1988 IROC-Z

[Rusty Nail]

Hi friends! I am pleased to report that I am not too old for even a SLAYER concert. I made it out alive and intact after spending almost EIGHT HOURS in various mosh pits, yesterday.

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First thing I did this morning was eat an aspirin and go to the accident clinic for adjustment haha. The mosh pits are very unlike I remember them from when I was half my age. The kids these days are *******. We are in real trouble friends... This is ******* SLAYER. The mosh pit to end all pits! The mosh pit that little pits want to be when they grow up, amIrite? 15-20 out of ALL THOSE PEOPLE want to pit- I guess the restcare scared but looking around -They were staring at their phones! AM STILL the pit boss round here. **** man. Them kids were 15-20 years YOUNGER than me and every single one without a phone in their hand is my friend. Damn that was fun. I hung the entire set...That's who you're talking to - I took off work to go THERE and this is my IROC.
They don't make Camaros like they used too either...

Dilligaf? My gf is 14 years younger than I.. chicks are still the same haha..I don't want YOU to be misinformed either..lol...Winky.Face.

Kids these days...

I work 11p-7a the next three days in a row and in between I intend to put the Camaro back together. I've only got the patrol car until Thursday!
But today? Turns out I am a little TOO SORE to be bent over in the hood but I can still sit here and swap parts!

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[82sbshortbed]

Sounds like you had a great time. Awesome!! This one sounds about right for that.

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[Rusty Nail]

Yeah yeah! ANTHRAX was there!

Slayer
Lamb of God
Anthrax
Testament
Napalm Death

I can't believe Napalm Death played first with Lamb of God on before Slayer...******* crime.
Lamb of God is such a ******, terrible, crap band which is the act I believe does NOT belong on that tour.

Like I said...kids these days....that music is SO TERRIBLE!
wtf? You should have seen them all singing along?

Anthrax remains ...predictable and kind of lame. I've seen them before and the Testament set was cool, but it was about two (or three even) songs too long haha. They're cool dudes but they don't got **** on ******* Napalm Death

Super high energy! I was there to see them open for Slayer...I would have paid another 20 or 30 dollars...I was having a great time!

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Tucked up rectangle tips, right?

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[82sbshortbed]

Don't get much better than cruzin to a heavy metal concert in your IROC-Z! Bet Helen turned some heads.

I gotta agree with all you said about the bands and ****. Except for Napalm Death. Never heard of them . Did give them a listen tho. I like the music. But the growling lead singer just ain't my bag.

Been a long time since I've seen Slayer,Anthrax and Testament. I enjoyed all those concerts

Good for you dude!

 

[Rusty Nail]

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Yeah, they played it.

Geez, this is a P.I.T.A.

2.5 hours prepping the new base and installing the lower runner gaskets. I went to prep the ENGINE and luckily realized I couldn't get the manifold bolts in with runners installed.
.......
I tried (tried) to swap the EGR to the new lower and no.
It wasn't having any part of that ****.
See the EAZY bolt came out alright but the are one underneath? It's now round, ROUND baby right round.

Wtf is the point of trying to reuse a previously disconnected EGR anyways? It's prolly no good, right? I learned the lesson of the thermostat bolts and bit the bullet and bought a new one rather than waste even more time trying to get the bolt out for a bad valve. Well, the new ones ain't cheep. I paid $49.95 + tax because I got the hookup but I think most people pay $100-60 bucks and I got the Borg - Warner. It's shiny!

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I bought new hex head bolts for the base, I might have said that already and I studied on the F.P.R which is constructed with TAMPER-PROOF T25s. ****** GM bastards! Good thing I bothered to look cuz I don't think I own one.
Definately want an adjustable unit in the future.
I bought stainless EGR bolts AND t-Stat housing bolts. Aluminum lubricant extensively throughout, so far!

Well, at the rate it's going, I expect it will be damn near the same 6 hours for INSTALL and I'm going to do it tonight. AND will have almost two days to get it "run in" and fix wtfe I missed.
Hard to believe that would be ANYTHING.

Next post will be the base intake Install.
This bitch is fiddin to fall together!

I am past sick of rounded bolts and **** that old base obviously I made the right choice getting a different one. I have been spinning right round with that p.o.s.

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Remember the new fan switch 200°on, 185° off? I ran that by the mek-a-nik and he suggested that coupled with my 195° thermostat, the fan would never shut off.

Hmm...

