buying a third gen

[skriFF]

So I'm getting sick of having a slow car. I love the look of the 4th gens, but the 3rd gens have been growing on me lately. I've been trying to find stats on their 0-60's and 1/4 mile times for the various body styles and motors. Does anybody have the info or know of a good legit website that would list stuff for 3rd gen RS, IROC-Z, and the IROC-Z8's? Also any info for the TA's and formula firebirds would be helpful too.

Thanks

[3.4 slow to go]

www.thirdgen.org


and this forum

[Fredless]

Whatever you do, if you say you're sick of a "slow" car DO NOT buy an RS of anytype then unless you come across the rare B4C with the 350 TPI.

My old 94 3.4 M5 could spank thirdgen V6's and L03 RS's (305 TBI motors). They are DOGS.

I really think you should get an L98 equipped thirdgen - the 350 TPI because if you don't, 5.0 mustangs will be eating you for lunch and so will 3800 II Fbodies unless you do more than bolt ons.

[Jerriko]

I would almost agree with that except in that the 305 TPI (not TBI but TPI) was almost as good as the 350TPI. The 305 TBI was slow as a turd but you will NEVER find a 350TPI with a manual trans, only the 305 TPIs were mated to the T5s. Any TPI version will be fine and there is a great aftermarket for them so you can have some fun!

[Fredless]

Agreed. My friend has an 86 T/A thats in good shape and the only way he can barely inch me out is from a dig. But if we do even like a 50mph roll on, he's done. An interstate race...forget it...and this was all before my cam.

The thing that kills the 305 V8's with the 700-R4's is the 2.73 peg leg rears...

Another friend of mine has a near stock 92 Z28 M5 and he's never ran below a 15.4 with the car at the track, while I ran that consistent before the cam. Just saying in stock form, or with minor bolt ons, they are mid 15 second cars. Nothing to write home about in today's world.

[wolf]

Originally posted by Jerriko:
I would almost agree with that except in that the 305 TPI (not TBI but TPI) was almost as good as the 350TPI. The 305 TBI was slow as a turd but you will NEVER find a 350TPI with a manual trans, only the 305 TPIs were mated to the T5s. Any TPI version will be fine and there is a great aftermarket for them so you can have some fun!

the tbi can be built up (the only difference between the 4bbl 140 hp lg4 and the 170 hp lo3 it the tbi) one of my friends has a 91 rs 305 5 speed, we replaced the 305 tbi with a 350 tbi from a silverado, with stock heads and cam and aftermarket headers and it runs 14.3 @
90somthin
and if I was to get a tpi,the first thing i'd get is a short runner intake manifold(like a tpis mini ram, holley d port, or even a modified lt1 intake)

[Jerriko]

Originally posted by wolf:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jerriko:
I would almost agree with that except in that the 305 TPI (not TBI but TPI) was almost as good as the 350TPI. The 305 TBI was slow as a turd but you will NEVER find a 350TPI with a manual trans, only the 305 TPIs were mated to the T5s. Any TPI version will be fine and there is a great aftermarket for them so you can have some fun!

the tbi can be built up (the only difference between the 4bbl 140 hp lg4 and the 170 hp lo3 it the tbi) one of my friends has a 91 rs 305 5 speed, we replaced the 305 tbi with a 350 tbi from a silverado, with stock heads and cam and aftermarket headers and it runs 14.3 @
90somthin
and if I was to get a tpi,the first thing i'd get is a short runner intake manifold(like a tpis mini ram, holley d port, or even a modified lt1 intake) </font>[/QUOTE]Sure, anything can be built up but you get more out of the TPIs.

[skriFF]

So what I should be looking for, from the sounds of things, is a 350TPI. Which models came with it stock? Also, does anybody know what kind of numbers that puts out for power and 1/4 mile?

[3.4 slow to go]

http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/techdb.shtml

[nda0602v6]

I had a 91 RS (305 tbi w/auto trans) and yeah...that car had no power at all. I use to get so mad because I had a v8 under the hood but yet 4 cyl blew me away. I like my 87 Camaro though, its got a 305 TPI with a 5-speed tranny. The difference is night and day, its a lot faster. I'm sure the 5-speed helps out. I would always look at the 8th digit on the VIN which will tell you what engine is in the car. It seems like everytime I've looked at Camaros (3rd gen) everyone says "yeah...its got a 350"

[3.4 slow to go]

no matter what you get, first mod should be a TomP tuneup, and second should be sub frames.

[shenanigans]

Just a tip to look for, look for rust, espeicially near the shock mounts...


friend of mine recently had some trouble with rust in the shock mounts on a 3rd gen he bought..

[T-Punk]

I dont thing trouble quite says it all. His shock mount was completely rusted out, the shock was no longer attached to the car. You could look back there and see it bouncing around. Also it was a 305tbi and was slower than my 3.8. he sold that car to a guy at work that is thinking of mini tubbing the car so that would have to be rebuilt anyway.

[1998silverbird]

1991-1992 305 5 speed TPI car were the ones to get..

[redbird8628]

good luck finding a 91-92 m5 tpi