Dub537h

Hey everybody! I just traded an old 91 bmw 525i for an 87 camaro maybe a week ago and found this awesome site!

I always have owned foreign cars, mostly Volkswagens and Subarus, and this is my first domestic. My dad was a huge motorhead and Chevrolet man, so when he passed away last year I decided to build a camaro in his honor.

I know very little about the car, it's been pretty bastardized but I'll tell you what I know.

It's an 87, originally v6, 5 speed. Somewhere in its life it was swapped with a 88-94 period iron block 350 small block. I'm confused because it's carbed too. I haven't pulled the valve covers to see if it's roller or flat tappet cam and I'm not sure if it's 2 or 4 bolt main. It has a carb spacer, headers, accel coil, fiberglass hood, 15x8 and 15x10 wheels with 245/60 and 275/60 junk tires, and custom straight piping to a single resonator.

The wiring for the swap is an absolute mess. The head gasket blew on me the other day so I am doing a top end rebuild and cleaning up the wiring over the next few weeks.

My goal is occasional scca track racing with it but it's mostly my daily. I would love to meet some members and learn the ins and outs of this car. It seems simple and straight forward and I love it.

Now that I've written this novel I'll post some pics! This is exactly how I bought it and I am open to any and all criticism. My name is Seth and I'm in Keene, NH

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to TGO, Seth! Sorry about your Dad. Looks like you have a straight-bodied car to start with, which is always good. I love t-tops but I may be a bit biased (having them myself).

If you do some looking around on the block and heads and get some casting numbers we might be able to find out some more about your engine. From a glance it appears you have something similar to an Edelbrock Performer aluminum intake. Is your car missing the hood hinges? I don't see them in your pic, that's something I recommend picking up in your local junk yard (but be sure to replace the shocks with ones specified for a fiberglass hood).

Dub537h

Ya, it is an edelbrock performer intake. The fiberglass hood has 2 hood pins in front and small quarter turn pins along the sides. I found the block number but didn't see the numbers that I thought were supposed to be in front of the passenger cylinder head. The block numbers were 14093638 which i understand is an 88-94 iron block? I'd really like to know what vehicle this motor is from so I can start buying parts for it.

I come from 4 and 6 cylinder inline motors so all this torque from this motor feels amazing! Pulls hard pretty much from idle! Id like to find out what heads I have first. I was thinking a simple build with Vortec heads and 600/650 cfm carb with a mild cam.

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

Cool, yeah you're right on the years, 88-94. They came out with two motors with that casting number so it could be either a 2-bolt or 4-bolt main block.

Basically that block had so many options that you're most likely going to have to take it apart to figure out what you have

90camaro355rs

Seth, welcome to the site, Sorry to hear about your Dad.

nice start for your first domestic car, as for your heads if you remove the valve cover there are casting numbers on the face of the head look between the rockers, from the look of the valve covers your heads are most likely the same era.

as for buying parts for your engine, its easy 87-95 you can look this up on gm casting numbers, comes from a car or truck 2 or 4 bolt 1 piece rear seal.

as for parts buy for a 87-95 car or truck of that era.

good luck with your build keep us updated on your progress

Dub537h

Thanks for the responses guys. I've already scoured this site pretty good, lots of great info here. I have a lot to learn about these cars, but bang for the buck you can't go wrong!

I think the site isn't letting me post on other people's threads yet, must be a certain time or post limit before my account isn't in a "new member" status so I can post?

I will start a build thread once I get some progress going, these cars are surprisingly inexpensive to purchase parts for!

lakin454

iTrader: (2)

Welcome aboard. Lots of good info on here. Not too many third gens around the area here, just me and a few other guys. I'm just up the road from you in walpole.

Dub537h

Oh sweet, I actually got this car from Springfield, vt so I drove right thru walpole on my way back. If there are ever meets in the area, id love to join and see others set ups on these third gen

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

Not sure on the post thing, the forum can be buggy sometimes

Dub537h

Oh alright, I've had that issue on other forums before too.

I'm going to learn about carbs now to better select one for my build. The other thing I have no idea about is those rediculous solid axles haha mine kinda goes soft and pulls to the right when I launch the car. Probably just needs a Panhard bar and stiffer spring rates back there

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

You're welcome to check out the carb forums, but you'll most likely find that people will tell you one of two things: 1. get a quadrojet or 2. get a holley , haha.

Good luck with the axle, the suspension components are usually shot on most of these cars when you get them.

Dub537h

I was looking thru the carb section and looks like the holley is the most popular choice. And ya, she's in need of at least a poly bushing kit.

Updates will be on the way, thanks for the welcome guys and ill see ya in the forums!

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

welcome to tgo from Taxachusetts

Dub537h

Haha thanks, perks of live free or die

Dub537h

I know this was my introduction thread but if anyone could help me with a temp sensor issue im having, here's the thread. Thanks guys

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/showthread.php?p=5775563#post5775563

EnvoyIROCZ

Welcome from Ma!

Dub537h

Thanks!

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

don't worry new Hampshire is becoming Massachusetts 2.0

Dub537h

You got that right haha

Anybody know of other popular third gen or camaro forums? I like to have a wealth of info at my disposal

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

http://www.necamaro-firebird.org/forums/

Brother Al

Welcome to TGO!

Also wicked sorry to hear about your Father, but looks like you're honoring him right!.

As mentioned by Kitt1983, you would be very welcome to hang out at NECF as well as here.
(New England Camaro-Firebird)

We are primarily a 3rd Gen site but every Gen of F body is represented there.. 5th Gen too.
...and a few tag-alongs
Lot of good tech articles and also a bunch of long-timers from here at TGO... (we all met here)

aaron7

iTrader: (7)

Welcome man! Always good to have more gearheads around here. We'll have to have a meet soon as you get er going!

Dub537h

Thanks everybody!

I ended up pulling valve covers and getting her fixed. My driver side coolant temp sensor is not factory and was on an adaptor that was very loose in the head. Leaking like a civ.

I bought the original temp sensor and threaded it into the head, problem solved.

Love driving her around. I'm very much down for some meets!

Anyone know how I can identify the trans and rear end I have?

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

If your trans is a 4-speed automatic then it's a 700R4
If it's a 5-speed manual then it's a T-5

As for your rear - first: count the bolts (you'll either have 9 or 10), second: if you look on the passenger side axle tube you should see a series of numbers stamped into the tube that face the front of the car. Look up the decoder on those numbers and it will tell you all you'd want to know.

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

How is your car doing?

Dub537h

It's not bad, not a lot of progress yet, but I'm turning her into my summer/track car.
Starting a new job in a couple weeks to help fund the build for quicker progress on it.

It's a 10 bolt rear end by the way, dI'd those come on v6 cars?

MalibuSSwagon

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to the fun. I don't have a third gen, just my TPI C10, this place is a great source of knowledge which is why I'm here.

I come across third gens in the yard often, so if there are any things your are looking for, let me know and I'll grab them.

Dub537h

Awesome, thanks man! I'll let you know! Love this car haha except for the leaky t tops...

MalibuSSwagon

iTrader: (2)

Guess I should have mentioned, I'm out in Weare