I found a 91 Z28 for sale really cheap and before I go check it out- what should I look for??

I'm not too familiar with the TPI engine (the car is a 5.7L) as mine's carbureted. What to look for under the hood (besides the obvious- checking the fluid & sniffing the dipstick etc.)?

It's an Illinois car so where do I specifically look for rust? What other problems are common with 91 Z28's? I just want to know what I'm getting myself into beforehand.

I've bought and sold a bunch of cars, so you don't have to give me the general stuff, just the F-body specific things I should look for (like door sagging, dead struts and everything else that was wrong with my Firebird... but for some reason bought it anyway.)

Thanks Everyone.

 

OK, I have experience with this. I have looked at tons of thirdgens in Illinios. First check above the rear wheel wells. Inside and outside of the fender well lip, where the inner well is welded to the outer well. Then pull open the doors and look at the very bottom of the inside of the door. You have a better shot at a good body with a 91. Look at the door skins, and the rear quarters closely. They rust in funny places under the car too. But really check those areas and let me know if you get it.

 

beyond the obvious make sure it's a 350 and original, seeing as how the l98 option added so many other things it draws alot more during selling time. be sure to check out the vin like with any car purchase. if everything is good and the price is right go for it; i love my 91 over any other car i own or have ever driven.

just like anything in life if it doesn't feel right just walk away.

 

Stay away from the 91 z28's. They are nothing but junk. Tell me where it is and i will go and set the guy straight. You can thank me later


By any chance is it the one sitting on North Avenue between bloomingdale road and shick? I looked at it, nice car, kid is going to college. He needs money, i need his car, but he won't move on the 6500 price.

 

9D1BURD: No, I looked at that one too. (the same day actually, I was slow at work). That is a pretty nice car. This one is black and needs some work. If I don't buy it, I'll tell you all about it and where to find it...

 

I would suggest

www.carfax.com

 

OK, I met the owner & gave it a good once-over today. The car is actually pretty decent.

Outside: The body is pretty clean-- just starting to get surface rust around the rear wheelwells, but the pinch welds weren't swollen, it just looks like rocks chipped off the paint & started rusting. The body is really straight except for 1 small dent in each quarter panel (nothing I can't fix). The front spoiler was ripped in 2 places. One foglight lens was cracked. The clearcoat is faded off of the roof and fender tops. Taillights were MINT. Underneath the floors were solid & I was diggin the dual cats and 4whl discs. Factory wheels need the yellow clearcoat stripped off of them. 2 good tires, 2 not-so-good.

Inside: All the glass is good. The dash pad is cracked, driver's seat has decent upholstery, but it seems that the foam rubber is messed-up (kinda twisted funny on the side bolster). The door panels & other seats are ok, carpet is dirty but no holes. It has functional power windows, locks, mirrors, driver's seat and a factory Delco CD player. The leather on the airbag wheel is worn a bit. The interior plastic was really nice and it had a nice cargo cover. The hatch actually had good struts! There were full gauges with a 145mph speedo. 108,000 on the odometer.

Drivetrain: I was excited until I started it. The 5.7 finally crackled to life after a bit of cranking. It has a nasty exhaust leak at the pass. side exh. manifold (and the muffler is rusted through). The car would idle but stumbled when you rev it. I noticed a new radiator cap and the owner said it had a new thermostat... so I immediately went and checked the temp gauge (I've played this game before)... Yep, 230 after idling for 5 minutes. Doh! Oil pressure was good, but I could smell antifreeze- I'm thinking head gasket. So I go to drive it. Put it in drive- it dies. Fire it back up, put it in drive, power-brake a bit to keep the idle up.. start to pull out onto a busy street- it dies. Parked it again.

So, basically it probably needs a head gasket, a tune-up of epic proportions, a dashpad, an exhaust, 2 tires, paint & minor bodywork and a lot of my time. So what do you think? It would make a sweet car with all the options that it has on it. What would you pay for this beast?

 

Pop the hatch and look up at the bottom of the decklid... that area also rusts on a lot of thirdgens.

 

No, there was no rust on the hatch & I didn't mention that both doors opened and closed perfectly. The power hatch pulldown works perfect too...

 

I would say get it checked out by a mechanic to make sure it is a head gasket first. Depending on that, and the asking price, it doesn't sound all that bad. I am gonna say the most i would give would be like 2000 or 2500. That may be way low. BUt all the things you listed will add up. Just my .02


p.s. run away from it, send the address my way

 

if everything was in tip top shape easily 5 or more depending on mileage and other factors.

for the car you just described i wouldn't go over 2500.

figure a good solid same color repaint on average is 2,000-3000 depending on body work.

4thgen seats and new carpet is roughly 6-800 depending on choice and maker.

new front spoiler will cost unless you get lucky at a junk yard. don't know seperates; but i believe the whole kit all around is about 1200.

exhaust isn't a big deal....add some headers and a nice muffler and the 5.7 will really wake up.

dash pads are expensive and hard to find in good condition; just keep checking junk yards.

basically, it seems like the car would be a project car....it is worth a little more than 2 if everything mechanically is good....but are you willing to take that chance?

keep looking.....just my .02

 

I didn't buy it. You will shtt when I tell you what I could've bought it for. He was asking $1800 and came down to $1200. $1200 for a 91 Z28 5.7 car! I just don't have the room for another project. I offered the guy $900 anyway, because I couldn't pass it up for that. He rejected the $900 offer and when I called back to see if the car was still for sale, it was gone.

At least now I have more motivation to get the Firebird back on the road...

 

oooh... I dunno man... I probably would've bought it for 12....

Even if it were to just turn around, clean it up, and sell it for more.... and put that into the 'bird.

 

Hmmm, call him back in a few weeks if he hasn't sold it, maybe he'll take the $900 then.