By Nick Licata – Images by Luke Munnell
Third-generation car guy Mark Madeira was destined to be immersed in the automotive world. His grandfather and father being in the car repair business in some form or fashion; his grandfather started a transmission shop in the 1950s, which his father took over and added a towing service to the business in the late 1970s. By the 1990s the business had shifted to salvage auto sales, which set the stage for how Mark’s Camaro came about, but we’ll get there in a bit.
“From the time I was very young I was always around cars,” Mark recalls. “Whether it was my dad working in the transmission shop or going with him on tows, watching him buying and selling cars, or spending time with my uncle and cousin who had their share of Pro Street Chevys, I was constantly surrounded by the muscle car culture.”
From an early age, Mark developed an affinity for the third-gen Camaros. Anytime one of those appeared in the shop, he was either cleaning it or sitting inside pretending to drive. His family’s 1989 RS held a special place in his heart, but the IROC-Z was the ultimate dream car.
In 1997, at just 14 years old, Mark’s dream took a significant step toward reality. His father returned from a salvage auction with a Jeep and an IROC-Z Camaro. “He told me the Camaro was mine to work on and rebuild for when I turned 16 and got my driver’s license,” Mark recalls. To this day, he still has the auction receipt, showing a purchase price of just $560.
“The car was in a condition where you could totally tell it was owned by someone with a mullet, living the full ’80s lifestyle,” Mark laughs. “The front end was wrecked and the back seat was filled with empty packs of Marlboro Reds and Copenhagen chew containers. There is a giant ‘No Fear’ decal on the back glass.”
Determined to bring the Camaro back to life and into a more modern era, Mark and his dad purchased fresh GM body panels and painted the car, with Mark’s dad teaching him the ins and outs of restoring and wrenching on cars the whole way. The restored Camaro served Mark well through his high school years, but over time the car accumulated its fair share of wounds from extensive mileage and less-than-stellar teenage driving habits.
In 2000 Mark repainted the car once more, which is the same paint on the car today. Throughout the years, numerous engines have come and gone, but the current powerplant is what truly sets this IROC-Z apart from the rest. The car is now powered by a Dart Big M engine, which Mark acquired from a friend who was parting out a powerboat that had two of these monstrous engines. Adding such a powerhouse to the Camaro sparked the inevitable “snowball effect,” requiring chassis modifications, along with an upgraded transmission and rearend to handle the newfound power.
Mark tidied up the engine bay then sprayed on a two-tone paintjob combining the black firewall and 1996 Corvette Collector Edition Sebring Silver inner fenders creating a brilliant showcase for the potent mill.
Mark’s IROC-Z is a blend of nostalgia and modern performance, featuring an incredible combination of power, handling, and braking capabilities.
The aforementioned big-block comes in at 555 ci with a 9.6:1 compression ratio. The bottom end consists of an Eagle 4340 crankshaft, Eagle H-beam rods, and SRP forged pistons. A Comp Cams solid roller camshaft with 0.715 lift and 264/268 duration at 0.050 provides the aggressive profile needed for serious power. The aluminum AFR 305 cylinder heads, Holley Multi-Port Fuel Injection manifold, and Holley HP ECM with 66-lb/hr injectors ensure that this beast gets plenty of fuel and breathes efficiently. Exhaust gases exit through Hooker headers and a 3-inch stainless oval pipe system with SpinTech Low Profile mufflers. The result? A stellar 798 hp and 766 lb-ft of torque.
Backing up the big-block is a GM 4L80E transmission, rebuilt with roller bearings and a manual valvebody. A Hughes 3,000-stall torque converter and custom driveshaft by Greensburg Machine & Driveline ensure power is effectively transferred to the 9-inch rear axle, equipped with an Eaton Truetrac differential, Richmond Gear 3.70 gears, and Moser 35-spline axles.
With this much power under the hood, Mark welded in a set of Detroit Speed subframe connectors to stiffen up the chassis, then bolted in a Spohn Performance K-member, modified spindles, Ridetech air suspension, and Koni shocks for improved handling. Out back, a Ridetech air suspension setup, Koni shocks, and a Spohn adjustable Panhard bar keep the Camaro planted. The stock steering box has been refurbished for improved responsiveness.
Bringing the IROC to a stop is a Wilwood braking system featuring 14-inch rotors with six-piston calipers in the front and 12-inch rotors with four-piston calipers in the rear. A Wilwood master cylinder, hydroboost brake assist, and Wilwood proportioning valve further enhance braking performance.