I thought about it long enough that I traded my 195 for a 180° T-Stat per his direction.
Glad I did. I'm more comfortable with that for unknown reasons. If yous have an opinion about that, I'd like to hear it!
The fans are TWO SPEED I understand and the hi-speed is controlled by the computer. This IROC hi-speed comes on at factory 234° I can verify -assuming the gauge reads correctly.

TOO HOT, and I am NOT comfortable with THAT.
SO, we are in the process of changing those facts.
The brand new Valvoline conventional 5w-30 is already burnt! Poor Camaro was getting hotter and hotter, faster and faster.

Also pictured are the TWO Torx40 intake bolts that I pounded a 1/4 HEX into with a five pound hammer after THEY rounded during removal. Found in the core support side of the intake at the coolant passage. ******* nerve racking!

Yet there they are.
bitches...

I bought new stainless bolts to replace them and at 2 bucks each, the whole base didn't afford them for all ...lol... sad face.
Just those two. I'm gonna be into this job $350+?

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[Rusty Nail]

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Yeah it's 03:30 and I am in my garage bein a STRUGGLE.BUNNY and Helen IROC is in full blown, 100%, cranky revolt mode. Actually she may be drunk.
Yet I keep strugglin cuz it's REAL!
I started droppin ****..
**** like the ever-important Torx 40 socket.
Into the grille!

Oh f*ck me.

I don't know how many of yous has ever turned a wrench in a third gen Camaro before but it ain't no ****** joke man...this is serious bidnezz!
Drop somethin down the hood latch hole ? and it is GONE! Things/tools/parts/bolts dropped underhood of a third gen - don't hit the dirt....they stay in there!.
Best to get another one or a flashlight with a magnet on a stick and get to lookin. I ain't f*ckin around... G-O-N-E.

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All of a sudden this song starts playing and I hear it.. Come back another day and do no wrong?

.....................is he talkin to me?............hmm...............God is in the radio?..................wtf is goin on?

Ok Helen! Fine. I know when to say when.

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Turns out all the new hex heads I bought for the base are the wrong size.
I reused the Torx 40s -2. Lol can you believe it?
There is another trip to the hardware store in my future but everything is moving along okay and I have accomplished NOTHING in the last HOUR. But! The distributor stabbed like buttah!
I was sweatin it too.

I've been farting with the car alllll day. I had my dad farting with the old base then four guys and a girl farting with it at O'Reilly's...note the egr bolt is STILL IN THERE. I was only presenting the challenge and lettin em rip! It was quite enjoyable - watching all those people try to get that bolt out!11
See, we're not discussing my inability...them bolts are REALLY IN THERE. I didn't want to blow another $53...on a f*cking EGR valve but what can ya do?

I won't be surprised to finish up tomorrow in the daylight after a nap.
It's 03:45.

Helen said "I hear you knocking but you can't come in!"
I hope she sobers up by morning, , she was certainly having her way with me last night. And at 0300 it gets pointless pretty damn quick!

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[Crispy]

Lamb of God is awesome but a little different from those bands on that bill. They used be known as Burn The Priest in the late 90's. Saw Anthrax last year with Killswitch Engage and they put on a good show. I cant believe all of those guys are still touring though, its like at any point a home attendant is gonna come out and wipe one of their drooling mouths but as long and they still can do it, more power to em.

 

[bucket]

You can make your factory fuel pressure regulator adjustable. You just need a nut, a bolt, a dime and a little bit of welding.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Cars fighting back, oh the joy. But we always come out victorious!

 

[Rusty Nail]

There is no alternative, i'm going the distance!

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You can make your factory fuel pressure regulator adjustable. You just need a nut, a bolt, a dime and a little bit of welding.

*pass*
Thanks though, I'm out at the welding. Don't even wanna know...

I cant believe all of those guys are still touring though, its like at any point a home attendant is gonna come out and wipe one of their drooling mouths but as long and they still can do it, more power to em.

I have zero appreciation for lamb of god..not my bag.
After THIRTY SEVEN YEARS Slayer has become AMERICANA.
They are a STAPLE and their retirement is sad news but **** yeah! SLAYER RULES!
Say that to their face about the attendant...lmao.

This morning (noon) - in review I left out an intake bolt and gotta pull the driver runners which oughta get me going. ..
I went to two O'Reilly's hunting the guy I KNEW could find this bypass hose ($7)
I'm probably going to pull the alternator to connect the fuel lines and I'm not really looking forward to that chore which pretty much killed the wind in my sails last night. Now that I have had it apart, I know it was put together wrong...again, it can't stay that way.
That and the ninth injector...but after I re-pull the driver side runners for the THIRD TIME , it'll probably be a piece of cake. Right?
Cake?

