By Nick Licata – Images by Jason Matthew
The third-gen Camaros were insanely popular after rolling off the Van Nuys and Norwood assembly lines between 1982 and 1992. Over 1.7 million made their way into the hands of Camaro enthusiasts who took a liking to the car’s new-at-the-time aerodynamic styling and overall sporty demeanor. Those looking for next-level performance in these cars went for the IROC-Z, which was introduced in 1985. Estimates suggest over 180,000 were sold between 1985 and 1990. The attraction? A race-inspired trim package, upgraded suspension for improved handling, and a high-output 305 and 350ci V-8 engines with tuned port injection delivering up to 245 hp by 1990. Not exactly earth-shattering power at the time, but due to government-mandated smog constraints, it was somewhat respectable, kind of.
To Octavio Tapia, the IROC-Z was “it,” and in fact, his first car was a 1987 IROC used as his daily driver back in the early ’90s. His father, Domingo, a professional automotive painter, had just given the Camaro a fresh dousing of blue pigment when a lady plowed into the car while it was parked on the street near his home. Luckily no one was hurt, but the insurance company claimed the car as “totaled,” so Octavio used the insurance money to buy another Camaro—this time a 1988 IROC, which he got his senior year of high school back in 1993 and has owned it ever since.
In 1996, Octavio enlisted in the Navy, and while serving his county for four years, Octavio’s dad once again pulled out his spray gun and cloaked the Camaro in a fresh coat of Porsche Red. Soon after returning from service, Octavio grabbed the keys and took his freshly painted Camaro on the 2000 Hot Rod Power Tour. It was a road trip that took him from San Bernardino, California, to Panama City, Florida. “I had such a blast on my first Power Tour, so I went on to do three more,” Octavio says. “On the 2006 Power Tour, the car had mechanical issues, so I brought it home and parked it in the driveway where it sat wounded for 14 years due to family commitments and life in general.
That all changed in 2020. With family life more settled, Octavio got the itch to get the Camaro back on the road, so he took it to Hawks Motorsports in Easley, South Carolina, for a drivetrain, suspension, and interior revitalization.
Hawks enlisted the service of a modern LS3 underhood and stuffed it with a Brian Tooley Racing Stage 3 blower cam (blower coming soon) and bolted on PRC heads paired with GM fuel injection and Hawks/Stainless Works long-tube headers, which feed into a stellar-sounding GMMG chambered exhaust. The ensemble cranks out 525 hp, turning this third-gen into a respectable street machine that runs meaner than it ever did in its heyday.
To handle the IROC’s newfound power, the drivetrain was beefed up with a TREMEC F-body six-speed transmission fitted with ZR1 internals by the crew at Drivetrain Dynamics. Out back, a Hawks-built 8.8-inch rearend was narrowed 1.5 inches on each side and features a Truetrac posi unit and 3.55 gears.
Improved handling comes by way of Detroit Speed & Engineering tubular front control arms, sway bar kit, KYB adjustable shocks, Eibach springs, and a Detroit Speed three-point strut tower brace. Out back, Hotchkis lower trailing arms, UMI torque arm, KYB shocks, and Eibach springs tie the car together. A Detroit Speed quick-ratio steering box gives the car improved turning response and exceptional driver feedback.
Baer 13-inch rotors and four-piston calipers on all four corners ensure outstanding braking performance, while a Baer master cylinder and GM booster provide smooth and balanced pedal operation.
The IROC rolls on 18-inch Weld Racing S77 wheels wrapped in Nitto NT555 rubber for top-notch traction putting the improved suspension system to task.
Octavio’s Camaro doesn’t just drive like a modern muscle car—it feels like one inside, too. Black leather and suede upholstery with red stitching gives the captain’s quarters a refined, performance vibe. The fifth-gen Camaro ZL1 seats were adopted to fit on brackets built by Tim Waters and work in concert with red Seatbelt Planet safety system.
