How are Z's maintenance-wise?
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,770
From: Mishawaka, IN
Originally posted by x94_Camaro_Z28x
I got really lucky with my car, and i realized it about a couple months ago lol. I'm the third owner of the car, the original owner drove it for 75k miles and ran it mildly hard. Then Joe, the 2nd owner of the car did all KINDS of maintenane, drove it for 10k and sold it for cheaper than he bought it.
When he bought it, the rearend was going out on him, so he completely rebuilt it with a strange axle and put a 12 bolt Auburn locker diferential on it with 3.73 gears. Sweet!
He noticed it liked to run hot, and the water pump was leaking, so he replaced it with an electric water pump and got a 160* thermo and got a manual fan switch. Bad!
He also put the K&N on and put the Flowmaster Single Chamber Catbacks on there aswell, because the stock exhaust was beginning to leak. He also changed all the plugs and wires himself just before he sold the car to me, with Taylor plugs and SPIRO pro 8mm wires.
Of course, it was then up to me for the rest, but I'm glad he did all that work, and i still talk to him from time to time, he lives about 5 blocks away heh. Yeah, talk about lucky.
I got really lucky with my car, and i realized it about a couple months ago lol. I'm the third owner of the car, the original owner drove it for 75k miles and ran it mildly hard. Then Joe, the 2nd owner of the car did all KINDS of maintenane, drove it for 10k and sold it for cheaper than he bought it.
When he bought it, the rearend was going out on him, so he completely rebuilt it with a strange axle and put a 12 bolt Auburn locker diferential on it with 3.73 gears. Sweet!
He noticed it liked to run hot, and the water pump was leaking, so he replaced it with an electric water pump and got a 160* thermo and got a manual fan switch. Bad!
He also put the K&N on and put the Flowmaster Single Chamber Catbacks on there aswell, because the stock exhaust was beginning to leak. He also changed all the plugs and wires himself just before he sold the car to me, with Taylor plugs and SPIRO pro 8mm wires.
Of course, it was then up to me for the rest, but I'm glad he did all that work, and i still talk to him from time to time, he lives about 5 blocks away heh. Yeah, talk about lucky.
j/k
It's nice to know that there's still people that take care of cars out there.
Even better that the guy replaced it with aftermarket stuff...
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 129
From: British Columbia, Canada
You can maintain the hell out of these cars. Won't make much difference. All the oil changes and grease jobs won't change the opti, or the water pump, or the head gaskets, or the 4l60E (twice) or the differential, or the starter, alternator, O2's, ignition wires, etc....or help them last much longer.
I still love the car. Just don't expect it to be reliable, or cheap to drive. Find a Mustang every now and then, and smoke him like a cheap cigar, and you'll love the Camaro all over again.
I still love the car. Just don't expect it to be reliable, or cheap to drive. Find a Mustang every now and then, and smoke him like a cheap cigar, and you'll love the Camaro all over again.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 561
From: Ventura County, CA
Yeah, i was pretty stoked. I can't believe how lucky i got, at that time i didn't know much about Camaro's at ALL. The only trouble i ran into was with the forsaken Optispark. It crapped out so i shelled out some money and got that taken care of. Other than that, no problems at all over the last 10k that I've had the car. I forgot to mention that he also replaced the Alternator and rebuilt the transmission before he sold it. Its an A4 and it kicks some major ***. Its quick, strong, and has only one minor flaw: some butt plug backed into it when joe had the car so it has some VERY minor nose damage, the tip is discolored and has a small dent on the hood. A bit of an eye sore, but all i gotta do is start the car to forget all about it 
EDIT: I forgot about 2 things. The powerlocks don't work anymore, they didn't when i bought the car. And the power window motors went out about 2 weeks ago. But other than THAT, no problems lol
EDIT: I forgot about 2 things. The powerlocks don't work anymore, they didn't when i bought the car. And the power window motors went out about 2 weeks ago. But other than THAT, no problems lol
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 8
Well, just to update this thread...
Yesterday I picked up a white 1991 Firebird. It's a 5.0L V8 TBI (yes, yes, I know). Doesn't have the power of the LT1, but more power than a V6 (certainly more TQ), and more than enough for me
The car had one previous owner and was kept in very good condition, has just 56000 miles on it interior is mint, exterior is almost perfect, but a few dings here and there...no known mechanical issues, the car handled a 2 1/2 hour trip back home with no problems...
