You guys will probably want to kill me for having this 'problem', but I am having the hardest time deciding what I should do. One of my camaros is a 2000 Z28 convert. I have had it since new and it only has 30k on it. For anyone that has one of these, it has the dreaded piston slap and burns about 1 - 1.5 qts per 3000 miles. After getting nowhere for years, I moved and got to know the service manager at the dealership near me pretty well. Long story short - since I had it into dealers while it was still under the factory warranty, he is willing to replace the engine. I almost feel bad for debating this as most people get nothing for this issue. My concern is that the car someday increases in value and no longer has the original engine. I didn't buy the car thinking it would be worth a bunch of $$$ someday, but neither did my father and he is sitting on a 69 SS 396/375 with 26k on it. I don't think GM still stamps vins, etc on the engine, but the casting date would obviously be way off. I have only put about 5k on the car in the last 3 years, so I don't use it that much. Should I keep the original engine, or go ahead and get the new one? I did ask about buying the original one, but that can't happen.
Thanks,
Dan

 

I doubt seriously that you'd be selling this at The Barrett Jackson Auction in yrs. to come. They are 1 of the few places that actually care about matching VIN's. As long as it is the correct engine for the model, it shouldn't be a problem (for maintainig originality).

 

"burns about 1 - 1.5 qts per 3000 miles"

"I have only put about 5k on the car in the last 3 years"

so you've used maybe 3 extra quarts of oil in 3yrs. piston slap doesn't really hurt anything. why go through the hassle of replacing the engine?

how bout you just wait a while down the road and rebuild the engine. can you say stroker??

 

IMO, the convertibles don't seem very well done... While I'm sure it's a fun car, I think a T-top SS is more likely to be the car that's going to be auctioned off as an expensive classic in 30 years.

Take the new engine. This seems like a no-brainer.

-Michael

 

Tell that to someone trying to buy an original Hemi Cuda convertible. I honestly have no idea where you came up with that idea.

 

You'll be getting a ls6 type motor for free... hmm... tough one man.

 

You have one of 20,406 Camaros made that year with an LS1. I wouldn't worry about it being worth too much in years to come.


I am not trying to be a jerk, I am just trying to be honest.

 

I'd do it! no question about it! NEW ENGINE V.S. 30K USED ENGINE!?!?! try to get the old one to rebuild or sell on ebay!

 

I would go for the engine replacement. If you held on to the car and sold it in 30 years, you think the piston slap sound wouldn't hurt the value? Again, get the new engine, part out the other won... profit... mod the car

 

Most definately get the new motor. Changing engines isnt going to lower the value of this car at all.

 

Wow !! Gee !! I wish I had this problem.I definitely would go with the new motor,maybe even pay the difference for an upgrade.Can you say LS7 ?? But that's if they let you & you have the money.

 

my 95 firbird formula had around 1500 made, thats not very many produced. So like the other gentlemen said yours has a much higher production and I think the engine slap will be an issue in selling it down the road. I'd get the new engine as well

 

Take the engine. yeah, I noticed you can't have the old one.

Look, the Z28... not rare enough, not special enough. Hell, even the SS fell off the collector car list. See my sig. My solution was to sell the one I was afraid to put miles on so I could "preserve it's value". I miss the SS, manual trans, and convertible, so I'm buying a 98 SS vert with higher miles to DRIVE.

Numbers matching doesn't matter, if you really think you might own it forever and try to fund your great grandkid's college fund, just document the dealer replacement with paper, pics, and video. Collectors LOVE the trail of evidence far more than the original parts... hell, yours will be even more rare, the only survivor 150 years from now with the warranty replacement motor...

And you do know, they can also pull the pistons, replace the rings with new higher tension rings, and call it good under that TSB, right? Of course, that means you have to trust the dealer to competently, and without breaking lots of parts you want in good shape years from now, do something they NEVER do anymore... open an engine and successfully rebuild it.

 

If he gets a new engine under warantee he will not get the old one. It has to go back to GM powertrain for failure analysis.

 

Just listen to majority and replace the engine. You will be better off with a brand new engine than having one that is giving you problems.

Bottom line get the new engine for free.