The Camaro Club (UK)

Evening all

Going to look at a '89 Camaro on Wednesday, an IROC with the L03. It's done about 100,000 miles.

I'd love to know what I need to be looking out for so I don't just fall for the engine note and wind up with a lemon!
I guess that like any 20yr old car, I'm going to have to look out for the tin worm. Any areas that are particularly prone to rotting?
Any other tips for things to look at would be greatly appreciated.
Hopefully if everything goes well on Wednesday, I'll be rolling around in my first US car.

Cheers.

Hi there and welcome,

IROC's can be real dogs. They tend to be bought buy people that can't afford to maintain them properly, I've certainly seen a lot of dogs in my time. Having said that, they are pretty basic cars with solid engines.

Tin worm? Look for leading edge of the bonnet, they tend to go there and the arches. Make sure you look underneath at the state of the floor pans as these have a great deal of input into structural integrity.

Without knowing more about the car, it's difficult to offer substantial advise. Check the codes in the centre glove box. Look for either code B4Z or Z28 on later cars to make sure it is a genuine IROC, many cars were just festooned with IROC parts. Should have all the side skirts, alloys, front fogs and bonnet louvers.

Check the engine for knocks and rattles and make sure the oil is not white (head gasket problems). Most chevy small blocks smoke a little when started up. interior parts are pretty easy to find and most mechanical bits are pretty standard.

Good luck and feel free to contact me if you want to share more info on the car.

Cheers,
Felix

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Good look mate hope you get her and get some pictures on asap good luck

Gaaah...

Turns out she failed her MOT today due to a failed bulb in the fog light, and a knackered front shock. Parts on order from the US, so now I wait the 2-3 weeks for them to be delivered to the dealer, then fitted and re-tested.
So now I wait.

2 weeks for a bulb and shock absorber? Sounds dodgey to me mate. Also if one shocker has gone the one on the other side sure as damn it will be too!

Still dubious about the 6 speed manual yet picture shows auto...

Tread carefully my friend.

Felix

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Cheers Felix.

Both fronts are being done, apparently nobody in the UK was holding stock for 3rd gen shocks. I'd have thought someone like USAuto would have had something?
Yes, the description he gave in the ad was a pile of nonsense, but the description he's given over the phone would appear to be more accurate.

I wonder if I can do Devon to Shropshire and back in a day without completely killing myself?

I'm sure somebody has stock in the UK lol.

Yeah you can do that journey no probs. I did Belfast and back in a day to do mine

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every car I buy is a major journey, Isle of Man to UK Mainland and back! usually starts about 5.am and get back about 5/6am next morning on the overnight ferry, but when you've got a new key in your pocket it never seems to bother me!!!!!

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Steven
Webmaster
83 Chevy G-20 A-Team Van 305/700R4

Well, just spoke to USAuto, and they've got two on the shelf.
Time for another phone call...

Did they say how much? I've always found them quite expensive.