just bought a 90 RS. Already has flowmaster, cold air intake. Its a v8 but the gas pedal seems to stick a little, The headlining around the T tops needs work, the dash has a small crack and the oil guage is acting wacky. Did I make a mistake? Where do I begin ?

 

heres what you do, change your font so it doesnt blind me every time i read your posts, make it purple (the colour of royalty).
i have never needed to fix my cable so i do not know how to fix that, but i would imagine that spraying some WD40 down the cable housing and replacing the cable will fix that problem. remove the headliner and replace it with a headliner from hawksthirdgenparts.com, if your unhappy with the look of the dash you can either find one a junkyard or you can buy another one at hawks. as far as the oil guage is concerned...what do you mean by wacky?

 

purple i like it! Okay, my oil guage will sit maxed out but at random times will bounce like a ball end to end.... just crazy. I checked my oil and its all fine so broken guage? All other guages seem to work. One more question... I had a 2001 z28 but it seemed to have more power (dynoed @ 314hp) than this one, alot more. It had the same extras I think. ??? By the way Thanks

 

Well... I may be wrong, BUT, it might be because you were unlucky enough to have an LS1 (314HP) in that Z.... and your now more than likely stuck comparing it to a tired old 305 TBI (170HP).. ... j/k

But Welcome to the Boards!

 

If what you mentioned are the only things wrong with it, then I would say you picked up a nice car. Any pics? All of the things you mentioned are just the typical things that start to malfunction or get worn with the age of these cars.

The oil pressure gauge bouncing around is typically not a problem with the gauge. The problem is related to the oil pressure sensor sending unit. You can pick up a new one at a local auto parts store pretty cheap (below $20), and it's something you can do yourself if you can get underneath the car.

The dash pad on these cars are one of the most common interior related problems, other then the typical tear on the driver's side seat edge. It's not too often you'll see a dash pad in a gen3 car that isn't cracked. It's nothing to be concerned with, and it's very easy to change out. They are very delicate once they are off the car and I don't really recommend getting one shipped to you unless you make sure they ship it in a wood crate package. The best way to get one is going to the junkyard and looking every day until you come across a mint one. It's about 10-12 screws & bolts together, then it just lifts off no problem.

And as already mentioned, hawksthirdgenparts.com is a good place to go for replacement headliner.

BTW, comparing the power of your LS1 Z28 to this 305 TBI RS is a night and day difference. Newer technology that's meant to be fast Vs. a Nearly 2 decade old low output engine that was made for economy. You can make the 305 TBI a respectable engine (speed wise) with less than $2000, but for that price you can typically get a 350 engine and maybe even installed. But that's a whole another issue.

 

Summed it up quite well! LS1's are an amazing piece of technology.

 

Welcome to the forum. As some folks said, I recommend Hawks Thirdgen Parts as well. Theyre great folks with fair prices.

The throttle cable is a fairly easy fix to replace. Just go to advance auto (or yoru local parts store) and buy one, It takes a while go get the old one off, and is hard to get to under the dash, but it can be done with a little patience. once thats done you will have some issues on the firewall getting that one off as well, but once you do remove it, reinstallation should be a breeze.

The headliner is not bad at all to replace, as long as you dont have an overhead console! its a few screws once you get your trim pieces off.. no big deal really, other than removing your sun visors too.

As for the power issue, I have both, a 305 convertible and a LS1 z28... no comparison for the stock to stock power. But the thirdgen is in my opinion a better car, other than the motors power.. I love the design of the third.


Oh and as for purple, real men drive purple cars

 

Wow...I think I found my third gen home! Z28 was very sleek and sexy but... I have always had a thing for third gen. I looked high and low for the "jolly rancher pruple" but I couldnt find one that was not wrecked so Black was second choice. I love to do as much as I can myself so the resources will help me. I have so many questions but I guess I will just start with this for now. Car quest, junk yard and hawksthirdgen.....Got it! Is headliner hard to do?

 

ya a headliner is pretty difficult to fix, because if the fabric is sagging then your cardboard backing is probably wet and no glue will stick to it. go to hawks for an ABS liner, its made of plastic which is wrapped in fabric, its a great look. is your car T-Top?

 

Welcome to the Thirdgen world. Don't even think about comparing the LS1 to the 305. I have a 305 and I actually have done some upgrades that have made it respectable. I drove a LS1 several times and that is dream type stock power. But the 305 is more practical. Depends on what you want to do with your car.

I would solve the oil problem first. Whatever it is, guage, low oil, etc. I would research and fix.