The Camaro rides on Weld S81 wheels wrapped in Nitto 555 rubber up front and Mickey Thompson tires in the rear to maintain maximum traction.
The interior retains much of its stock appearance, with the factory upholstery and ACC black carpeting, although it’s been updated with Dynamat insulation, a Grant steering wheel, a six-point mild steel rollcage fabricated by Mark and his friend, and a Holley EFI gauge set. Mark totally rewired the electrical system and hid the wires in the engine bay to create a clean appearance while at the same time ensuring the updated system properly powers the Air Lift Performance 3H Air Ride Control System and 20-year-old Alpine stereo and Kicker speakers.
Outside, the PPG black paint and House of Kolor clear Mark applied over 20 years ago continues to hold up and is complemented by the classic silver IROC-Z decals and emblems. Modern aftermarket 4×6 H4 headlights provide improved nighttime visibility, while the overall body and trim remains clean and true ensuring this 1980s ride gets plenty of attention.
Mark Madeira’s 1986 IROC-Z Camaro is a high-horsepower tribute to his family’s deep-rooted passion for cars. From its humble beginnings as a salvage auction buy to its current state as a meticulously built street hellion, the Camaro represents decades of dedication, learning, and personal growth. It also stands as a symbol of the bond between Mark and his father—one forged through busted knuckles and a shared love for Chevy muscle cars.
“During the car’s last incarnation my father was experiencing the early stages of Alzheimer’s,” Mark notes. “He initially joked with me on how many years it would take me to get the car done. Approaching seven years, and I had still not finished the car, while his condition gradually worsened, he mentioned at times how he’d like to go for a ride in it once again. So, about six months prior to his 70th birthday, I kicked into high gear, finished the car, and was able to take him for that special ride on his birthday.”
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TECH CHECK
Owner: Mark Madeira, Saltsburg, Pennsylvania
Vehicle: 1986 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
Engine
Type: Mark IV big-block
Block: Dart Big M
Displacement: 555 ci
Compression Ratio: 9.6:1
Bore: 4.56 in
Stroke: 4.25 in
Rotating Assembly: Eagle 4340 crankshaft, Eagle H-beam rods, SRP forged pistons
Camshaft: Comp Cams solid roller, 0.715 lift, 264/268 duration at 0.050, LSA 110
Cylinder Heads: AFR 305, aluminum
Induction: Holley Multi-Port Fuel Injection BBC Manifold
Fuel Injection: Holley Multi-Port Fuel Injection, HP ECM, 66-lb/hr injectors
Exhaust: Hooker headers, 3-inch stainless oval pipe, SpinTech Low Profile mufflers
Valve Covers: Aluminum, custom fabricated
Accessory Drive: March
Ancillaries: Meziere electric water pump, Flex-a-lite dual fans, Griffin aluminum radiator, Powermaster alternator, Ringbrothers hood hinges
Output: 798 hp at 6,200 rpm, 766 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm
Drivetrain
Transmission: GM 4L80E, rebuilt with roller bearings, manual valvebody
Torque Converter: Hughes Performance, 3,000 stall
Driveshaft: Custom by Greensburg Machine & Driveline (Greensburg, PA)
Rear Axle: 9-inch housing, Eaton Truetrac, Richmond Gear 3.70 gears, Moser 35-spline axles
Chassis
Front Suspension: Spohn Performance K-member, modified spindles, Ridetech air suspension, Koni shocks
Rear Suspension: Ridetech air suspension, Koni shocks, Spohn adjustable Panhard bar
Brakes: Wilwood 14-inch rotors, six-piston calipers front, 12-inch rotors four-piston calipers rear, Wilwood master cylinder, hydroboost brake assist, Wilwood proportioning valve
Suspension Mods: Air Lift Performance Air Management System, refurbished stock steering box
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: Weld S81 18×9.5 front, 17×11 rear with beadlocks
Tires: Nitto 555 265/35R18 front, Mickey Thompson 305/45R17 rear
Interior
Upholstery: Stock from donor cars
Insulation: Dynamat
Carpet: ACC black
Steering: Grant steering wheel
Rollcage: Six-point mild steel by owner and friends
Instrumentation: Holley EFI gauges
Wiring: Redone by owner
HVAC: None
Entertainment System: 20-year-old Alpine head unit and Kicker speakers
Exterior
Bodywork and Paint: Owner
Paint: PPG Black, House of Kolor clear
Headlights: Modern aftermarket 4×6 H4 bulbs
