The Pittsburgh Thread

[Seer]

Originally Posted by Bumblebee2012

Anyone have any insight on a 94 3.8l Camaro 159K miles. My son is looking at one on CL for $1000 firm. I'm unfamiliar with the engine and have no idea if they typically die in the mid 100's or if these cars typically pound onward towards a quarter million miles like a Honda.

Rockers are rotted and the plastic fender on the left is broken.

Sent from a Galaxy Note 2, far far away.

n/m... my eyes saw the 94 and 3.8 and got them crossed... yea the 3.8 is decent.

[Seer]

Cam, you should try running a 28" tire at the track, you'll probably 60' a lot better.

[Bumblebee2012]

Going to look at an 01 neon with 178K for $995. Maybe the Camaro after that if the Neon is to bad.

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[demonspeed]

94 Camaro V6 would be a 3.4 not a 3.8. 3.4 is only 170hp vs. 200 from the 3.8. 3.8 wasn't available until '96 ('95 in California). Not that the 3.4 is bad, but I can't imagine it'd be too difficult to find a 3.8 Camaro in the same price range.

I'd totally pass on the Neon unless it was a 2.0 magnum (or SRT, obviously).

[cam99]

Originally Posted by Seer

Cam, you should try running a 28" tire at the track, you'll probably 60' a lot better.

I got the 26" for the SS to improve the overall rear end gearing. Not sure how it would improve the 60 on the zl1?

[Seer]

Originally Posted by cam99

I got the 26" for the SS to improve the overall rear end gearing. Not sure how it would improve the 60 on the zl1?

More sidewall, better traction.

Your ss did not have instant torque from a roots blower like your zl1 does.

[cam99]

Originally Posted by Seer

More sidewall, better traction.

Your ss did not have instant torque from a roots blower like your zl1 does.

now i gotcha. I got no wheelspin at all with the zl1, however it seems like there is a tad of torque management still left in it with all the nannies turned off. Its an auto so the drivetrain isnt getting shocked, but it feels like it dials the power back just for a moment when I launch, then picks back up again.
maybe just needs more power! lol

[Bumblebee2012]

Originally Posted by demonspeed

94 Camaro V6 would be a 3.4 not a 3.8. 3.4 is only 170hp vs. 200 from the 3.8. 3.8 wasn't available until '96 ('95 in California). Not that the 3.4 is bad, but I can't imagine it'd be too difficult to find a 3.8 Camaro in the same price range.

I'd totally pass on the Neon unless it was a 2.0 magnum (or SRT, obviously).

Anyone have one for $1000 for my son to buy?

Sent from a Galaxy Note 2, far far away.

[Bumblebee2012]

There is a 93 Firebird 3.4L.

There is a real clean but high miles (187, 000 miles) bird for $1200 on auto trader. Guy drove it an hour each way to work but used his truck for snow days. He's original owner, claims 4500 mile oil changes.

What is the fear on this engine? I'm totally unfamiliar with GM stuff.

Also, what is the process to get an emissions test on an OBD1 car? Do they plug in and sniff test?

The guy says that driving in town, the check engine light never comes on. If your over 50mph and coast for about 10 seconds the light comes on until you shut it off and restart. If you tap the had every 5 or so seconds, the light will not come on. He says this had been like this for about 10 years. I've no idea what that could be our if it should scare me.

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[Bumblebee2012]

It could be the factory torque arm thumping, bad bushings maybe.

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[demonspeed]

You might have better luck diagnosing or getting advice on the V6 over at www. camaro v6 .com. The 3.4 is just another 60* GM V6 that was found in pretty much everything from that era. It's obviously not a transverse mount, but otherwise, similar to the FWD 3.4's. I believe it's actually referred to as a 3400.

Are you perusing craigslist at all, or just Autotrader? How about eBay?

4th gen Firebirds will generally need new gears for the headlight motors - it's best to upgrade to brass. Camaros and Firebirds like to go through window motors. Both are cheap and easy fixes. Otherwise, I've found them to be rather bullet proof (I've had three, albeit all LS1s).

[Bumblebee2012]

We put money down on it. It's in amazing condition. Original owner, 72 year old man selling it. It was a gift for his wife when bought new, but she only drove it locally for a couple years before she got a front wheel drive small car. He used it to commute 40 miles each way from his place up north, came down 376 to Beaver and then over to the Norfolk Southern rail yard in Conway. On days calling for snow he drove his 4x4 truck. Not a ding on it. Passenger rocker had a rust hole, no other rust. Original exhaust still looks good. Everything works, engine is smooth and quiet, tans feels tight.

Need to fix rocker, and get the noise cone straightened. He hit the nose into a pole and broke the plastic Doo-hickeys that hold it on, he used sheet metal screws to hold it in. Paint is cracked on nose from flexing.

