Impaqt

iTrader: (1)

So... I'm turning 40 next month..... Related? Maybe..

Anyway, been looking at C3 and C4 Vettes over the past few weeks. Found a lot of nice ones in my price range, but they all needed a lot to get them into really nice shape...

Then I stumbled across the Iroc-Z. Ironic, as I was just talking about Irocs with a friend and how they were the bad *** rides back in high school...

I'll get some pics up tomorrow, but its an 88 Iroc-Z Convertible. 305 TPI/TH700.

Some minor hood damage(Drove under a Suburban I guess), but other than that, just the typical nicks and scratches you find on a 23 year old vehicle.

only 62k on the odo. Owner was adamant about it being right. Had owned the vehicle since 98' and was driven sparingly by a 50+ year old woman.

Top definitely needs to be replaced. Release for the Top is broken as well so I'm sure I'll have fun figuring that out.

White Exterior w/ Factory Sticker Delete. Charcoal Grey Inside.

It was dark when I bought it, but was in a well lit garage. I could fine no trace of rust through anywhere. Only thing I did find was some minor surface rust on the edge of the tonnue(SP?) cover.

Engine is Bone stock as well.

The drive home was about 30 miles. Heard a few inside rattles, but nothing overly alarming. The car drove nice, Suspension was tight, no clucks in the steering.

The interior is in decent shape.. Driver door armrest is bulged, Seat belt doesnt want to retract without a little assistance, Factory radio is gone and the remnants of some old Detachable face radio is flopping around in the cavity.... but again.. 23 years old.. Not bad.

I paid $2160 for it..... I think I did pretty well. Hoping to get it back into shape for 3-5k.. not sure how realistic that is, but I will be doing most of the labor myself.

Anything in particular I should look out for? I haven't built/restored a vehicle in almost 20 years at this point... and back then it was Mustangs....

TIA and I look forward to sharing with the community here.

ROCFATHER

Welcome to the "Vert club"!!! Sounds like you found a clean one. Most of the problems you pointed out are fairly common. Theres tons of information on this site, so that'll help you out. Vert parts are pretty scarce and expensive too. A little warning tho ~ you may find yourself becoming obsessed with your car! 3rd Gen verts are awesome! =0)

mmadden55

You need to talk to a Chevzoomon ricekiller.com he is on here some too, just restored a vert like yours.

Jaysz28

iTrader: (30)

Congrats on the purchase!

A restoration on your budget is realistic

good luck with it

-jason

Jason444

iTrader: (6)

Welcome to the club! Once you have a 3rd gen 'vert, you are hooked. The members of this forum are a great help, so when you have questions, don't be afraid to ask.

Jason

Impaqt

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the welcome. She had to sit outside last night.. Got a little wet, but my tape seemed to work.. Inside was dry this morning....

In the hazy morning light, still real happy with the purchase. Autocheck came back as clean as can be as well.

Edit. Pic attach didnt work, Here are the pics

MI ROC-Z

Welcome Impaqt, was this the car listed for sale out in Yorkville?

Impaqt

iTrader: (1)

It is. Are you the guy I bought it out from under?

MI ROC-Z

I am actually, but no hard feelings, LOL! You got one hell of a car for 2100! I checked it out in the morning on Monday, but I didn't bring cash otherwise I would have bought it on the spot!

I was working on getting the money together so that I could come back the next day and give Jeff the full amount, but the early bird (and the bird with cash) gets the worm.

Good luck with it, I look forward to seeing what you do with it, and oh BTW when and if you decide to sell it, it's mine LOL...

Impaqt

iTrader: (1)

Oh goodness. Now I feel bad. But I went there with cash in hand expecting to buy it for 2k. Ended up going higher due to some misscomunication.

Oh well. Ya snooze ya lose?

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

Looks like a great fixer upper.

MI ROC-Z

No need to feel bad, I'm just glad the car went to someone who has the intention of fixing it up, and is not going to paint the interior plastics yellow or put 20" rims on it!

Where are you in Illinois?

camarosrock1989

iTrader: (1)

Nice! Welcome, your in the right place to fix the car right. These guys know their stuff

Impaqt

iTrader: (1)

oh, dont worry, I'm over the feeling bad part already. :P

I've never been a fan of oversized rims, and I havent painted a dash piece since I was about 17 years old... Oh.. the good ole' days.... Yikes...

I'm in Joliet.... Asside from the crappy weather, it was a nice drive home.....

Mooses92

You have a great base to start with and end up with a very nice car. There are two manual release cables for the tonneau cover on the sides of teh back seats under the arm rests. You will most likely have to dig for them but they will be the only two steel hoops you will find. To manually release the top either fold the back seats down or open the trunk and just reach through and turn the large hitch pin 90 degrees. It is a simple latch system that you will figure out quite easily. Most board members here that sell parts do not price gouge even though the vert parts are getting harder to find. If your gauge cluster works and works correctly you truly found a diamond!!
Congrats and welcome to the addiction

Impaqt

iTrader: (1)

Thanks, that helps a lot. Doesnt seem like too bad a task for the top. Did both(all three?) releases have some sort of electric actuator? The gauges seemed to work fine on the way home, the Oil Pressure seemed to bounce quite a bit, but always seemed to be in the "Good" range.

Mooses92

The top release cable is manual and is located on the driver side in the back seat area about a foot above the passenger arm rest / speaker. It will be a pull handle recessed into the plastic.
The tonneau cover release switch is electric and is located on your center console between the two window switches behind the gear shift.
They changed that setup in 89 or 90 to both being in the rear area because that is just plain awkward to reach in for the tonneau release switch and hold up the top 1/4 fold so they do not hit one another and scratch the paint.

Mooses92

the electric switch "pops" both sides of the tonneau cover at the same time and you will hear it if it works. if not you need to check that the trunk switch is installed and works properly ( or bypassed correctly lol ) and that the park switch wiring is in place. It is designed to not activate unless the vehicle is in park with the trunk closed to prevent damage.

Impaqt

iTrader: (1)

So you had to pull the release in back, get out, raise the top up the tonneau, get back into the car, hit the tonneau release, then get back out of the car and drop the top into the cavity? Yeah.. Awkward....

oh well. I'll figure something out there... Perhaps when I do the keyless entry system, I'll install a few more actuators to trigger of the remote.

Mooses92

You have the procedure down!! LoL it is really easy to simply relocate the switch to next to the pull handle like they did in my 92. Cut a square hole in the plastic and mount the switch. I am sure filling the center console hole will be easily enough done. If nothing else put a dummy switch in and tell people it is to arm the Nos