Alright i'm going to look at a 94 trans am (6 spd) on sunday and i know mostly about the 3rd gen f-bodys. So i was wondering if there is anything that i shoudl really know before i go to make sure the car is a good buy. Thanks a lot for any information.

 

Drive the car AT operating temperature. The LT1 is notoriously plagued by it's crankshaft driven distributor, called the opti-spark, and affectionately known as the opti-crap.

Actually, you do want to drive it hot because if the opti is on it's way out it will rear it ugly head. Just put a 5th or 6th gear load @ about 1000-2000 on it and floor the gas. If the motor cuts out on ya, it's probably the opti.

Make sure the water pump is in good shape. If it goes, it takes the opti with it. Ask whomever if they powerwashed the engine also, as the opti doesn't like water.

Noticing a pattern????

Other than the usual stuff to check on a used car, do the old idle and listen test, see if the car tracks straight, look VERY closely at the body panels and see if the reflection lines up, ect.

Hope it works out good for you.

Oh yeah, check the backside of the intake manifold for an oil leak. The LT1 is notorious for this also, but it's a pretty easy fix.

 

thx a lot i'll make sure to check that out.