My 87 IROC swapped LT1 project

[87IROCLT1]

I was bored at work a few years ago and started looking for a V8 camaro manual with T-Tops, a project that was running/driving, something that might need a paint job and some new parts, maybe some TLC. Well what I fell for was my 87 IROC. It has the T-Tops, and the T5, but it had a '74 350 from truck and it wasnt running well so it was cheap. I picked her up in march of '13 in Milwaukee on a Sunday. The car was originally a loaded red IROC, 305 TPI, T5, power everything, but she needed a lot more than just TLC.

A few pictures of the first day in the garage.
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/Tommys%20iPhone%205-22-13%20213_zpszd6v86lq.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/Tommys%20iPhone%205-22-13%20213_zpszd6v86lq.jpg.html)

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3471_zpsido9jmvo.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3471_zpsido9jmvo.jpg.html)

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3468_zpsj4nenr2u.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3468_zpsj4nenr2u.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

After lots of deliberation i decided to return the car to fuel injection, and as its my first swap didnt want the added hassles of the LSx platform. A few short days later, I think about a week I found a guy selling a full LT1 pull out from a 94 caddy fleetwood. I picked up the engine, harness and PCM for a song, and then flipped the 350 that came with the car for almost what I had into the LT1. Not a bad deal in my eyes and I decided the car needed to be fuel injected. Over the next few weeks I tore into the LT1, it had good compression by hand cranking it when I picked it up, but I still wanted the peace of mind. So I started bagging and tagging everything, and the harness needed to get reworked so it all had to come off.

After all the stuff was out of the way, I spent quite a bit of time with the wire wheel on a drill cleaning the block, knocking off the rust and grime. Then painted it chevy orange, Im a sucker for Chevy orange.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3513_zpscmtbkmdv.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3513_zpscmtbkmdv.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/Tommys%20iPhone%205-22-13%20215_zpspvybqowy.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/Tommys%20iPhone%205-22-13%20215_zpspvybqowy.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/TommysiPhone5-22-13252_zpsf6cc5800.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/TommysiPhone5-22-13252_zpsf6cc5800.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

Then came the real fun part, I pulled the old motor and decided it was time to clean out the engine bay, and of course that stretched to the underside, and the chassis and as usual everything else. We all fall into that problem, well im doing XYZ and its easier to ABC while Im in there.... The body was super clean, kinda, just a few spots of rust, but grimy, dirty, and needed a good cleaning. Nothing a pressure washer, a wire wheel and some elbow grease couldnt take care of-

Once it was all clean it all got a few coats of rustoleum satin black, after all I wanted to learn how to paint a car with this project....

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3704_zps7i0ced4r.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3704_zps7i0ced4r.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_20130615_102821_480_zpss7hlnalf.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_20130615_102821_480_zpss7hlnalf.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3719_zpsfgc3vfnn.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3719_zpsfgc3vfnn.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3750_zpscus4aqje.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3750_zpscus4aqje.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3751_zps6yka7v0m.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3751_zps6yka7v0m.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

then of course I had to see how the cleaned up LT1 looked in there

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3757_zps8jccft4k.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3757_zps8jccft4k.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

Once the harness was broken down enough to run, and wired to the dash to monitor everything it was time to try. She primed the fuel pump with the first click of the key, and fired on the second try, once I found the clutch switch and made sure it was depressed. Mine you, this was through open headers as I had yet to invest in the exhaust system, and I hadnt bled the coolant system yet. So it ran for about 5 minutes before I shut her down, but everything worked great. She ran, and ran great.

This signaled the green light to tear into everything else. It was time to get the rest of the suspension tightened up and get her ready for paint. So out came the interior, off came the hatch, and the windshield, Ill admit i got a little carried away. Fall was closing in and I thought i might be able to get the first coat of primer on. I was sorely mistaken, but at least I was on my way for the next spring. In the mean time I got the interior pulled and found that nasty smell, and even first sanding done before the winter hit in Chicago. And if anyone remembers the winter of 2013/2014 around here it was nasty, so I didnt spend much time out in the garage.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3775_zpstqopd4f4.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3775_zpstqopd4f4.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3777_zpsn9hvgwtv.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3777_zpsn9hvgwtv.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3782_zps2twyqgr7.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3782_zps2twyqgr7.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3785_zps0v5bbdel.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3785_zps0v5bbdel.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_20131101_082044_127_zpstvtnhzgw.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_20131101_082044_127_zpstvtnhzgw.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

I also picked up a rear end from a 1998 SS. Had to upgrade the brakes and it needed a rebuild, so it gave me a chance to clean it up, POR15 it, and rebuild the calipers. Caliper rebuild kits are so cheap if you have time and know the cylinders are ok, its really easy.

