1988 IROC-Z

I have TWO original 40s with four tips on my SS and they are ridiculously loud which was awesome when I was 19 and hangin out on Route 66 , spendin time at the DRAG STRIP , but not so much these days... the 80 series are said to be quieter on the inside which I want and given that video , it is EXACTLY the sound i'm after plus i'm giddy to have figured out how to make it. You can HEAR IT PULL GASSES.

All we need now is some money!
The truck really does run now but ima spend some more on the C20 before I get new IROC pipes.Like $500 moar.

It's gonna be 31° here tomorrow night and the winter time ride is taking center stage very soon which KIND OF SUCKS because the Camaro is gettin real close and I don't want to lose my train of thought.

Babe's bracket showed up yesterday, finally.

Right now the only crossflow style muffler that Flowmaster makes for the third gen is the 80 series, and yes it is mild compared to the 40 series. But originally there was a louder version with a smaller body. I don't remember what number they gave it, but it certainly sounded like a 40 series. I put one on my old '86, it's still on the car now.

Lookit!

Joo can clearly see that these rotors are SO NEW they still have their factory crosshatching.

Joo can ALSO clearly see there was about a 40% contact area with the pads. Lol. Here's a pic on the brake lathe..that don't drive wonky even a little.

Lookit! The brakes SUCKED. That ain't subjective...





Joo can throw all the money joo want to at it Dr.Suave, but if I want something done RIGHT, i'll do it myself, thanks for the new parts yo.
I kinda feel bad but not really

Calling someone a fat bitch is not a way to win here, got it?

Quite personally, I ******* hate cops.

Ahhhhhh!
I took the passenger brakes apart and the "anti-squeal" shim FELL OUT.
.....lol.....rattle much? Lol don't use those deals.
Turned the rotors today -fast pass only- , burnt the juice on em, -there will be no silicone lol- cleaned em with a brush and some 240 grit, greased em, lubed the bearings, painted the hubs, installed the new dust caps, 5 more new lug nuts, and feel like I accomplished something good.

The front brakes are how I want them now and I KNOW they no longer suck...the rears will have an equal attention at a later date in the not so distant future being the 67 more days of fall. I don't know who painted the stock calipers red but it's pretty embarrassing. PLUS they only did the fronts..screw trying to highlight rear discs..haha sad face. They prolly don't do anything anyway!



I have been studying wiring diagrams, I have been reading actual GM shop manuals (that came with the car lol), plus I looked in the MITCHELL at Mek-a-nik Brian's shop today while visiting about the Babe and dropping off parts intending to motivate ol boy with lunch..
One of those ground terminals on the driver side is directly tied to the MAF "burn off" and it was hanging in the air. I continue to be amazed that the transmission works so well now.

Jon from Arizona @ O'Reilly's ordered me a new MAF sensor today so I can warranty my **** out. Because code 36.

The conclusion is that having suffered from running around with only 60% of the engine grounds is that OBVIOUSLY the car is going to seek ground elsewhere and that fact has fried the new MAF. Which is likely the source of my persistent off-idle suckage. Mechanically the engine is solid, says me. It's tight and hits on all 8 all the time.
General consensus is ALSO that the "check ball" in the gas tank is stuck and my hard starting issue lies in that fact. The car must have to prime the entire fuel system after being turned off long enough to return the gas to the tank, so the check ball is stuck OPEN, which is evidenced by no pressure in the schraeder on the fuel rail. Helen simply won't hold any fuel pressure KEY OFF. No tellin how much i'm down AT THE INJECTORS. SO...I have a gas tank full of Brian recommended TECHRON and HI-TEST 91 octane. $20 for 2 bottles! Effffff...!
Gary Camaro is on the lookout for a higher numerical ratio differential that requires no brake mods and WHEN that happens, i'll swap in a new fuel pump for sure. I would loooove a 3.25 factory rear. BW 9 bolt or idgaf. Up from 2.77? Ooohh weeee!



That raggedy tint is wearing me out but I can mostly see out of the window now and it is often not important since I rarely drive the car because it has been a constant mechanical struggle.
It's not almost over but I think i'm winning.? The tide has tuned for sure.

Gonna see if I can unstick the check ball - even Gary Camaro says it's actually very common now-a-days...Huh. Okay G, word up. The car IS 30 years old...I am very grateful to have so many valuable resources at my disposal. I TRY to utilize them all!

A Then vs. Now comparison of Helen's standard operating condition would be an almost night and day difference. I expect the new MAF will remedy much of the remaining running problem but we'll all find out together.



I bought a parking brake handle today when thinking about the rear brakes..

A 210° "on" 195° "off" fan switch arrived in the mail yesterday. Since the other one already failed i'm gonna give it a day in court when I drain the cooling system to change the lower radiator hose tomorrow.

My third brake light doesn't work.

I changed it to "chick".

Magnaflow sounds great on LS motors. I have a cat back on my TA and love hearing my wife drive away in it. Still have the stock manifolds and cat though. Gen1 engine its flowmaster or GTFO.

I'm workin on it, blee dat. I am very anxious to get my exhaust "fixed". Lol check it outttt! That was some wicked quick ship!

