Hi,
I am looking at a Firebird Z28 automatic and getting a great price... How fast is the automatic is stock ? 0-60 time would be great since I can't find it (manual and auto if you can tell me)? How easy is it to modify and work around (personal opinion)? What am I looking that could be wrong with the car and what should be done on those models and at what time interval? I didn't have any chance when I bought my Stealth and there is alot more I should of looked at and didn't (long *** story). What is the compression (in psi) that I should get when checking the compression on those cars? Basicly what is it with those models and how to easily check for possible problems. Should I look at an auto or manual is required really to have the best performance out of it?

Thanks to answer my questions,
Simon

PS:..: If you are thinking of a Dodge Stealth I can help answer any of your questions in no time lol.

 

Well if its an lt1 (93-97) z28, formula, or trans am check the problem that everyone hates, the waterpump and the optispark, if you see a leaky waterpump, then i will advise you to stay away, because if the water pump is leaking coolant, then you will have to replace it and usually the optispark too, check the engine and tranny seals, crawl under it and make sure nothing is leaking.

 

I forget the compression in psi, but it's 10.4 to 1 if that helps. The auto in these cars is pretty good, but the manual is more fun. The F-bodies (GMs code for both the Camaro and Firebird) respond very well to mods, but as said above, they can be a bitch to work on. I.E. very tight working conditions.

I love my Camaro, wouldn't have it any other way, (except a Firebird). If you get one of these cars, you will love it.

 

Hi guys this is what I am getting.... 1994 Firebird Formula V8.... the car is hunter green and the leather and everything is immaculate. The car has 33 000 miles... Now I am thinking to go ahead with this buy but should I get it checked at a qualified mecanic first ? I checked for the regular stuff... the motor is so clean you can eat off it. The car has a K&N arm and that is it for the aftermarket products. The suspension seems nice and tight and the acceleration is great. So what do you guys think?

I also got some rims to throw on her and I hope they will fit. They are 18*9 ADR Kasai 36mm offset. They have 275/35zr18 Yoko ES-100 tires mounted on them and they are brand new from my previous machine and I am hoping that they will fit. Hopefully without a hub but if I have to I will but a hub on there.


Anyways I thank you for the help and I will become a proud member of this board so you will hear from me for years to come

 

Sounds like a good car. My good friend has a 1994 trans am a4. it's a maroon color, very nice looking. You might want to take it to get checked out, but if she runs good everything shold be okay.

Is it an auto or a manual?

 

Nice, good luck with your new ride. I love my 96 Formula, it was the best decision I ever made, have never looked back once I got it!

 

One thing that might be troublesome is not having a vented opti, they didn't come out until 95. The weakest links on these cars seem to be waterpumps, optisparks and axles. On average a waterpump plays out between 40/50K miles and sometimes when it goes it takes the opti with it, I'm on my third pump @85K miles but my opti is still good. Mine also had a oil pump go bad as well as a oil leak around the back of the intake manifold, thats the most common problems that I know of. Somehow everytime you nail that throttle though you forget any problems you've had with it

 

The car is a A4 and feels fine. It starts right up and the engine is really quiet. How much is the water pump on those vehicules ? Just a ballpark figure that how much I would be looking at.

 

Other than the things mentioned already ( water pump, opti), check all the gaskets and seals. The Lt-1s are crammed in there so having to tear apart the motor can be anoying and time consuming. Good luck!

 

A 33000 mile car would be nice but formula's are ugly i would stay away from them.

 

Z28's hosted on mustang sites with -355 forged internals, xe 230/236, Advanced Induction heads, Silver C5 Y2K rims, SS hood, ram air, 96 SS spoiler. 8.8 rear with 3.90's and ABS.- are ugly and i wouldn't be caught dead in one.....JK!

Formula's rule man! You can be driving around with full exhaust ina cammed car and you still get the occasional idiot who thinks your in a v6, hahahhaha.

Don't sweat the optispark not being vented, they are hit and miss. There are a lot of guys who's nonvented lasted a long time, and many peoples vented who didn't.

If the 33k miles checks out on carfax i wouldn't worry too much about anything. If it drives well without missing/stumbling during acceleration you should be fine. Ignition issues are what most people have trouble with. Check that the window motors go up smoothly. They often go bad and that could give you a little bargaining leverage.

Around 50k miles you will need plugs and wires, which are incredibly time consuming, but there are many great guides on the internet on how to do anything imagineable to these cars yourself (like optispark and window motor replacements )

Axles are not a weak link, ring and pinion gears are, but A4's are much easier on them so you don't have to worry about that on street tires.

Good luck!
-brent

 

hey man formula's are ok if you put a TA front bumper on them

 

its ok, nobody thinks i got ***** and nobody races me... only thing ive raced are ricers easy... and proschas, hard nothin else yet

i got my formula about a month ago, and i'm proud of every problem it has
although it doesnt sound so great, its got like a little hampster up front running around in a squeeky wheel, and i got a exahst leak so its got some work to be done to it.

ask him what kinda gas mileage she gets, see how well the owner uses it
it'll probably be averaging 16-18 street and 20-28 highway, mine gets 12 and i donno why somethings gotta be clogged

 

I did check the windows and they rolled up really well no problem there. The car was only summer driven and it shows. The paint is great and there is no rust at all underneith. I find it really clean and it still smells new inside of it I don't think formulas are ugly in fact I falled in love with it when seeing it

 

As long as your happy with what you buy is all that matters, a few people wanted to know why I bought a 1994 Z28 instead of a newer model. I just like the style of the 94.