Also got the calipers for the front end swap as well.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_20140201_150616_786_zpsymxxnjvm.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_20140201_150616_786_zpsymxxnjvm.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_20140201_185737_857_zpshs561gfj.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_20140201_185737_857_zpshs561gfj.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

That fall I scored an LT1 style T56 from craigslist, and added it to the swap. Too much hemming and hawing about the T5 holding up, i figured let someone else decide if they wanted to risk it. I scoured the bay, the classifieds here, and craigs for the parts i needed to complete the swap. I had already bought a T5 Pro-5.0 shifter and the nice people let me trade it in for the T56 version. So I spent a few week nights getting everything cleaned up for the install. I sent the tailhousing out for the speedo cable mod to make sure everything worked right.

I also spent too much time looking at Rockauto and amazon and found all new suspension and steering parts, moog tie-rod ends, center link, ball joints, bushings (all of them) end links, tokico illumina struts, and eibach pro-kit, Koni rears, and a spohn pan hard rod, all of these parts were just sitting waiting for the right day to install them all.

Heres a few pictures of all the goodies.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3923_zps6d8da0b8.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3923_zps6d8da0b8.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3924_zps325fb3b5.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3924_zps325fb3b5.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

So the big install day finally came in late Feb, turned up the heater and called in some help, it was a long day, but my dad, brother, brother in law and I got the T56 in and mounted, the new rear end in place, and the whole front end in place. I still had some loose ends to tie up, but it was a long day.

Heres a few pictures of the new stuff installed

I also had picked up a set of very well work chrome ZR1's, but after looking for a good powdercoating place, I found that I should go another direction. I picked up a set of machined 17 C5 deep dish wheels and love them.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3936_zps8c9b1d74.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3936_zps8c9b1d74.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3940_zps565f93d8.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3940_zps565f93d8.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3945_zps112271fe.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3945_zps112271fe.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

Also over the winter, I recovered the seats with the help from a member on another forum. Man she does great work. The seat covers were of excellent quality and with her instruction they went right on.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_20140204_080356_820_zpsc7wvt1c4.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_20140204_080356_820_zpsc7wvt1c4.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

The first pictures of the car out in spring of 2014, you can see where some of the bondo work started. Now it was time to get this car painted. And yes, I know the drivers side is sitting way too high, the spring wasnt seated in the pocket correctly, that was fixed later.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3973_zps44745888.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3973_zps44745888.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3974_zps814986d1.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3974_zps814986d1.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

Then it was time for primer. I sprayed this in my garage. I got this done right before I got married. So it was nice to get it really straight before I took off. It took a lot of time to get the panels straight. The lower doors were a mess, the body lines needed to get re-created from excessive door dings, and carelessness. But overall I was pretty happy with how the primer came out.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/DSCN0005_zps03b5cd5c.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/DSCN0005_zps03b5cd5c.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/DSCN0009_zpse2fdff26.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/DSCN0009_zpse2fdff26.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/DSCN0011_zpsec5054b5.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/DSCN0011_zpsec5054b5.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

So after three coats of primer, and lots of wet sanding. IT WAS TIME FOR PAINT!

My dad has painted cars occasionally in his garage and we set up his garage like a paint booth, he has a big exhaust fan in the ceiling and we drop plastic from the ceiling around the work area. I borrowed a trailer from a friend to get it to my dads for the big weekend.

I decided on base coat clear coat, Lemans Blue Metallic from 2004 corvettes. Its a great color that has tons of pop.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3993_zps4596011f.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3993_zps4596011f.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_3994_zpsabe9e8f0.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_3994_zpsabe9e8f0.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_4001_zps7fed069d.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_4001_zps7fed069d.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_20141020_223909_706_zpsu3a7veba.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_20141020_223909_706_zpsu3a7veba.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

and more-

For anyone wondering I used the Standox System, it laid on great, the recommended nozzle was a little small for the clear and I had to really go slow or it would go on dry, and thats not fun. But all things said and done this was the first car I ever sprayed myself, and I am beyond thrilled with the results.

A few days after paint Dad and I wetsanded the clear and buffed it out with Meguires 105 and polished with 205 using my HF DA polisher.

I started assembling the car as fast as possible, because somewhere in the middle of the car, getting married and moving my wife into the house we found out she was pregnant, and that meant i had a whole bunch of stuff to finish in the house to get ready for baby. So the car got put together, new wheels, body panels on, and packed into the corner of the garage for the winter. These are some of the last pictures of her before I put her away.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_20141020_223909_706_zpsu3a7veba.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_20141020_223909_706_zpsu3a7veba.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_4051_zpsc7439ce5.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_4051_zpsc7439ce5.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

and more-

For anyone wondering I used the Standox System, it laid on great, the recommended nozzle was a little small for the clear and I had to really go slow or it would go on dry, and thats not fun. But all things said and done this was the first car I ever sprayed myself, and I am beyond thrilled with the results.

A few days after paint Dad and I wetsanded the clear and buffed it out with Meguires 105 and polished with 205 using my HF DA polisher.