I'm goin the distance !
I'm going for SPEED!

I haven't even touched it and it's already cost me seven dollars.
Helen, I'm almost finished.

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Next week's project is the u - joints...I has a back up plan if they wanna **** around.

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[Rusty Nail]

Yup.
'Round four and a half hours later under the hood and it is wrapping up.

Remind me to not do this again.. ESPECIALLY when I have to drive it somewhere...please?
I'm so f*cking sick and tired of working on cars and trucks that I cannot see straight!
I asked Helen what part of "for fun and for favor" she didn't understand...all she says is "later."

Grr.

In other news I visited Babe the Blue Ox today and told that old boy we aren't in a hurry, that is intended to be the winter time ride. He was talkin about repairing damage to the core support @Honky Kong jr which is likely an additional damage what necessitated the bushing stand(s). I am tapped out from all of the IROC fun I've been having.
I know damn good and well he will soon be after another $500 for the Ox - which I have approved...

*looks nervously at the Camaro*

I know you're laughing but it's not funny!

I'm down to plugging stuff in, running wires and vacuum hoses.
All of the hard parts are finished I'm only trying to seat the plenum and I'll have to change the oil now. She only lets me work on it for so long before the starts to get bitchy and I think that's rad.. Now I've got THAT PART figured out, we might get back to havin fun in the garage!

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Also picured is the OE, 160K, 30 YEAR OLD, PCV valve. /smh

seriously ?

Pooooor Helen..
I will save you!

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[Rusty Nail]

I can't stop thinking about the vacuum hose absurdity what resides at the back of my manifold because I cannot make sense of it or it's function. Or purpose for that matter!
Earlier when I was installing the ignition coil, very anxious and expecting to see the famed EGR solenoid, it dawns on me.

I don't have one.
I keep tellin mother fuckers that, and they keep telling me I do.
But seriously folks, I don't have one.

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It's missing?
It's missing and thus is explained the vacuum hose debacle.
Yes. Been researching tonight enough to make that determination on the clock, 5.7 miles from the car.

Gobs of what I find that is as fresh as five years old says the part is discontinued.
When talking to Gary Camaro, he refrences them as gold in the yard...

But I find them for sale at O'Reilly's?

Okay. We're really onto something here folks.
I am figuring out HOW GOOD to put it together tomorrow and what to expect.
I'm not mad I bought the new valve, now is the time.
At least spendin double the money can wait until next week!

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I still haven't located the AIT sensor. (air intake temp) ?
Maybe lol?

I need the car to run.
Tomorrow.
(Later today)

My A/C is fixed but for some stupid effing reason, blend door operation is DIRECTLY related to my inherited and paid for EGR vacuum mess.
I need PORTED vacuum for the EGR valve.
The check valve is backwards?

This is the right tree, get to barkin!

 

[bucket]

Is your car missing the vacuum diagram sticker on the hood? The intake temp sender screws to the underside of the plennum. It's not the usual GM sensor for such a purpose, it's basically a coolant temp sensor bit in the plennum. V6 Camaros had the normal style temp sensor, but it threaded into the air filter ducting.

If I was around mine, we could sort this vacuum mess out right now. But I'm nowhere near home.

 

[Rusty Nail]

Is your car missing the vacuum diagram sticker on the hood? The intake temp sender screws to the underside of the plennum. It's not the usual GM sensor for such a purpose, it's basically a coolant temp sensor but in the plennum. V6 Camaros had the normal style temp sensor, but it threaded into the air filter ducting.

Ah. That's very helpful, thank you. I has that! Seems like a ***** place though, no wonder these cars run so lean.. I'm gonna relocate it.
Later.

I had the much needed breakthrough tonight!

I found ONE answer I needed the MOST and everything else became obvious after I tested the splitter check valve, which I understand is REALLY only a splitter disguised as a check valve.
Haha.

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PORTED VACUUM! EUREKA!
Everything EVERYTHING else magically happened. Except the plenum...I took that mother ****** on and off EIGHT TIMES and still have one bolt I can't thread...

