So i'm looking around for a 98+ LS1 Camaro/ Firebird.

I was hoping you guys could point out things to look for when purchasing a used F-body.

Any mechanical and electrical things to be weary of when buying a used car?

TIA.

 

Just remember that its a USED car, and a LS1 car is not your normal grocery getter. So check the history of it more then what could go wrong.

 

It's just like looking at any other car, check for leaks, see how it runs, look for dents/scratches/paint imperfections. On LS1 cars (moslty 2000+) some will have piston slap, when you first start the car it till tick until it warms up a little. It's a very common thing so it's nothing to be alarmed about.

 

Tires. Anything funny should throw up an alarm. Rears almost gone, Fronts gone, with plenty of tread on back (switched em), 2 diffrent kinds of tires, etc.

Check the condition of the Clutch/ Auto Tranny. Stock clutches don't nomally start going out until at the verrry least 50k I think, so if it only has 25k miles, and the clutch is crap, you know it was beat hard. AlsoSee if the tranny slips. The tranny's thrown in these cars aren't the greatest for longetivity, most people end up rebuilding them around 115k or so, give or take.

Keep in mind that if you want a manual, be prepared to wait a long time to find one you want.

Unless you just don't give a crap, don't settle for somthing less than you want. You will regret it. What I think you need to do, is sit down, right down all of what you have to have, and what is nice, but not a must have. For me, that list was LT1, M6,ttops under 100k,silver (maybe white). Nice haves would have been manual cloth seats,driven by an older guy/female, and stock.

I waited over 2 years, but i finally found EXACTLY what i wanted about 300 miles away from me.

Be patient, keep checking autotrader.com, dont be afraid to have a big search grid, be patient, don't get dissapointed and buy somthing you dont' want because you want one right away,check the national and local fbody boards, and be patient.

Another thing, is that a lot of people will tell you that if a car is not bone stock or if it has been tracked to run. I always used to think this way, but i think my next car will be premodded. If you are poor and not mechanically inclined, mods start to add up, and you have to pay people to install them, and the whole hassle of that. Just because a person mods their car, doesn't mean they beat the **** out of it. I think you can get a better idea if it was beaten on by talking to the owner, and by checking out the car, and maybe having the owner take you for a ride to see how he drives. If you find the car locally, or on a fbody board, do some research on the guy's posts, and ask around if they know anything about the car/guy. This can be an EXCELLENT resource.

Good luck with your search man.

 

randomly ask the owner what the car ran at the track


if the owner responds with a number, don't buy the car.

 

I strongly disagree.

I've seen lots of very nice cars that have made a trip or two to the track. Just because the owner has some time slips does not mean the car has been mistreated. I could argue to the opposite, that an enthusast might take better care of a car, and at the same time run it at the track a couple times a year for fun. No harm in it.

 

Thanks for all the tips guys.

My only criteria are 1998+, as low km's as possible,preferably under 50k or so and must be 6 speed.

Right now there are a few cars in the buy/sell that are somewhat appealing.

2002 SS M6 with 50K for $25,000 obo (Canadian)

and a 2002 Z28 S/E from a dealer for a crack smoking deal of $29K Canadian.

and a 1999 Ws6 with 1800Km on a fresh engine for $26k. Only thing that concerns me about that car is that it has a new engine, clutch, and flywheel. Don't know if it was beat on or what.

Obviously i'll have to do a history of all the cars but there is nothing really out there right in the market. Guess i gotta be patient.

Another question, what kind of fuel economy do you guys get with the 350's?

With my current car i get about 14mpg city driving if i drive normally, at best. What kind of fuel economy does a Camaro get in the city realistically?

 

I recently picked up a 2000 SS with 50k miles, some mods already
patience is the key to finding what you want.
I average 17-22 MPG, thats a combo of hwy and mountain roads.

 

If they ever call the car "their toy", run away... I had to do this once.