I started assembling the car as fast as possible, because somewhere in the middle of the car, getting married and moving my wife into the house we found out she was pregnant, and that meant i had a whole bunch of stuff to finish in the house to get ready for baby. So the car got put together, new wheels, body panels on, and packed into the corner of the garage for the winter. These are some of the last pictures of her before I put her away.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_20141020_223909_706_zpsu3a7veba.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_20141020_223909_706_zpsu3a7veba.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_4051_zpsc7439ce5.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_4051_zpsc7439ce5.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

And after my son was born I got to slowly start finishing her. Her first trip out of the garage was the 3rd of July, it was a great (bumpy, jerky, clunky, etc) ride. But I was grinning ear to ear. Once that first shakedown was done, I aligned the car in my garage, had to reprogram the PCM for the fans to work and change some parameters based on the engine now running a t56 instead of an auto.

These are some of the pictures from this past weekend after a bath.

I know there are tons of parts I am missing from this build but the details will show in the pictures. I will keep adding things as I remember them.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_4138_zpsmnvngqqn.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_4138_zpsmnvngqqn.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_4142_zpsktcnw6mg.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_4142_zpsktcnw6mg.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_4143_zps2jgu0qwq.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_4143_zps2jgu0qwq.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_4149_zpsr6ezisop.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_4149_zpsr6ezisop.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_4161_zpsqczdho8c.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_4161_zpsqczdho8c.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

and some interior shots
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_4162_zps5k4zfkuq.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_4162_zps5k4zfkuq.jpg.html)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/IMG_4167_zpsfaqvhgfm.jpg (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/IMG_4167_zpsfaqvhgfm.jpg.html)

[87IROCLT1]

a few months ago i found someone on a local forum that is trying to get into automotive photography and shot my car one morning

http://www.jonathansalmi.com/img/s12/v177/p551505120-4.jpg (http://www.jonathansalmi.com/glennon/e20df4ce0)
http://www.jonathansalmi.com/img/s4/v62/p919015362-3.jpg (http://www.jonathansalmi.com/glennon/e36c70fc2)
http://www.jonathansalmi.com/img/s1/v55/p577523314-3.jpg (http://www.jonathansalmi.com/glennon/e226c4e72)

[87IROCLT1]

and just for kicks- a site that allows you to put your car on a magazine cover-

http://www.myowncover.com/

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tglennon11/87%20Camaro/ScreenHunter_58%20Dec.%2012%2009.24_zpsvijz7ssp.jp g (http://s159.photobucket.com/user/tglennon11/media/87%20Camaro/ScreenHunter_58%20Dec.%2012%2009.24_zpsvijz7ssp.jp g.html)

[96z28SideSwype]

I've always wanted a 82-92 Camaro I looked at a few before I got my 96 don't regret it but I will get a iroc one day. Great write up and beautiful color never been a fan of blue but that's starting to change more and more.

[popo8]

What an excellent write up... thanku for sharing and the car looks amazing!

LTXtech.com IS my drug...
OWNER/ADMIN

[DMBlack]

Yeah , great write up on the build. That color looks great on that car too.

Do you have any future plans or end goals for the car?

[87IROCLT1]

thanks for all of the kinds words guys, im really happy with the way it turned out.

current plans for the car involve cruise nights, finding winding roads, and just enjoying it. a rough day at the office is much better when i can take the tops off and blast home. However i am saving my pennies for when the motor goes, do a full rebuild at that time, i have a set of AL heads sitting in the shed i was able to trade for, then contact Lloyd about cam/spring selection.

I do need to replace the current valve seals, which i am capping at used 1.6 rr and new springs. that should suffice for a few years until the funds are built back up.

[SJx408]

This is an awesome build!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[joelster]

The car came out great! How much $$$$$$ in materials did you spend on the paint?

[87IROCLT1]

The car came out great! How much $$$$$$ in materials did you spend on the paint?

Thanks Joel. I forgot the actual number, but primer, base, clear, some of the filler, the glaze all added up to right around $2k. I still get a little queasy when i think about it.

[383z]

Gorgeous car!
2k for that paint job is not bad at all.
I don't know how you continued building you IROC while getting married and a child on the way. I just got engaged and the very next month I had to stop buying can parts to start paying for an extremely over priced wedding, but she said that the Camaro will be able to be finished after the wedding with top shelf parts. I don't mind waiting a little longer. Heck, the Camaro is a life long project.

Anyway, love the IROC and the great pictures.

[87IROCLT1]

Gorgeous car!
2k for that paint job is not bad at all.
I don't know how you continued building you IROC while getting married and a child on the way. I just got engaged and the very next month I had to stop buying can parts to start paying for an extremely over priced wedding, but she said that the Camaro will be able to be finished after the wedding with top shelf parts. I don't mind waiting a little longer. Heck, the Camaro is a life long project.

Anyway, love the IROC and the great pictures.

Thanks!

part of my build didnt include top shelf parts, which is how I got some of it by. The other part was stress relief during the planning phase of the wedding. Its amazing how relaxing wet sanding can be.

Thanks for the compliments