Best Manual for under $1,800

[kevm14]

305 most likely means 170hp TBI. That's not a bad thing really. Same exact EFI as my Caprice...

These can easily run a high 15 so they aren't dog slow.

Could also be the LB9 305ci TPI engine with somewhere around 205hp.

Here are the engines for 1992: http://www.cars.com/chevrolet/camaro/19 ... equipment/

350 TPI: 245hp (Z28 optional, 700R4 only)

305 TPI: 230hp (Z28 standard, either trans)

305 TBI: 170hp (RS optional)

3.1 V6: 140hp (RS base)

[Adam]

I missed the giant RS badges on the thing.

[bill25]

So the Z24 is 2558 lbs and 130 HP to the Camaro, somewhere between 3086 to 3362. call it 3200, with 170 HP. The Monte was 3279 lbs, and 180 HP.

The Monte was not fast in stock form. This Camaro is probably about the same, maybe slightly faster due to the manual. The Z24 is probably slightly worse.

The Camaro probably has the best upgrade path, if that is what would happen with any of these 3 options.

[kevm14]

Maybe you should buy this car.

It uses the 1228746 ECM, which is very similar to the one in my Caprice. I have all the equipment to tune that.

Fun fact about TBI: the L03 was never different across all platforms in which it was used (same 170 hp), which include 1987 trucks through 1995 trucks, B-bodies and F-bodies (even D-bodies). The other half of this fun fact is that the L05 (TBI 350 like in my Caprice) did have variation. From memory:
180 hp in civilian 92-93 B-bodies
185 hp in 90-93 Fleetwood
190 hp in 89-90 9C1
195 hp in 91 9C1
205 hp in 92-93 9C1
210 hp in various 87-95 pickup trucks.

[bill25]

I think this would be cool, but, my goal is to learn manual. I am not sure if the interior mods will impact resale. Although I think this is cool that somebody did this, is that going to be appreciated when I try to sell it? I would have been fine with potentially keeping it, and modifying it in the future, but Sam likes the Monte better, which I can't argue with. So if I am just buying it to learn and selling, is this the best option? Another way to look at it is if I get it for like 1500, is it really going to lose money if it is still running? I guess the "still running" would be a gamble...

I could potentially be talked into getting this if it was in good shape and had video potential though.

[kevm14]

Well I like the Camaro idea better than the Z24. The interior swap means someone cared about that car at one point. I don't think it is a bolt-in swap. For that reason, if it was done poorly, it could be a rattle trap. Worth looking at for sure.

[Adam]

For that reason, if it was done poorly, it could be a rattle trap.

They were rattle traps with the stock interior, so worst-case its a wash.

[Adam]

Manual F-Bodies drive well. It probably has 3:23s with the manual rather than the 2:73s with the auto. I vote you should at least look at it.

As far as resale value, interior aside, if the body is (and stays in) reasonable shape, its at least worth something as a parts car to someone looking to build/restore one.

[bill25]

True. The biggest problem is I would need someone to help drive it back through Boston traffic.

[kevm14]

Any of the 350 offerings probably drive well with an auto, including any LT1 F-body. Even a 2.73 car.

But I agree, even an L03 manual should be reasonably fun to drive, as long as it doesn't have sucky gears.

http://www.thirdgen.org/1992-chevy-camaro/

TGO says it has a 3.08.

It has either the standard 215/65SR15 or optional 235/55SR16. Both are about a 26" tire.

Gear ratios here:
http://www.thirdgen.org/calculations/

Not 100% sure but 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 .63, 1st through 5th.

So with a 3.08 and 26" tire, you are looking at about 40 mph in 1st at 5,000 rpm and at 70 mph in 5th gear, about 1,850 rpm. So just about the right blend of performance and fuel economy if you were an OEM.

It's also in that unfortunate zone of too short in 4th and too tall in 5th for optimized top speed. You'll be at 5,000 rpm in 4th at 120 and it would still have more and if you shifted to 5th, RPMs would drop to a little under 3,200. It may be able to maintain 120 but probably wouldn't accelerate. Then again, for all the times you are up there, 4th is a little shorter which gives better acceleration up to 120 so meh.