3rdgenparts

iTrader: (8)

This has to be one of the highest mileage third gens I have seen !!!! Beats the '82 Firebird S/E LG4 car I parted out had 300K miles on it !!!



This one is in my backyard was thinking of getting it to part out, But now thinking to restore it !!!!!


Had to call the yard to verify but yes 396088 on the clock


Normally the 3.1's crap out around 200K miles due to bad oil pump/head gaskets


Wonder if the owner was running Mobil 1

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Someone was probably running reverse offset 13" Daytons.

FirebirdUSX

I thought the 3.1 and the 3.8 were some of the most reliable engines ever made.Pretty sure they last more than 200k

3rdgenparts

iTrader: (8)

Have heard that with the 3.8's on the 4th gens


Most of the 2.8's and 3.1 ones I have seen crap out around 200K miles with GOOD maintenance.

Dave

FirebirdUSX

This is the video with the car
the guy said it has a new engine.

TallTim

iTrader: (2)

What strikes me is that drivers seat. Someone sat there for 400K miles and didn't wear it down to the springs?

3rdgenparts

iTrader: (8)

Many factors with that, It could have been owner was careful and took care of it and or recovered/replaced at some time. who knows ??

Have seen vehicles with 200K miles that look mint new inside and cars with 50K miles that look like they have 200K miles on them

Case in point few years ago, I picked up a '01 Sierra with 235K miles and the inside was like brand new MINT, not one scuff, Tear or stain. Truck was bought by a old man and garage kept all its life.

Dave

Arctic White 91 RS

I definitely like the idea of restoring the 400,000 mile Firebird.

My Arctic White 91 RS Camaro had almost 400,000 miles on the odometer after being my daily driver for 25 years when I drove the car to Hawk's for a full restoration and LS swap. The original 305 TBI, 700r4 & 10 bolt were in the car no rebuilds etc.

FirebirdUSX

holy crap so the v8's last that long? i knew they are some of the most reliable motors ever made since ICE were invented but this is just an amazing thing to see considering I spun so many rod bearings on other cars that were under 150,000 miles.

3rdgenparts

iTrader: (8)

Yes they do with proper maintenance. Hell my 01 Suburban LS 5.3 V8 just hit 250K miles other day lol


One of my first third gens I ever owned as a teen was a 1990 Firebird LO3 and it had 200K miles and drove fine


The highest mileage one I ever had was a '82 Firebird S/E LG4 that had 305K miles on it. Bought it from original owner and she was driving it to work and back, 200 miles a day for almost 10 years she said


Dave

Arctic White 91 RS

There can be a little bit of luck but proper maintenance goes a long way. The key for my RS was Mobile 1 5w-30 oil, Mobile 1 or WIX oil filter and coolant flush and replace every 5 years. Making sure the electric cooling fan was always in good condition. Lettings the engine warm up fully before beating on the car also helps.
​​​​​
My white RS definitely hurt the feelings of a lot of coworkers with Toyota's and Honda's.. Most of them were down right insulting about how "superior" in longevity their imports were back in the 90's.

Just imagine how embarrassed a Rav 4 owning friend was when his engine blew at 120,000 due to his poor maintenance. A coworker with a Honda told me I was stupid for having an unreliable Camaro. I gave him a ride to the repair shop in the RS when his Honda's timing belt broke at 167,000 miles and destroyed his engine. The RS helped a lot of Honda owners with rides to the repair shop and jump starts. Probably helped more Honda owners than any other brand.
​​​
I lost count of how many friends had 80's & 90's era Toyota 4 cylinders with 200k to 250k that had rods or rod bolts let go. I learned to respect Toyota because 200k-250k is good given how poorly some of those cars were maintained especially as they got older.
​​​​​
Versions of this story happened 20+ times over the years

bjpotter

Using regular valvoline and properly maintaining the rest of the engine, my previous 3rd gen Camaro RS 5.0 tbi made it to 300,000 miles before I lost oil pressure. It was reliable right up to the end.

bjpotter

When a GM motor hits somewhere north of 150k I like to pull the heads, machine them. Replace the timing chain and sprocket. So doing you replace most of the upper gaskets as well. Replace hoses etc. Just a nice refresh. Vehicle will then run like new, and keep the driveway free from drippings. I've had 2 vehicles break 300k and one clear 400k. That one, a 72 Olds Cutlass was still running years after I sold it!

FirebirdUSX

oh that's something "nice" to break but you should check Chrysler engines ,their 3.5 v6's spun bearings even when the rest of the engine is in perfect condition. GM engines are not known for this kind of issues ,they do lose compression before they lose oil pressure...which imo is the normal way to wear the insides of a engine.

bjpotter

Yeah, I know about Chrysler's engines. When Mini Vans from them were popular here, I inhaled a lot of blue exhaust driving behind them. Although it did make it easy to follow my friends and family who had them.

FirebirdUSX

Its actually sad because for some crazy reason that I've yet to figure out all my real life friends that have 3rd gen Firebirds or Camaro have or had either a 300M or a LHS/Concorde from early 2000's (the ones that from the front look like the 4th gen Camaro). They all said "they are sleek cars like 3rd gens but newer" .Oh yea and they all agree that 3rd gens are way way more reliable than even newer cars ,thou they are more simple.

p.s. I hate those vans.They look like pure crap ,small and pathetic ...if you want a van get a Pontiac Transport...it actually looks like a Pontiac and its bigger.

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

That's funny. We had a '96 Concorde with the SOHC 3.5.

Ours was rock solid, ran really well for such a big car, and DID give a blue Formula (probably L03/Auto) fits. While the powertrain was solid, it was a poster child for mid-90s Mopar quality control issues...lots of little things...front sway bar end links, digital HVAC controls, failed connector at low side pressure sensor (TSB and repair kit for that), etc.

bjpotter

By then Benz fixed the drive train problems. I think one model was a Benz sedan that was retired and the tooling sent to Chrysler. I think 96 was the 1st year of the Viper too.
However those late 70's and eighties economy engines were dreadful.

FirebirdUSX

Mercedes actually ruined Chrysler reputation. The famous 2.7 v6 had a water pump designed by Daimler ...it leaked in the crankcase and the end result was most unreliable engine ever. Yes Chrysler had more hp than GM cars but damn they had horses with HIV lol ...you never knew when they were going to die. I'd rather have an iron duke vs the 2.7 v6 from chrysler....a slow car is faster than a car that's not running at all lol

I like the look on those cars because they look american. I like american cars but I can imagine you guys in US are way more picky. Here in Europe you can give me anything american and its like an exotic car. I got a Le Bra for my car just because it makes my Firebird more american than it already is

Arctic White 91 RS

The Viper first appeared for sale as a 1992 model.

Chrysler reputation for quality was marginal before Daimler.

In 1985 I briefly owned a brand new Dodge Shelby Charger for almost 24 hours. The ignition system failed coming home from the dealer. Overnight it rained and the Shelby Charger had an inch of water in the floorboard from a big leak at the windshield. On the way back to the dealer the transmission started to make a funny grinding noise. Total lemon of a car. The dealer was a very honest and fair minded family owned business and took the car back with good grace.
​​​

I think the long running issues with minivan transmissions that failed just after the warranty expired ruined Chrysler's reputation. In several case's a local the Dodge dealer covered repairs at dealer expense because Chrysler wouldn't step up to repair family minivans with transmissions that failed 1000 miles or less out of factory warranty.

I sometimes feel bad for the dealerships having to deal with a horrible manufacturer like Chrysler.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Biz, what kind of paint work has been done on it?

okfoz

That Formula is worth every penny... No doubt..