I have a 1985 Camaro Berlinetta with manual 5 speed and t-tops. My father special ordered on last day possible and it was late coming down line so a 86 high performance 2.8 fuel injected V6 was installed instead of the 85. It has 237,000 miles but had a piston and valve job done at 190,000. Car runs and dash still lights up and works but it has sat now unstarted and on 4 flat tires for 3 years. Of course has huge sentimental value: learned to drive on it, took to homecoming, brought daughter home from hospital, etc. Have had for 37 years and restored with father after I fought cancer for years. I know this doesn't affect value, just makes harder to make rational decision. Unfortunately, I have let car sit and do nothing but take up space in carport and definitely needs restored again. I have been offered 3,000 for it. Does anyone know what it might be worth and if I should take money and clear out of carport??

 

Your decision whether in keeping or selling. Flip a coin, throw darts at the board, or whatever you need to do in making this decision.

 

Rare, yes. The 86 made a pretty big jump V6 wise in 86. Your 2,8 was the same one they put in most of the 86 cars. While it did have more HP then a 85 it was not really a High performance 2.8. Just MPFI version. GM never made a MPFI high performance motor.

I really think you would have a hard time finding another one. But people always equate rare with valuable It is simply not true. First the car needs to be sought after. You need people at auctions in bidding a bidding war for the standard versions and that when the rare options add value. Even with first gen a rare option like 4 wheel disk brakes and shoulder type seat belts in a low miles mint SS 396 with 375 factory HP is going to go for big money. Those same options in a Straight 6 and you have an oddity that people will say is cool but when it hits the auction block it is still most likely going to someone that is going to V8 swap it. Once that happen original anything wont matter. If the car was low miles and if it was mint a camaro collector might have been interested but I don't see a big fight for the car even in mint condition. Maybe 25% over book.

The 2.8 is a notorious weak motor. I have put more crank kits in MPFI under warranty then all others combined. The 305 comes in second. When I worked at the chevy dealer. Over revving was the issue. I never understood why GM did not do a rev limiter on that motor. If you want to keep the 2.8 type block you can upgrade to its big brother 3.1 from the early 90's 3rd gens or the 3.4 from a 4th gen. The 4th gen has a all forged bottom end but sadly only 40 more HP.
I remember doing the first new car service on a 86 2.8 T-top 5 speed. Compared to what was out at the time it was impressive. I think the window stick was mid 12s. Back then it was a lot of car for the money. I think the base Caviler was 9K. I think GM forgot the camaros roots. At 12K a young guy could afford one, Today not so much.