It will smolder the right rear tire from a stand still.

For a 17 year old kid, I think it's a bad ass car. My son offered $900 and the guy agreed to it.


















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[tahseenmahmood]

Looks good..! good steal.

[demonspeed]

A little TLC on the outside and your son will have a nice ride! I'd suggest picking up some new wheels, though!

[MS3DALE]

Yes,the interior on that thing is super clean!

[Bumblebee2012]

My wife wants me to stay away from it and let him destroy it. He paid for this one (mom loaned him the money, $200 a month payback to her) so he will be in it for about $1000 with tax and plate. If it was me, I'd fix the rocker, straighten and repaint the nose and look at swapping the heads for the newer fwd aluminum heads and intake that would bump it to around 220hp. I would also look at newer TA wheels and a ram air hood.

But, I've been scolded and told to leave it be and let him crash it as is and lose his money. I just have a hard time not seeing the possibilities of what I can do with it!

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[Bumblebee2012]

Originally Posted by MS3DALE

Yes,the interior on that thing is super clean!

It will be destroyed in no time. He respects and cares for nothing.

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[MS3DALE]

Sometimes thats the best thing,let him pay for it and do as he wishes,then when its all wrecked and ruined "maybe" he'll appreciate the next one.

[demonspeed]

Originally Posted by Bumblebee2012

It will be destroyed in no time. He respects and cares for nothing.

Sent from a Galaxy Note 2, far far away.

Well, if that's the case... I'll be sure to steer clear if I see him approaching the Cranberry area!

[Swacer]

Originally Posted by demonspeed

Well, if that's the case... I'll be sure to steer clear if I see him approaching the Cranberry area!

+1 lol

If you're not allowed to help him...are you allowed to throw subtle hints?

[Bumblebee2012]

The problem that we have is that I am a car guy and I like my "stuff" clean and we'll kept. My son is not and can care less. I bought him an S-10 Blazer 4 door 4x4 a year ago with 64K miles on it for $5000, and I'm going to try to sell it now as is for $1000 as a farm/yard truck because it's too crashed up and bent up to fix. It's hit a tree, it's used a guardrail to negotiate a bend and it's hit a car. It's been rear ended. The Blazer was never once washed or vacuumed without a fight between me and him, or I would just go do it myself.

I don't expect him to suddenly start washing/waxing/vacuuming this car. I expect it to be dirty outside, embarrassing inside, and slid down a guardrail before to long. Maybe the engine can be blown or he can learn the art of neutral drops and blow the transmission?

If I had anything to do with it, it would be rust repaired, plastic nose repainted, rims/tires, cleaned and waxed regularly and kept up as if there were pride involved. It would get a touch screen pioneer stereo and sub box. I would start thinking about a carbureted 383 and built tans and have things underway so that next year it turns into a 8 cylinder. I even have the 383 setting on a stand with about 15000 miles on it, it needs to come apart for inspection and maybe get new bearings and rings, a nice set of non fi heads and put together with some fresh paint.

This is so far away from his interest I suspect. He likes to sleep. He's really good at sleeping, and also playing PS3. He's got sleeping and video games mastered. Nothing else matters.

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[Bumblebee2012]

I should say, although my expectations are low.... I dream of him showing interest in anything other than sleeping or games. A female would great. Care for a car would be nice. Interest in going out and experiencing being alive would be good. I wish he would go out and be a part of life without doing only bad things, and so far the only things he's done have been things that he shouldn't do. Skip school 130 days this year and have me get threatened by the law. Go to an underage beer party. Get into fist fights and have the law after me. Sleep all night and day. Sleep while he was supposed to go to work. Sleep while he was supposed to do something we asked him. Fail each and every class this year in school. The VP at the school told me that he's impressed, he's never seen a child actually fail every single subject across all semesters.

But just maybe..... Maybe this car will have some magical transformational effect on the kid? I pray.

Sent from a Galaxy Note 2, far far away.

[demonspeed]

Wow, sorry to hear that one. It must be tough watching that happen. I mean, the beer parties, fights, whatever... if that was occurring and he was doing great in school, had goals, etc. then perhaps it'd be just a "boys will be boys." I guess he just needs to figure out that playstation won't pay the bills... but if he doesn't have any, then I guess he's doing alright for himself!

Failing every class... that's just no good. Nothing motivates him at all besides video games?

Originally Posted by Swacer

+1 lol

He's coming from Beaver County, so he'll get to your place before "hitting" up Seven Fields

[Witt]

Rescheduled Street Car Night at PRP tomorrow. I'm hoping to make it.

[cam99]

Originally Posted by Witt

Rescheduled Street Car Night at PRP tomorrow. I'm hoping to make it.

lol @ sig.