Headliners are not that hard to replace once you have everything you need and take your time. It is not wham, bam, thank you mam'n but it can be done.

Purple was good for Prince but I say once you go black you never go back.

 

Welcome to the board...........congrats on the car............just remember that part of the joy of owning a third gen is getting you hands dirty looking after it and maintenance. There are LOTS of good guys on this board with friendly useful advise anytime you ask. See you around.

 

hehe.. welcome to the home you never knew you had then!

As for the LS1 power not being as practical as the 305.. trust me I disagree. My lS1 car, gets 27mpg on the highway, and does a quarter at 13.2 stock. Thats performance.. To have the 305, thirdgen, while its not as fast, its definately got more cool points in my book.

As for the headliner, Gramps is right, get an ABS backed one, from Either HAwks or Year One. Hawks tends to have them in stock more than YearONe though, so go there. Bruce will treat you right. Putting the ABS backed one in is simple, as long as you dont have an overhead console, as you have to cut holes for those. The ones Without the Overhead console, have the holes precut for the Dome light, and the seatbelts and the sun visors. To install one of those you remove your a-pillar trim, your sail panel covers your rear headliener panel in the back at the top of the hatch, and the sunvisors, and the dome light. from there its just a matter of popping your hatch, taking the liner out the back, installing the new one.. Relatively easy..


as for jolly rancher purple.. heres mine.. does it qualify as jolly rancher purple?

 

^ Agreed on the LS1 performance . The LS1 is an amazing piece of technology.

 

I have t-tops (some So Cal law out here). There is some exposed foam around the lips of the t-tops but no sagging. Its a little cold now but summer is around the corner and I well, you know how we do it in So Cal! Hee Hee! Okay now it's all about the import tuners out here, I dont want to just keep up, I want to blowem away american muscle style! I know, I know first things first....blah !

 

Wow nice car!!! You found the jolly rancher purple! Thats hot!

 

i sold mine

 

hehe.. so cal style??? Topless??!?!?!?


Yea, actually i got mine kinda on accident.. I got her in 98, and well my old car just blew up and i threw the keys in the dealers face.. My x girlfriend and I were driving home, and saw it sitting on a mom and pops dealership, They asked for 4000. I paid. Done deal ever since..

You got any photos of your car yet????

As for the headliner, yea, sounds like your foam backing is ok still, if thats the case, a local upholstery shop should be able to recover it without issues, i know shops here charge in between 80-150 bucks to recover an existing headliner.

 

Gramps has an eye for color, Just Love the purple. Very sexy! I had cars I wish I wouldnt have sold as well. I went to hawks and what a toy store, year one is not as user friendly and seems a bit more pricey. I looked at the t-top version seems easy enough but with no sagging you think reapplostreyyyieeg (um spelling sorry) it is the way to go? I will post pics this weekend if the weather is better.

 

where are you in so cal? theres a couple junkyards that are third gen friend (or is that unfriendly) in stanton, you might want to check em out for the dash or headliner.. also congrats on picking up a 90 old style gfx with the new interior

 

Welcome to the forum. As mentioned replacing the oil pressure sending unit will probably fix the guage problem. When you change oil next time swap out the sensor, its right by where the oil filter screws in. Will need a bigger size long socket to remove/install but the part is cheap. If its only the edges then the headliner can probably be fixed without being removed, just use spray on glue (fabric safe) and apply pressure until it sets. If you dont want to go through the trouble of buying a new/used dashboard and installing it you could also use a dash mat to cover the crack. Have fun!!

 

Yea, the purple ones are hawt!

Its up to you, if it were me, i'd just get an ABS plastic one precovered, cause well, thats what i did!

Yea, some stuff hawks is high, some year one.. just depends.

 

Make sure you dont have the C&C t-tops.The ABS headliner will be a hassle if not impossible to fit properly.I had to start with a hard top headliner for my camaro & trim it for the C&Cs.The ABS deal would be too rigid to fit the contours on my roof correctly.

 

I am next door to Stanton (Santa Ana). Where exactly is it? How do I figure out which T-tops I have? What would have caused them to do that in the first place? Time or the way the Tops were put in and taken out or is there something I am not able to see like air getting in from weather strip, ect? I dont mind replacing the whole thing but I dont want to do it again.

 

Sorry, No purple text. It is disabled and I cant figure out how to get it back.

