Gen 3 Camaro Rollcall!!!

[ToolsnTrack]

OK folks, i have sold the Supra and got myself a Gen 3 camaro. Its needing a few issues rectified but i have very little experience with american metal.

Any owners on here?

Heres a pic to start with:



See if you can spot the issue i may need help with?! Its electrical...

[akku]

I have the surprisingly similar 3rd Gen Trans Am.



You got that Aussie RHD one which was on eBay recently? I did look at that and think... Out of curiosity, is it a "real" RHD or a chain drive conversion type thing?

[ToolsnTrack]

Ha! Theres no keeping secrets on here! Yea, it is the right hooker. The conversion is a proper shaft job, has been done well. Brake and clutch are bar linked to the opposite side a la fiat RHD style.

That trans am is rather special looking indeed. Whats the story with her?

[CIH]

So, what engine under that big ass bonnet ?

[akku]

Trans Am is a '88 GTA, has the L98 engine (as per Corvette) which is the "5.7 liter Tuned Port Injection". T700-R4 trans and posi. This one also gets the full digital dash.



appalling attempt at photos



Is yours a 305 or 350?

There are at least a couple of other 3rd gens on this forum.

[ToolsnTrack]

Mines is a 350. Heres a pic:

[akku]

Manual as well as I recall?

[Lewis]

I'd have a flash over the engine numbers if I were you, to check

I'm not saying it isn't a 350 but is this the one with the 5-speed and 350 (as advertised)? I only ask because they never made the 350 and 5 speed combo - only a 305 and 5 speed.

I seem to recall as well that the first time this car was for sale it was advertised as being a TPI motor with 5 speed (again would have only been a 305) then when it was later advertised it very clearly wasn't......

Hope none of this is bad news but would just rather you knew!

[Lewis]

I think me and Alistair are going down the same path here...

According to the forums if you check the vin:

check the VIN #...the 8th digit is an "F" for a 305 TPI, "E" for 305 TBI, and "8" for a 350 TPI.

That's not to say that someone hasn't swapped the engine and trans out at some point.......anything could have happened, it's been around for a long time! Checking the engine's casting numbers would be the way forward

[akku]

It could easily be the combo I have thought of for a languishing local V6 - "drop" in the 350 TPI and Getrag 5 speed manual from a Corvette.

The 5 speed as used with the 305 is a Borg Warner T5 which was not officially beefy enough to handle a 350. GM didn't use the Getrag with the 350 in the F body because its not a direct swap in - the T5 is mounted cock-eyed or something - I've no direct experience here, just know its not a bolt in job. Floor clearance IIRC.

However, there were something like a half dozen specials done with 5 speeds for the US market. Engineering mules maybe? I dunno. I read about them somewhere and they are the exception to the "No Camaro 3G had a 350 and manual" rule.

Plus as this is an Australian variant who knows what was done prior or subsequent to export to Aus or when its been shipped form there to here?

No 3G V8 has a carb (from the factory) and that quite clearly does.

Yup, I'd want to make sure its not a 305, but all in all that's an interesting car and I'd love to have spent a while going over it and seeing what was what. I bet it can tell some stories...

[Lewis]

Oh yea, by all means and accounts - it's no negative thing, just for my own piece of mind I'd like to know what it is I was really tempted when it came up in both instances, either way, just for rarities sake!

I don't think the manual Corvettes ever came with a 5 speed - it was (for the C4 gen) either the 4+3 manual overdrive or the (quite rare) 6 speed ZF box. I think the bodge that was the 4+3 (although I loved it!) caused them just to skip straight to a 'performance' orientated six speed, along with the fact that the ZR1 was already tooled up with it by that point.

I think all manual C3s were 4-speeders, although I stand to be corrected!

[ToolsnTrack]

OK Gents, thanks for that! That gives me a bit of background to go on, which is what i needed really. Have been unable so far to confirm if it is a T5 or a 350 lump. Where would i find casting numbers on the engine (and the box for that matter) so i can clear it up? Also, it did still have the ECU in the cabin which didnt affect the car in any way once i removed it. How is the ignition controlled on TPI's? Is it electronically controlled by the ECU or stand alone?

Also, i do think it could well be a 350 and a t5, as second gear is making one hell of a whine once it warms up, suggesting the box is on the way out. If this is the case i certainly wont be going down the route of sacrificing T5 after T5. The Getrag box could be a shout, any more info so i know what to hunt for?

And none of this is bad news, i prefer to know what i have is exactly what it is, rather than have bragging rights. A 5.0 is still plenty of engine!

Thanks for the pointers...

[akku]

I did some checking on the internet and I appear mistaken about the availability of a 5 speed box. I thought the LT1/LT4 series cars had a 5 speed, but it appears its a 6. Nice. Use that!

As for checking the motor size:

Remove the wiper motor (its real easy) . Only three 10 mm bolts to the firewall and one bolt on the other side to the arm.
With that removed get a light and a rag (for cleaning the stampings up). Look straight down the behind the valve cover, you will see either a 5.7 or a 5.0 stamp. There is your answer.
There really isnt any other way to tell.

from www.thirdgen.org

If its a T5 you can get it refurbed with heavier duty internals. **my understanding** is that its the bearings which fail on these. I'd ask about on Thirdgen.org or other more knowledgeable source than me though...

I'm not sure if the TKO boxes go in the Third Gen?

Baby the shift into 2nd until you have a plan!

[karmafrank]

My Third Gen Camaro is a 90 3.1 v6 t top which i'm stripping for parts. I want the engine and box so every thing else is for sale

[akku]

If Overdrive needs anything I can act as first point of Pony Express for any reasonable sized bits.

Are the wheels the 16" 5 spoke type? Might be interested in them if so, and reasonably priced...

[ToolsnTrack]

Dec 31, 2010 19:08:08 GMT akku said:

Baby the shift into 2nd until you have a plan!

I think the bearings are the problem, as it is a whine once in gear rather than a crunch going there. No amount of soft shifts will help, its a gear that will have to be skipped altogether or used as a last resort if i want longevity...

So that other Manual boxes do i have at my disposal? T56 will be poor quality wobbly children's play pony rare. What about a R154 or similar J family boxes? Do they mate?

As for spares, do you have any pics of the 3.1? I could use the deeper chin spoiler and side skirts...

[karmafrank]

As its a RS it has side skirts deep chin spoilers back and front and rear spoiler will see if i can put picks on as they are on my phone

[ToolsnTrack]

Certainly interested in that! PM sent.

[akku]

T56 is not *that* rare, it was used in all the 4th Gen manual Camaros and Firebirds for best part of a decade. They seem to fetch good money when up for sale. The problem is it is not a direct fit for the 3rd Gen judging by the number of "how do I fit a T56 in my 3rd Gen" questions I see in the letters pages of the mags + on forums etc.

The T5 itself is replaced by a series of stronger boxes such as the T45, Tremec TKO series etc. which are 5 speeds. These were principally used in such as the Ford Mustang etc. There is also a Tremec 6 speed and the ZF 6 speed used in the later C4 Corvettes.

A Supra box may fit the tunnel and an adaptor bellhousing is probably available from someone like Castlemain Rod Shop in Australia. By the time you are done I'd bet you could have fitted a tough Chevy trans for the same money and less hassle.

[ToolsnTrack]

Yea, that's probably true. When I did some mild research and found the t56 box fits and tried to price one up, I nearly shat a nut at the price. At least there are other options!