I'm trying to get a 94' Camaro, I'd like to do a LS1 swap to it in the future (1-1.5 years) but should I get a 94' Z28 with (100,000-130,000 mi) or a 94' V6 with medium mileage (45,000-70,000)? I'd like to replace a lot of the suspension, and then brakes with performance parts but that would be another while down the road after the swap, does/would the suspension parts of a camaro with that much mileage start to fail? Same for the bottom end and drivetrain from the tranny back.

 

I think you should wait and save up to buy a '98 and up Camaro, then you don't have to do an engine swap or replace anything in the suspension due to wear. It is a win-win situation.

 

Can't insurance down here is killer, I need to sell my 97' it's in excellent shape but insurance is around $300 a month, it's less then half that for a 94' even with a V8. I plan on doing a 98 front end conversion too, slowly replacing and redoing almost everything on the car.

 

Come on guys, general opinions... How are your car's holding up when reaching into the 100k+ range?

 

My 95 Z28 convertible has over 180000 miles on it. The only thing I've replaced is both outer tie rod ends. I still have the original shocks, springs, ball joints and everything else. I never even had to replace the brakes until 150000 miles. It probably could use shocks but it still drives and rides like it did when it was new.
Ron

 

How much do rod ends cost?

 

I cant remember for sure, it's been a couple of years since I replaced them, but I think the tie rod ends were about $30.00 each.
Ron

 

Oh, that's not bad. Can you drive with bad ones? I mean did you look and see they really needed to be replaced or have one break?

 

In all truth by that milage your suspension is shot from a performance standpoint.My firebird started life as a 3.4 v6 with an automatic, it's a t-top car when I had relaced the motor and tranny this last time at 100 000 miles (on the car) I decided to do the suspension while everything was apart. The bushings in the A-arms were torn bad, you could move the center piece the bolt went through easily, most of the outer bushings had started coming apart on the rest of the suspension, PHR other end of a-arms, LCAs, rubber boots on the tie rod ends were torn, motor mounts bushing were WELL worn as well as the T/A and tranny bushing was cracking BADLY.
If you want to replace these things as they are broke you can drive on them for a LONG time, if you want to run them from a performance perspective your going to replace almost everything.
you could get in a 93-95 LT1 fbody for 3 to 4 grand if you looked(if you don't look figure 6, seems to be the most common), you'll probably spend close to 3500 for a v6
If your going to swap in an LS1 I would just go the v6 route, it will be hard finding that year with that milage though.
Also make sure your actually going to do the swap if you get a v6 car there is alot involved, and this is coming form someone who has swapped a fuel injected drivetrain a few times

 

I say it all depends on how you drive the car. As for the only things that i've changed is my rear shocks, tranny mountX3. The panhard bar was an upgrade, all the rest of the stuff is OEM.

Vinny

 

I realized the tie rods ends were bad when it started to wander on the highway. I replaced them and checked everything else. Everything else is still TIGHT, there is no movement anywhere. The tires wear very evenly. Granted, its probably not ready to go autocrossing but it drives very well with no wander, bounces or noises.
Ron