Planned rebuild of my 1985 Iroc Z...

[V]

As a few members may know and/or remember I own a 1985 Iroc.
The car was given to me in 2005 by my friend who had then enlisted in the US Army and had no use for the car. I drove the car several months but due to its condition and work needed, Its basically been off the road since.

Its a real 1985 Iroc Z, 305 LG4(l69 dual snorkel air cleaner though), T5 manual trans, ttops, black exterior with red interior.

The body however is now beyond repair. Rust and rot have progressed too far even in 2005 for it to even be financially feasible to do the metal work. Rot was in the doors, 1/4s hatch, A pillars and even the front frame rails.

Back around 2004 I had also bought an '89 iroc for parts and i still have that roller and soon I should be able to get a clean title for it. I have finally decided to rebuild the '85/'89 irocs into one car.

The 1989 Iroc has a very solid body, the doors even close like a brand new car.

After recently seeing a picture of a rare edition Camaro build in 1985, the "Camaro California Iroc-Z". I have now decided to build one along that style. 400 red ones were made and 100 black ones. They consited of a basic iroc, with no spoiler, flat hood, stripe delete and so forth. Very sleek and smooth looking. the version I will be building will be black with light gray interior.

I will of course be using my Export 3rd gen camaro taillights, clear front side markers, and new front directionals. To add to the sleek/simple look i will also be doing !defroster, foglight delete, antenna delete, and one piece headlight conversion(silverado or celebrity) with clear GTS headlight covers. Mechanically, ill also be doing a/c delete, wiper delete, cruise delete etc.

Motor will be the 6,609mile 1996 LT1 thats currently sitting in my '79 vette, but im going to put a carb intake on it and use a MSD pro billet dizzy and 6A box i have already. Trans will be the T5 still and i'll use the 9 botl in the 89 but eventually upgrade to 3.45 or 3.70 gears. Car will be built for cruising, NOT speed. The '85 currently has lowering springs and fairly new flowmaster exhaust, so those will be used as well. The tailpipes will be cut and hidden though.

For the wheels, i plan on having the 85 single line iroc wheels painted on the inside and then polishing the outer edge to make them look like the final concept picture. Oh and during the build subframe connectors will get added obviously. But other than that, the suspension will remain almost all stock.

Here are some pics of what i'll be starting with...






This is the final goal....

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

Sounds/looks nice! Would you go clear corner like that photo or blacked out?

[V]

id go clear as in the pic, as of now. I edited that photo to show a clear front and also the export taillights

[LTb1ow]

A third gen... with an LT1?

Your brave.

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by LTs1ow

A third gen... with an LT1?

Your brave.

With a T5 no less.

Is the car mechanical or hydraulic clutch linkage? If it's mechanical, does the LT1 have a boss for a pivot ball?

[V]

its hydraulic, 3rd gens switch over in like 84

and i ran a WC t5 behind a 383 for a while with no issues.

i feel for street driving, the t5 will fair fine

[The Fixer]

Originally Posted by WildBillyT

With a T5 no less.

I think even a regular T5 would hold up as long as it's not powershifted or beat on ~too~ much. The WC T5 in my old '88 SS was fine for years and it was behind a cammed 305 first (dyno'd 223 hp/277 ft lbs at the wheels) and then my home-built ZZ4 355. IIRC the LT1 that Paul has is an iron-head motor from an Impala SS (260 hp/330 tq).

[WildBillyT]

For once I am not bagging on the durability. I am just wondering about things like the speedo hookup, bellhousing, and clutch linkage behind an LT1.

[V]

speedo hookup goes through trans, and im still using the 85 gauges so thats fine right there, bellhousing is a direct swap, currently i have a 89 700r4 bolted to it. Clutch being hydraulic all mounts off the bellhousing. flywheel would be a standard 1piece rear main seal 153t version as any late 3rd gen.

using the GMPP carb intake manifold and opti block off plate will allow swapping to a carb setup. i have the ignition system whih will work, just have to swap out the bronze dizzy gear i currently have.

I may try to find a manual steering box and therefore only need to run an alternator and nothing else off the motor,

[chrisfrom nj]

paul its going to look great when its done

[LS1ow]

that final product car looks sweet.

[T69SS]

Originally Posted by 5.s1ow

that final product car looks sweet.

Yea, pretty awesome looking

[sweetbmxrider]

Should be a real slick car man, stick with it to the end!

[LS1ow]

Tints or No Tint?

[V]

no tints, all clear glass, hence the desire for non-defrost

[LS1ow]

ahhh i gotcha. oh btw u still need a hood?

[V]

yesss, mint flat hood

[sweetbmxrider]

Ah man, I would think some tint would look killer. You don't have to black it out, just something on there especially with no defrost would look real nice.

[LS1ow]

my friend said he has a flat 3rd gen hood. awaiting pics

[V]

Originally Posted by 5.s1ow

my friend said he has a flat 3rd gen hood. awaiting pics

sweet , let me know. i asked shortie, but she was also waiting on pics from someone

[V]

found a NOS GM flat hood.... ive really lost my mind now... lol

lets see if im willing to pay for it though


edit: seller will only go down to 420 picked up... i think ill pass, but it IS NOS GM... my only concern is that metal quality back then may not be as rust resistant as even an aftermarket part now...

[V]

UPDATE: last December, both of my Irocs were sold and this project was put on hold.

However, I am currently planning a new 3rd gen camaro build. I picked up an '84 Z28 I may be using as the base for this project unless I come across a better cheap candidate.

[greenformula92]

well i was excited

[V]

This is the 84 z28. I am looking for another hardtop roller though.

[chrisfrom nj]

the 84 looks great paul whats the plans for it