While I know that any car can develop problems down the road, at least I'm not buying into problems, yet I still have a car that I love...
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Would have loved a 4th-gen Z28 or Trans Am, but dishing out for 93 octane gas (my car takes 87) + more money fixing a potentially beaten-down car is just not my thing. Maybe someday when I can afford it all
I'll be posting on these forums now.
Yesterday I picked up a white 1991 Firebird. It's a 5.0L V8 TBI (yes, yes, I know). Doesn't have the power of the LT1, but more power than a V6 (certainly more TQ), and more than enough for me
The car had one previous owner and was kept in very good condition, has just 56000 miles on it
interior is mint, exterior is almost perfect, but a few dings here and there...no known mechanical issues, the car handled a 2 1/2 hour trip back home with no problems...While I know that any car can develop problems down the road, at least I'm not buying into problems, yet I still have a car that I love...
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Would have loved a 4th-gen Z28 or Trans Am, but dishing out for 93 octane gas (my car takes 87) + more money fixing a potentially beaten-down car is just not my thing. Maybe someday when I can afford it all
I'll be posting on these forums now.
Last edited by justinb001; Jun 8, 2004 at 06:57 AM.
Registered User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 409
From: Lexington, KY
Originally posted by justinb001
Well, just to update this thread...
Yesterday I picked up a white 1991 Firebird. It's a 5.0L V8 TBI (yes, yes, I know). Doesn't have the power of the LT1, but more power than a V6 (certainly more TQ), and more than enough for me
The car had one previous owner and was kept in very good condition, has just 56000 miles on it interior is mint, exterior is almost perfect, but a few dings here and there...no known mechanical issues, the car handled a 2 1/2 hour trip back home with no problems...
While I know that any car can develop problems down the road, at least I'm not buying into problems, yet I still have a car that I love...
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Would have loved a 4th-gen Z28 or Trans Am, but dishing out for 93 octane gas (my car takes 87) + more money fixing a potentially beaten-down car is just not my thing. Maybe someday when I can afford it all
I'll be posting on these forums now.
Well, just to update this thread...
Yesterday I picked up a white 1991 Firebird. It's a 5.0L V8 TBI (yes, yes, I know). Doesn't have the power of the LT1, but more power than a V6 (certainly more TQ), and more than enough for me
The car had one previous owner and was kept in very good condition, has just 56000 miles on it
interior is mint, exterior is almost perfect, but a few dings here and there...no known mechanical issues, the car handled a 2 1/2 hour trip back home with no problems...While I know that any car can develop problems down the road, at least I'm not buying into problems, yet I still have a car that I love...
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Would have loved a 4th-gen Z28 or Trans Am, but dishing out for 93 octane gas (my car takes 87) + more money fixing a potentially beaten-down car is just not my thing. Maybe someday when I can afford it all
I'll be posting on these forums now.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 95
From: Antioch, CA
200k miles, beaten on since day 1 in 1993, never a major problem. Maybe I just have a freak of a car, but regardless, this says a lot....
EDIT: Whoops, didnt read above. Sweet car dude. the 305 TBI is easy as hell to work on, while kinda slow (my buddies 2002 V6 Stang used to beat me while I could outhandle him) 3rd Gens look the best though in my opinion. 4th gen motor in a 3rd gen= pimpmo ride :-D
EDIT: Whoops, didnt read above. Sweet car dude. the 305 TBI is easy as hell to work on, while kinda slow (my buddies 2002 V6 Stang used to beat me while I could outhandle him) 3rd Gens look the best though in my opinion. 4th gen motor in a 3rd gen= pimpmo ride :-D
Last edited by Decap92RS; Jun 25, 2004 at 06:10 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 420
From: Warrenton, VA
location
You should post your location with your screen name. No doubt several guys on the site live very close to you and wouldn't mind lending a hand if and when necessary; if you get the car...which you should.
I worked for three summers trying to save for a hot rod and after watching the money drain away on necessities each time, I finally was about to take a year off college to buy one. When my dad heard that he bought me a 94Z.
I worked for three summers trying to save for a hot rod and after watching the money drain away on necessities each time, I finally was about to take a year off college to buy one. When my dad heard that he bought me a 94Z.
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