See reader, my problem is this : some / a / P.O. removed the EGR solenoid thus leaving TWO plugs hanging and creating TWO vacuum leaks. SO, I imagine that caused a great many problems trying to rig it to stop leaking -possibly FOUR problems- because the vacuum leaks are/were in lines that split with shared vacuum to various other components. It was MADDD HACKED!
I'm lookin at it liek qtf!? In the "fixing" of the vacuum leaks, the butcher in question needed more hose and started "borrowing" it from OTHER, Unreleated hoses/components underhood.
In which process the HVAC, WIPERS, EVAP, FUEL RETURN systems were ALL negatively effected. All OE routing was destroyed, or is.
****.me.
(routing ain't on my diagram @bucket lol)
After removing the FIVE PIECE intake manifold and putting it back together , I became UNABLE to recreate the bastard abortion as I purchased it. Too many pieces and there was no alternative EXCEPT to actually fix correctly because I didn't mark that stuff so I could put it back together wrong, later.

Ahhhh self sabotage!

Remember : this project's original intention was ONLY to change a $4.00 thermostat.

Ever heard of CLAWHAMMER ABORTION?

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Chuggy **** ain't it? Pretty rad!

Putting a new $55 EGR valve on it changed EVERYTHING, I think.
I can still make it work without the solenoid - which is what the butcher should have done - but I need ported vacuum. Where to find it in a TPI? The tiny brass nipple underneath the butterflies is ported. Mine had a blue cap on it...*******!

It got sorted out PDQ after that enlightenment!
I found this thread...and started connecting hoses with butt connectors.

It's gonna be alright until I get the SOLENOID and my HVAC vent problem should be fixed along with the running problem I was hunting. It LOOKS like a train wreck now, yet all systems will function as the General intended. Vacuum leak city is officially closed and there remain EGR troubles until payday. EGR cools the upper cylinder and I assure you, the non functional valve is, in part, some of the reason Helen IROC ran so hot.
I think all the solenoid actually does is determine when to VENT exhaust gas.
Should be better even without solenoid.

All I've got left to do is set timing per my marks, connect plug wires, find a throttle cable bolt I dropped that didn't come out, lol, annnd get the last PLENUM bolt started.

I bet my fuel return vacuum being connected to manifold instead of ported is why it was eager to spill so much gas when changing the fuel filter!
No tellin the effects all this stuff had.
The EGR is a VERY INVOLVED part of a TPI. It is unwise to unplug it and start capping vacuum ports, yes? That will make the IROC slooooooow. The computer us programmed to burn it...Mine is fixin to get faaaast.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tpi/533106-tpi-owners-i-need.html

SO MANY CHANGES at once make me WAY TOO NERVOUS. I never, ever, EVER do stuff this way! No trucking telling what's gonna happen tomorrow when I turn the key and it starts..

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I was digging through the box of stuff that came with the car (lol) and found the EGR solenoid vacuum tree. Sad.Face.
No bracket, no bad part,

EVIDENCE !
In the furnace!

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See the zinc screws? Bad sign.

 

[Rusty Nail]

Ohhh I was scrolling and saw something that said "Clawhammer Abortion"...dang, that's a killer band!
(If you like that kind of thing)

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Last night I was screwing with the CAMARO after taking a break yesterday and began to double check stuff. I'm circling the engine bay like a shark!
Or a cannibal even.
I got the last two plenum bolts in suprisingly easy. Sometimes a little break goes a Looooooong way!
Today I changed the oil+filter
Found one last hose clamp.
Blah,blah,blah.
Turned the key to "run".
Fuel pump primes.....
Check and no leaks!
Hooray!
Turned to "start" and cranking.....

Cranking.....

??

Cranking..... wtf.

I hear liquid underneath.

Zomg.

******* over here forgot to tighten the 9th injector hardline after ******* with it for the 8 millionth time...easy enough fix.

Try again.

Cranking.....

It started.

Wow.
Cool?

It's running, okay? Battery has been disconnected for ever, maybe it's learning or someshit.

Mellows out a little and sounds kind of, "off".
I back it out of the garage to get a better look and listen in the light.
Eww daylight.

Misfire for sure.

Jack it up and check sparkplug connections FROM UNDERNEATH.

It's #6. Okay...
Start it back up and get antifreeze.
Mixed WITH DISTILLED.

Eyeball temp gauge. Engine not smoothing out...go for a short drive of about 7-8 miles. Full throttle operation...downshifts...
Misfire.
Check engine light still on.
For sure running on 7.
Will check plug wires but think I maybe have a pair of fuel injectors switched. THAT should be fun to diagnose.

Runs WAY COOLER. T-Stat cycles and stuff...may take a minute to figure out and settle in but I've got all night.

Parked her back in the garage and now she's cooling down.

I put new hood struts on it the other day, look at em go!

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Damn that's a cool lookin ride!
I hardly ever see it in the daylight....

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