To my muscle car heads!! Question: (exhaust, chip, engines, replace)

[Linson]

Originally Posted by sacredgrooves

I had a 2nd gen (79 Z28) and drove many 3rd gens. They are all relatively slow in stock form (from 1974 on anyway). The 2nd gens allow more leeway in cheap horsepower and a large aftermarket base. You also can factor in 2nd gens increasing in value while 3rd gens are a ways off from that stage in their lives. A 355 is a 350 thats been bored out .030.
If you want a fast from the factory camaro you will have to stick with a 1970 and a half/1971 models, with '72 and '73 still respectable. You had several powertrain packages available (including an LT-1). The LT-1 are great "resale value" cars, but you really have to wind those motors up to get their true potential out of them. Of course any early 2nd gen camaro will run you a substantial chunk of change, especially a real LT-1 car. You can buy a late 70's Z like I had and put a few well placed thousand bucks into the drivetrain and have quite a ride. The later 2nd gen cars also handle and ride very well for that era. Something else to consider, the Trans Ams tended to be faster and deliver more low end torque when talking 2nd gen cars. You can get those a bit cheaper than the z's, and the 455 power plants from the early cars are a great base for serious horsepower. If you have more questions, ask away...be happy to talk cars all day long!

i like your post, but i have to dis-agree with this part right here:

You also can factor in 2nd gens increasing in value while 3rd gens are a ways off from that stage in their lives

if youre talkin' 1970-73, then yeah, youre right. but guess what -- 3rd gens, the good ones, i mean ( 1987-92 5.7L TPI versions specifically) have gotten expensive. a 1989-ish IROC-Z or Formula 350 in excellent condition will not only cost more than a 1974-81 F-body in excellent condition, but it will also run circles around almost any second gen F-body.

[Nativechief]

Nice cars but they arent true Muscle Cars...they are what you call performance cars. Muscle cars use 100 octang and have high comp.ratios...Muscle cars were not made to use unleaded gas either. In fact they dont make muscle cars any more.

[ranger17]

i may be biased as one who owned a 70 1/2 in the day, and spent time in first gen Camaros ( 'birds as well ); so would suggest something from those eras to find and then work on. Sure the "numbers matching/special model..." cars will command a high premium, but I have seen nice versions of basic models go thru sales and auctions at what i'd say are reasonable prices. For me the older the body, the nicer the style. Another plus--less crap under the hood to deal with when modding. Watching my daughter's friends all work on their tuners, cramming turbos under those hoods or doing motor swaps in those small bays..... i'd go nuts trying to work in there. And to me, the older small blocks were easier to work on then those in newer models.
Anyhow, if I wasn't in a nostalgic mood, then i'd go for one of the later ones ( 4th gen ) as mentioned in other threads--better bang for the bucks if you are starting off.
just my .02

[M3 Mitch]

Originally Posted by Bosco55David

I thought the 69 Z-28s had 4:11 rear ends?

Probably a lot of them did, but back in the day you could order whatever rear-end gear you wanted, within a wide range that generally went from "too tall to be practical" to "too short to be practical".

Of course you can change the gears in a rear-end if the car didn't come with what you wanted. Or if the car you are looking at has something other than what you want.

[drjones96]

Looking for a good example of American muscle and talking about 2nd and 3rd gen camaro's....bah.

[bmd69]

The true LT-1 was a solid lifter engine that had 370 HP. That was the 1970 version, later years the HP decreased slightly.

[Johnny C]

Forget about the 2nd and 3rd gen f-bodies. You can pick up a 4th gen in decent shape and reasonable miles for around 8 grand.

That's right - 8 grand gets you the LS1 (346 C.I. - ~one H.P. per C.I.), four wheel disc brakes, reasonably good handling, and even a 6 speed manual. No need to go back to the 2nd and 3rd gen cars unless you just have to have that old school look.

[TEKSRZ]

Go to Chevy | Camaro | Firebird Reviews, Performance Parts, Modifications - LS1Tech.com (http://www.LS1tech.com - broken link) and look around. LTX's or LSX's can be had for relatively cheap prices when talking bang for the buck.

[seamusnh]

You might want to check out www.chevytalk.com. It is a forum full of Chevy enthusiasts...

Personally, I like the 4G camaro's (98 - 02), especially the convertibles. I'd get one with the biggest engine I could find and drive it in the good weather with another car for the poor weather.

There are lots of them for sale on ebaymotors.com

[Deez Nuttz]

Originally Posted by Cocky-T

I'm searching for a z28... i'm an import car type guy, so i'm trying to dive head first into the american muscle and get something that will force me to become knowledgeable..

first.. i'm looking at either a 2nd gen or 3rd gen model.. I know that with the 3rd gen, I want a 350, 5spd model..

I've also seen a 2nd gen model with a 355 and 4spd that i'm interested in..

does anybody have an insight as to the difference in power between the 2 models.. etc.. any ideas as to what I should primarily focus on engine-wise to ensure that I can eventually get some decent power out of it after upgrades? is the 305 legit?

is the 355 going to be the LT1? I'm kinda lost.. I do VG30DE's.. not american muscle..

You don't want a 5 speed Z28. The 5 speeds they used were called the T-5 and were known to blow apart, even with the weak 305 engine.

Power started going down in '71-'72. In '70 the LT-1 was the solid lifter top dog 350 engine. That was used in the Z28.

305's are ok but I used "ok" loosely....get a 350 and not look back IMO.

A 355 is just a 350 V8 bored .030....that's it. An LT-1 or an LT1 are both 350's, the LT-1 was a solid lifter 10:1 compression engine, the LT1 was just a rebirth of the old 350 with a different cam, water pump, etc.