 

There is a pick a part in (i believe)buena park.Its on beach & la palma.Right across from Hobby City.I go there often.As for the T-tops, they would have a small(C&C) logo by the outer rear corner.Headliners mostly fail from gravity.Eventually the adhesive dries & the fabric starts to sag.

 

I found clarks auto wrecking in placentia. Im gonna check them out as well on Monday.
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Looking for a black gas cap door thing....uhhhh, dont ask!

 

Isnt that DAVEs auto wrecking on Van Buren.Havent been there in yearsssss.

 

Uhhhh, I guess I will find out in the morning. I have never been there before but yeah I think it is van Buren. Hmmmmm.... Is it not a good place for parts?

 

I've been to quite a few pick-a-parts in So cal and the ones I found with the better condition third gens was the ones in Stanton and Anaheim. Hey, if you plan on going there one day let me know and I'll go down with ya. I've been wanting to go recently with the weather being colder (going in the hot days of summer is no fun).

 

Its not that its not a good place for parts.Its just not the cheapest.They pull the part for you.Your NOT allowed in the yard.Theres a small office & you walk up to the counter.Ask what your looking for,if they have it they bring it to you.Thats the way its always been.I guessing it hasnt changed.....MavViper are you asking me.I usually go when theres a sale or if Im in need of a part right away.PM me if you do decide to go though or ill PM you if i decide to go sooner.

 

We have a Pick-A-Part locally where you pull your own parts. Very handy, and it's a blast to go, because everyone who works there are good people.

 

I called clarks and it was cheaper brand new through hawks. I think I better go on over to Stantons pick a parts. Seems like more fun but my manicurist is not gonna be happy with me. Do i bring a flathead or anything?

 

with the oil press , try the changing the press. sensor [ also fuel press. sensor ] on lo3's . its above oil filter . cured my crazy oil press. problems . good luck . uncle tom

 

Flathead???You can bring your own tools.THATS IT.No parts are allowed past the gate.Any part you sneak inside, better sneak it out.If they catch you leaving with it.Its theirs, unless you pay for it.

 

ya, when going to a pick a part you can only bring tools and a little wagon or something to carry stuff in, that's it.

84 1LE, it was directed towards sprtbikeprinces, but if you are going to go anytime soon hit me up.

 

Well I plan to get a little dirty Wed. See you all at pick a parts, I will be the one with a flathead and little wagon! HeeHee

 

305' s are fun, cheap and easy to work on. Welcome to the board, glad to see a woman in something other than a V-6 moosetang. enjoy!-dustin

 

all these good parts lots makes me wish i lived out on west coast.. we dont have that many good thirdgen yards around here.. ive got a lot of Thirgen specific places though, Im only an hour and a half drive from Hawks.

 

I had the best time at pick a parts today! I bought my first part (air vent). They only had a few third gens. Wish we had a west coast Hawks. I need more stuff.

 

Meow!

 

Its not Jolly rancher purple but... still sexy! What do ya think?

 

I recommend taking the bra off, the bra on the car that is. It'll scratch and eventually will be a different shade of color than the rest of your car.

 

Yea, i recommend removing the bra too... then take more photos.... of both


j/k

 

I third that....very sexy....

 

the car looks great already. i dont think those bras really do much as far as protection, but if you drive it alot go for it. they arent very photogenic though. here's some ideas: other than all the engine stuff that should be done, cosmetically you could get those old 15" rims painted black and get some drop springs to give the car a meaner stance.

 

awww that thing is like almost identical to my first camaro... same year and everything. I just picked up another one, 86 IROC from another board member... and i ride too good times.. and good taste.

 

what type of rims do you like? Usamuscle is right, larger rims, drop springs, and i'd probably replace all shocks struts, and bushings while i was at it as well as adding some Spohn Tubular stuff too!

 

I myself believe rims should not be any bigger than 16" on Third-Gens. Throw some TTII's on it and ditch the bra. Great looking car!

 

Sort of reminds me of my 84 before i painted my original rims black.Thats what id do with the wheels.Also replace the center caps & use the trans am type lug nuts with the black plastic covers.Otherwise great car......Ive got about 5-6 of those center caps if you need them.......

 

Well she is not much of a lady, guess the bra needs to come off. I have been looking at 17" Iroc rims. I never do anything small, I think it will look hot and still be able to have some drivability. I am also looking at double scoop hoods. I did want to lower it a bit 2" in back and 1.5 in front, the only issue for me is the way I drive, I dont think this car can take it. hee hee. I changed fuses and installed a better radio face plate, next week I get a new system. YIPPEEE Thanks for the encouragement!