Dakota Digital Retro gauges and Grant steering wheel keep the classic vibe in check, while a Kenwood touch screen entertainment system is mated to JL Audio amps, speakers, and 12-inch sub creating a high-quality audio experience when Octavio chooses his jams to override the brilliant note coming from that classic chambered exhaust system.
Octavio’s father and uncle Jose, performed the bodywork, smoothing the sheetmetal to a perfect canvas prior to spraying a brilliant layer of Sherwin-Williams Torch Red—an eye-popping finish that stays true to the car’s IROC roots. A Hawks Sunoco cowl fiberglass hood and Hawks splitter along with the custom-painted grille enhance the factory components.
Lighting was upgraded with Holley Retrobright headlights, Morimoto XB foglights by Screaming Chicken, and Starbuck Innovative Design LED markers and signals. Hoffman Design door handles add a touch of billet coolness.
Octavio’s IROC-Z isn’t just another ’80s restomod—it’s a performance machine wrapped in a personal legacy that spans three decades. Although it was once left dormant, the car was never forgotten. From teenage dream machine to modern-day street beast, Octavio Tapia’s IROC-Z is proof that with the right mix of horsepower and reliability, this Camaro got better with age. It’s a true rock of the 80’s.
Check out this story in our digital edition here.
TECH CHECK
Owner: Octavio Tapia, Summit, New Jersey
Vehicle: 1988 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine
Type: LS3
Displacement: 376 ci
Compression Ratio: 17.7:1
Bore: 4.065 inches
Stroke: 3.622 inches
Builder: Hawks Motorsports (Casley, SC)
Machinework: Hawks Motorsports
Rotating Assembly: Nodular iron crankshaft, powdered connecting rods, hypereutectic aluminum pistons
Camshaft: Brian Tooley Racing, Stage 3 blower cam
Cylinder Heads: PRC
Induction: GM
Fuel Injection: GM
Exhaust: Hawks/Stainless Works 1 7/8 headers, GMMG chambered exhaust
Valve Covers: GM
Accessory Drive: Holley Mid-mount
Ancillaries: Wizard Cooling aluminum radiator, Ringbrothers hood hinges
Output: 525hp
Drivetrain
Transmission: TREMEC F-body Magnum ZR1 internals by Drivetrain Dynamics
Clutch: GM
Shifter: Hawks short-throw shifter
Rear Axle: Hawks Motorsports 8.8-inch rearend (narrowed 3 inches), 3.55 gears
Chassis
Front Suspension: Detroit Speed & Engineering tubular control arms, Detroit Speed three-point strut tower brace kit, KYB adjustable shocks, Eibach springs, Detroit Speed 1 3/8-inch sway bar
Rear Suspension: Hotchkis lower trailing arms and Panhard bar, UMI torq arm, KYB adjustable shocks, Eibach springs
Steering: Detroit Speed quick-ratio steering box
Brakes: Baer 13-inch rotors, four-piston calipers, Baer master cylinder, GM brake booster
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: Weld Racing S77 18×9.5 front, 18×10 rear
Tires: Nitto NT555 G2 275/35R18 front, 295/40R18 rear
Interior
Upholstery: Black leather and suede with red stitching
Installation: Jonathan Customs
Seats: Fifth-gen Camaro ZL1
Seatbelts: Seatbelt Planet
Steering: Grant steering wheel
Dash: Dakota Digital
Instrumentation: Dakota Digital Retro (Hawks)
HVAC: Factory
Insulation: Kilmat
Entertainment System: Kenwood Display, JL Audio amps, JL Audio speakers, JL Audio 12-inch sub
Installation: Ken Balas at Precision Motorsport (Metuchen, NJ)
Exterior
Bodywork And Paint: Domingo and Jose Tapia
Paint: Sherwin-Williams Torch Red
Hood: Hawks fiberglass
Grille: Stock, custom painted
Front Bumper: Stock with Hawks splitter
Rear Bumper: Stock
Headlights: Holley Retrobright
Taillights: Stock
Additional Lighting: Screaming Chicken Morimoto XB foglights, Starbuck Innovative Designs vented marker/turn signal lights
Door Handles: Hoffman Design & Engineering
