Hey guys, I'm new to the F-body, I was obsessed with old Mopar A bodies until a friend of mine took me for a ride in his super charged Z28.

Now, I'm in the process of getting rid all my old rusted mopar parts and buying a 1994 Trans Am. The guy I'm buying it from told me there was a problem with the opti-spark and the water pump needed to be replaced.

Are there any other issues I should look for on the car? I know it's stock except for air intake and exhaust.

Thanks

 

Those are two bigger problems with the LT1, how many miles are on the car? How much does he want for it?

 

There's about 167,000 miles on the car and he's asking $4,000

 

I would pass. Thats alot of miles, an thats alot of cash for a car thats not even running. Where are you located?

 

Save up for an LS1.

LT1s are great cars with tons of mod potential, but the opti will always be problematic, and you start out with quite a bit more horsepower in an LS1.

 

If he would budge on the price, it might not be a bad deal. But with a bad opti, water pump, and that many miles on the odometer, I would pass.

 

Just about anybody that has an ls1 will tell you to save for that, pretty much everyone will be biased on what they have. The ls1 has more horsepower and torque stock, but whatever you prefer.

I replaced my water pump a month or two ago. It's not that big of a deal, and since you've already got that off you might as well replaced the opti since it's shot too on that car if you get it.

I paid a lot less for mine, with 128K miles, it had some problems, including the transmission. But even with a rebuilt transmission it costs less than that including the cost of the car.

 

If you can talk him down I'd do it. LT4 parts are great for that engine. MSD also makes a full opti replacement for it to try to eliminate as much of the problematic stock parts as possible. VERY torquey engine when messaged correctly!

 

Everyone I know of that has tried the MSD replacement opti has had problems. Just FWIW. It's possible that I've just missed them, but I have seen several negative reviews and not one positive.

 

Hey, thanks guys. The car still runs decently, I'm located in Raleigh NC. The only problem the opti is really showing is the car has issues starting on rainy days, and how low do you think I could talk him?

 

Talk him down abit because itas a pin in the a$$ to get that opti off but once you do it once ints not a bad deal just got get in that engine bay and learn it out thats wehat i did and i couldent be ahppier and boards like this make for great knowlege on any questions you might ever have

 

Low ball him, offer 2500 bucks.

 

Yeah $4K is way to high. I agree I would offer $2500, and that is what the car should be at. Optisparks are definately one of the biggest problems in the fbodies, but honestly I don't hate them. I know the 94s have more problems, like when the water pump goes out, that kicks the opti out since the 93-94 didn't have that vent in the optispark. Unless the rest of the car is REALLY clean it isn't worth $4k....

 

Look in the classifides here... theres a 98 w/ the ls1 for $5900... I say keep lookin

 

I'd think it would be worth around $3000 with those miles. I just picked up a CLEAN '93 Z28 with 100,000 miles on it for $3500. My car looks almost like new.