120 mph speedo.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks
Derek

Black6SpdTA

Only way to tell is look for the casting numbers. Back of the block/heads. Run them at www.mortec.com If the car only has 38k then I imagine original engine which means he got screwed. Labels and tags can easily be changed. If I was your uncle I'd definitely look for casting numbers. That's really the only way to tell without popping a head.

-Corey

unvc92camarors

do a search for something like "how do i tell 305 350" and it'll come up, i'm sure of it
also, go to thirdgen.org then tech database then somehwere in the camaro history it'll have some ways of telling if the owner hasn't messed with it (something like the 305 redlines 500 rpm higher or something)
try that and i'm sure you'll find good info
but really only surefire way to tell is liek rippinrs said, check the casting numbers

FastrDamnit!

Factory Convertible 3rd Gens got the 305 at best. Supposedly the L98 motor's torque effect on the compromised body (3rd Gen verts were basically a factory chop job) was an issue.
There were rumors of some "special order" L98 3rd Gen verts produced, but I would'nt bet on it.

Regardless I've always admired the 3rd Gen verts particularly IROCs and '91-'92 Z28s.

aklim

Convertables were 305s. The eighth digit tells what motor you have. "F" denotes an LB9 which is a 305 TPI engine. Sounds like the car has been rebadged.

kevin 2.8

http://www.angelfire.com/on3/whiteli.../purchase.html



ouch

what did he pay?

i bet the car is really nice though, and he will probably love it. i would just either take off the fake badges or pretend there is a 350 in there

97 CAIVIAROSS

Thanks for the replies

So Chevy never put an L98 in a convertible? I thought they did starting in 89..atleast that is what I remember someone telling me. I registered at thirdgen.org but can not post yet but I will search the archives. Again thanks for the replies, any other info would be great.

Oh almost forgot...the car is Mint I saw pics, it is white with I thnk a blue grey cloth interior and a black top..although I never saw it with the top up. He paid $9,800.00
Derek

trackbird

GM High Tech Perfomance did an article on a 350 powered 92 GTA 'vert. In the article it said that (as I remember) 49 of them made it out of the factory.

It is generally considered fact that the 350 and the convertible were not available together, but it appears that a few "freaks" may exsist. However, as stated, the 8th digit of his VIN says 305....

Sounds like a nice toy, tell him to enjoy it!

97 CAIVIAROSS

I highly doubt it is one of those freaks, but someone stated that ASC might have done some of the conversions. What is the possibility they documented the Vin on the cars modified? and that they would still have the documentation. Anybody have their phone number? My uncle has raced older vette's all his life and even still has a 73 with a 350/4spd all original. He also had two vettes one 57 and 59 which he raced down at etown back in the day. One was even a 283 "fuelie". He sold it dirt cheap in the early 70s.
He also said it does not feel like a 305 "seat of the pants" of course.

Thanks again
Derek

aklim

SFCs, rip off the badges and stuff a 383 in it

aklim

SFCs, rip off the badges and stuff a 383 in it. Problem Solved.

atlasengr

That car you are talking about has a 305 according to your VIN. Convertibles weren't made with the 350 due to the extra torque they would put on the chassis. I have have 2 convertibles and currently have a 1990 IROC-Z. If the motor is really a 350, the left side of the motor, looking at it from the driver seat, will have a serial number that you can crunch on the mortec website. Also, it will either have a "GM 5.0L" emboss on it or a "GM 5.7L" on it. You can use a piece of clay or play-dough to get the imprint from it and get your critical info. If the emissions tag on the top of the hood, with the hood open - the one that tells you whether it is 5.0L or 5.7L - reads 5.7L, then it was changed from a 350TPI camaro.

I hope your uncle didn't pay a premium to get a 350 when it is actually a 305, if it is in stock configuration.

If the block does say 5.7L on the back then that would be kick-aXX! and you would have much more fun with your ride!

Laters -
-Pablo

odle2003

Hey, sorry to break it to ya, but no third gen could come with a 5.7 liter and convertible, although an engine swap to a 350 would be nice in a car like that. The reason GM did this was because the torque a 5.7 puts out is too much and without the added support of the top of the car, the frame is likely to twist.

aklim

So, at 38K, assuming it is accurate, either the guy stuck a 350 in and reprogrammed the EPROM and changed injectors and didn't tell you or he did the 350 swap the easy way, add badges.

kevin 2.8

if he is that crooked to add badges knowing its a 305, i bet hes crooked enough to crank back the odo