New To Muscle Cars. Need Engine Help!

Ok so I just purchased a 1983 chevy camaro z28 for $50 from one of my mom's co-worker. He bought it from an old guy years ago. It has 56320 original miles on it, automatic, very clean. About 2 years ago, he had a neighbor working on the engine, trying to install something aftermarket. He said he thinks the guy dropped a screw where one of the pistons are but he doesn't know for sure where he dropped it. He said he started it up once since then and never took the car out of the garage since then. I don't have any idea where to start on this car because I've never even touched a muscle car before so I need some help from some experienced people here. All I know is that it's the original LG4 305ci V8. Other than that, I'm clueless. Can yaw help me out?

Welcome to the boards! You oughtta post pics of Your new ride. But what exactly do You need help with? Somebody said that someone dropped a screw near a piston...... ok well does it run? Or are You just afraid to fire up the motor cuz You fear theres a screw loose in there?

he said he started up the car once and he heard it so he never ran it again. its been in the garage for 2 years now. i dont know whether to fix the engine or replace it. He doesnt know exactly where the guy dropped the screw

well sounds like your scared to run it,, in your case your gonna have to take it apart to either check for that screw or to REMOVE IT,, but if you plan on replacing that motor anyway,, just start it and see what happens,, if you bought the car with 56k original miles for 50 bucks,, HE KNOWS that somethings really screwed up thats insane,, i cant even buy junk camaros for 50 bucks

well i dont know if its cheaper to replace the engine or fix the engine so that's why Ive came to you guys for help. This is my first muscle. The guy that had the car doesnt know anything about cars. He initially want 1000 for the car but my mom did some work for him wit taxes and some other stuff and he pretty much just want the car gone so he can park his new car in the garage.

just run it,, you dont know a damn thing until u run it,, unless he had the heads off i dont thing its possible to get something on the piston, unless he shoved it down the spark plug hole,, charge the battery ,,check the fluids run her for a while,, u will never know unless u run her,, taking the heads off and looking for a mystirious screw sounds odd and like a waste of time, if its real bad on start up then u know your options rebuild or replace that motor

so should i take off the head first and see if i can see the screw sitting up top? or just check the fluids and then start it right up. should i change the gas since its been sitting for 2 years?

id just run it for 50 bucks you cant go wrong specially if youve already factored in a new engine but thats my opinion

alright. well ill try and start it and see what happens

Just to say I was a little proactive I would at least take the manifold off. He could have dropped the screw into the carb/Throttlebody, but thats just my opinion. I would rather remove parts as far down as the heads rather than spend all the extra money on a new/rebuilt engine.

well i would do that, but like i said, im completely clueless on these engines. The only engine ive ever worked on is a 7mgte (turbo 1987 toyota supra) so this is new to me

http://www.thirdgen.org is your friend!

check out the classic tech section on this site too. you will basically just need to take some pictures, label everything you take off/ disconnect, take your time, and ask lots of questions on here (this is where the pictures will really help) also shoot me a pm if you have any ????
:)

alright. will do. thanks for the info.

If you run it w/ the piece of 'whatever' down in the motor,hope you plan on a rebuild or a new engine.

It needs to be taken apart and pull the heads off to get out whatever got dropped down in there.

Yes on draining the gas and putting new in.

how do i get the gas out?

how do i get the gas out?

I really would worry about that after you check out the engine.

but you could siphon it out.

I really would worry about that after you check out the engine.

but you could siphon it out.


but should i try to find the screw first or not?

but should i try to find the screw first or not?

Yes you SHOULD try and find that screw first.

Yes you SHOULD try and find that screw first.


but then im pretty much rebuilding the engine anyways right? because im gona have to replace all the gaskets and everything only to probably find out that i have to replace the engine anyways

Well a gasket set isnt all the expensive from a parts store.

It depends on how long the motor was ran w/ whatever is in there to tell the damage and what needs to be replaced.

If your looking for a new engine,GM has a great line of crate engines to drop in it.

Well a gasket set isnt all the expensive from a parts store.

It depends on how long the motor was ran w/ whatever is in there to tell the damage and what needs to be replaced.

If your looking for a new engine,GM has a great line of crate engines to drop in it.



whats the price range?

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm?perfPackages=1&pkgid=20

Theres a good link with engines and priced for ya,took me a minute to find it.

Looks to be from $2700-$5000+

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm?perfPackages=1&pkgid=20

Theres a good link with engines and priced for ya,took me a minute to find it.

Looks to be from $2700-$5000+


damn i wish i had some deep pockets right now! they got some nice engines.

DUDE,, YOUR NOT EVEN SURE YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN THERE it could be nothing, or it could be something,, ok so if you rip it apart to check for that screw that yo have no idea where it is,, your gonna drop some money. basically rebuilding it. and if your start it with the screw( that might not be in there) then you gonna have to rebuild as well with money. this douche bag you bought it from dosent seem like he knows much,, CHRIST SAKES IT COULD BE A RATTLING HEAT SHIELD FOR ALL WE KNOW,, either way your gonna have to dish out some cash, unless theres nothing in thier dont always believe what your hear.. AGAIN MY OPINION RUN IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS