Were 1980s cars really that bad?

[whitetop]

Don't laugh.

A friend had a '88 or 89 Cavalier Z-24 5 speed. 140 hp stock. He put a cold air kit on it from K&N and some other mods from the gm catalog. I believe he changed the camshaft, did some headwork and exhaust mods and gearing.

That thing would get up and go.. of course it was probably a thousand lbs lighter than the comparable cars made today

[Chazman]

Originally Posted by The Boss

You do know that most of that was due to tire technology right?

My Pure Stock 71 GT-37 ran a 13.25 this weekend at Norwalk and still has more in it if the driver can get better - there is no way in stock form your IROC (or mine for that matter) will ever do that.

I do.

Also, I'd say Pure Stock cars are probably running a bit sharper than they did off the showroom floor.

[old5.0]

Originally Posted by The Boss

You do know that most of that was due to tire technology right?

My Pure Stock 71 GT-37 ran a 13.25 this weekend at Norwalk and still has more in it if the driver can get better - there is no way in stock form your IROC (or mine for that matter) will ever do that.

Just out of curiosity, why is that? Understanding that there's a difference between Pure Stock and actual as-delivered-off-the-showroom-floor vehicles, a Pure Stock legal roller cam 5.0 will run low 13's, so what is it about the TPI Chevy that would keep it from doing that?

[firstgenaddict]

Originally Posted by Chazman

I special ordered this in 1989 and still own it. It's a 1989, G92, LB9, 5 speed, with N10 dual cats, oil cooler, Aussie BW 3.45 9 bolt and DX3 decal delete. I figure if you put it in a time machine and sent it back to 1969 it could hold it's own on the street in a straight line with most muscle cars of the day and annihilate anything from anywhere on a curvy road.

One little option or lack thereof (C41-air conditioning delete) would have triggered the 1LE package---Fuel tank baffles - Corvette front bakes- deleted fog lamps- aluminum drive shaft - and made the total 1LE production 112.

[Chazman]

Originally Posted by firstgenaddict

One little option or lack thereof (C41-air conditioning delete) would have triggered the 1LE package---Fuel tank baffles - Corvette front bakes- deleted fog lamps- aluminum drive shaft - and made the total 1LE production 112.

Actually, this was supposed to be 1LE number 112, the last one built for 1989 - it was ordered on the last week you could make a factory order, in fact IIRC the second to last day.

At the very last moment I decided that I should have AC because it was intended to be my DD and I was tired of showing up to work sweaty in my shirt and tie with the non-AC GLH I was driving.

Who knew 28 years later it would only have 11K miles?

BTW, as more of these '89-'92 cars are having their tanks dropped, it seems that fuel tank baffles were more common than once thought. Mine may have it, who knows.

[Lynn]

You were better off without the T tops.

[earntaz]

Originally Posted by Lynn

You were better off without the T tops.

I seem to remember if they had a high HP engine the T-Tops were not available ... TAZ

[The Boss]

In that year they were - 1987 right CC Rider?

[carnut4life]

Interesting thread to say the least. From what I've read T-Tops were available in a IROC every year the 350 option was available except 1990. Something to do with the weight and gas mileage averages if I remember correctly.

[CC Rider]

Originally Posted by The Boss

In that year they were - 1987 right CC Rider?

Yes, it was an '87.

I sold an 84 Z28 with t-tops to buy the 87. Night and day difference in rigidity of the body.