There are several sellers on eBay that are at the same 666 price for this muffler and I guess i'll try them all, one at a time.




I forgot to buy the radiator hose today while I was picking up my NEW MAF but mah square tips were waiting for me to get back! I think i'll paint them what color? Aluminum? If I have any header coating left i'll prolly use it.





*edit*
Lookin at that pic up there with the naked throttle body in it I thought "oh yeah, I still need an airfoil" - hard to believe it doesn't have one? Slim chances of buying a bone-stock IROC in 2018.
eBay to the rescue.
BOOM!
20 bucks? Yes please.
Ungh!
Haha it's 0400 and i'm shopping for hotrod parts..'Merica!

82sbshortbed said:

Nice call on the exhaust tips. Was thinking of putting them on my camaro too. I don't like the ones i have on mine right now.

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For some reason I haven't quit thinking about this.
For some DIFFERENT reason, the GM tips what look like your taillights are PONTIAC.


I would support either of these on your Camaro, because they look like the taillights.

I think those are both T/A AND Formula tips for LT1 and LS1. Formula got a different tip, check it out!

Rusty Nail said:

For some reason I haven't quit thinking about this.
For some DIFFERENT reason, the GM tips what look like your taillights are PONTIAC.


I would support either of these on your Camaro, because they look like the taillights.

I think those are both T/A AND Formula tips for LT1 and LS1. Formula got a different tip, check it out!

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Click to expand...

Very nice. I like them! I'm gonna look a different route than the center mount exhaust because I'm a cheap bastard and can't put $700 in exhaust tips,valence and paint match. I do like the oval ones in the picture tho and still have some VHT Ceramic silver paint left from headers too.

>lol
Ahhh ****! Rather than lower ourselves to THEIR level Brother, let's BRING THEM UP to ours. Word up!

I think those oval "Formula" tips would be a hott set up in your fourth gen Camaro! It'll look SO GOOD and RIGHT, people will be falling over themselves to find out "wtf"!?
If that's even correctt..I don't know the specifics regarding years and models but it'll be simple to determine, I found the different tips very easily on eBay. One is taller, one is longer? Good luck!

I have been putting my car back together and a test drive is in the VERY immediate future.

She's re-assembled!

Pritty sad I take the car apart for acouple of weeks and my first trip out I drive it straight to O'Reilly's?


I have a mixed feeling about it haha.
A) it is BECAUSE I spend the time there that the car gets out at all!
B) I am forced to cultivate relationships with the parts professionals or there is no way we could feed our need for the right parts at the right price, constantly.

The test drive ended up other places of course..I am reporting a bit early BUT I drove it to work. So it wasn't ALL bad!



I've never felt the car run that strong and I wasn't really on it too much. Previously I stated that it was ALLL top end? Well now we has midrange too. It's fun.
I found myself questioning the ignition timing (i've never timed it which seems to counter what i've been sayin all along about doing it myself.
Huh.
Reckon I will p.d.q. because there simply is no low grunt. When I think the wheels should spin? They don't. BUT it'll rip the piss out of BOTH sides after downshifting at maybe 30?
25?
I'm not sure but it's scary as hell.
Oh! I had tightened my speedo too much. Backed it off/out a tad and now it seens fine?
Whatever. As long as it don't leak!

We're still holding off on any gratitious power braking...Helen is only just now back from the dead!

I used to run a youtube show MANY MOONS AGO, back from the dead in more ways than one...I would LOVE to broadcast stuff at work but I don't think I can. We'll all find out together.

I'll delete this video in a couple of days. You've seen that tag, thats my car .

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Was looking around Craig's list and found something thought you might get a kick out of this 87 IROC-Z with a Daytona hood and corvette rear window? That's what dude said it was. Never seen that before and seems a bit weird to me.





He does have a square too.think I'd rather buy that than his IROC-Z. Lol

Its an aftermarket 'notchback' hatch. I used to see one here and there, but it was a trend that never really caught on. In '88, you could get a notch back Trans Am from the factory.

Wtf? That's cool! Wow, I would really dig that..beats the huge piece of glass.
I knew about the "notchback" Firebirds...I wonder if a fella could find that notch made out of fiberglass...did you know there was a fiberglass Z28 HOOD made around '84 in limited quantities?

Omg feen! Ween.

I bought the car with a 4 spoke Sport truck wheel installed. It's leather wrapped, pretty nice but WAY too big @16". An IROC wheel is 14" diameter...
Need I mention there is no horn function?

They are pretty expensive too.
Correct in 85-89 only. Leather. Paint. Horn button...many variables to consider!
Bought one today after weeks and weeks of shopping. Had a nice time haggling with the consignment seller and spent $170.

More Zoloft, please.

I guess I feel better but the hole inside is STILL there!







The original price was $199 plus that shipping but I was at $150 free ship.

Had loads of fun offering and counter offering. Great seller! A++
(That's worth something , right?)

I think i'll look into installing the "T" handle from my Monte Carlo shifter as I finish the console.. i'm NOT into that button deal. It's pritty gay.



Check it out! https://ebay.us/6qXPjD