Looking at a 3rd gen Camaro: Engine Vin?

[njsteve]

I know it's completely off topic but here goes: I am looking at a 1987 IROC Z28 that's been sitting under a carport in my neighborhood for about 8 years (my neighbors car with about 20,000 miles). I drive by it everyday and it never moves but is in very nice shape. It might be "buyable". Where on the block is the VIN? Is it in the usual smallblock spot on the front of the block by the passenger side cylinder head or somewhere else.

[budnate]

Steve, not sure there stamping them anymore..when I bought the stang last year I called SVT to make sure I was getting a real Cobra motor in the car and he tells me they dont stamp vins on the blocks anymore..I said no way how do you track it if it's stolen, he said you dont... weird!!!

[PeteLeathersac]

Steve, here's a site that should help. . Other sources seem to skip some of these years but looks like it's here on this one? ~ Pete

http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-ca...gine-codes.asp

[Hylton]

They are in the same spot as older engines. The stamp pad is a little more square in shape than the older pads. The vin is very clear as it is etched into the pad in a very unusual font making it very difficult to duplicate (not that GM cares about IROC originality).

[njsteve]

Thanks for the info. I looked at the car on Sunday and made him an offer. We'll see what happens. It actually has 120,000 miles but looks like 20,000. Two owner, local car. Original yellow paint with grey interior, L98 350 with an automatic. Runs great but needs brakes and minor TLC.

[indyjps]

sounds like a fun driver, you can get some decent power out of a tpi 350.

[Hylton]

Steve,

You may be interested to know that 1987 was the only year you could get a Yellow L98 IROC. Look for G92 on the RPO sticker (located in the console). It is the performance package which gave you 4 wheel disk, posi rear, better rear gear, bigger front brakes, dual cooling fans and engine oil cooler.

GM Canada can also document the car for you even if it is a US car! I'm speaking from experience since I have an '88 IROC from California. It takes a little longer than usual but it is nice to have GM docs for it.

Enjoy,
Hylton

[njsteve]

It doesnt have that code but it does have all the items you mentioned factory installed, including the Australian 9 bolt 3.27 rear gear, the hot water fed/oil cooler and it is a real B4Z L98 car. Still waiting for his response. I made him an offer for the car without the monster stereo he has in it. Don't need it and I'd rather have the factory piece anyway.

[njsteve]

Well I ended up buying my neighbor's car after jogging past his house for years and coveting it. It was 1.75 miles from my house and I guess I have to find another mile-marker now. It's in amazing shape for 120,000 miles. Original paint and interior except for the cheezy 1980's wood interior kit and the boy racer rear wing installed by the original owner. (I removed both when I got it home, though I will need a new decklid now) My neighbor bought it from him back in 1994. The car still has all of its original paint, though it does have a nice dent in the passenger rear quarter that needs the expert hands of one of those Paintless Dent Removal guys. (Can anyone recommend someone in the NJ area?)

It has the orginal 350 TPI engine and trans (I had thought the trans had been replaced but the owner's receipts show it was rebuilt and reinstalled).

He even called me a few hours after I picked it up to say he had found the original radio at his parent's house in town. Very cool guy. The car was sold originally in Allentown PA at Bennett Chevrolet (Still in business).

It's a realtively rare piece: 1987 was the first year of the Corvette's hand-me-down L98 350 TPI engine in the IROC and only year you could get a yellow IROC with the 350 TPI motor. They cancelled yellow in 1988.

The wife and kids really like the car and the best part is that it cost less than a couple of Charley's NOS ZL1 radiator hoses!

[Xplantdad]

Good looking Camaro Steve! Congrats on the purchase.