HoosierinWA

So I finally registered and this site has saved my a$$ alot. Have a 1990 Camaro RS 3.1L. Got a pretty good deal on it, does have its quirks and needs basic work. Changed spark plugs, all the fluids/filters. Needs a new starter and and O2 sensor, but these are pretty much stuck on very tight. Been soaking in PB Blaster every couple days. Hopefully they bust loose when i have the fund available for the repairs. Also not sure if anyone has ever heard or know why. But the gentleman i purchased the car off of said there is a shift kit installed? Can someone explain too me why you would do this for a V6? Also what does one sound/feel like? Should i worry about this?

Wife'sCar

iTrader: (1)

How does it drive? If it feels like it shifts fine then I wouldn't worry about it. People say things like that all the time to help sell a car knowing there really is no way to prove them wrong. It's like saying someone put a mild cam in a car, without tearing the motor down and measuring lobes there's really no way of proving it unless they have receipts and maybe pics. As far as sound/feel, there will be no difference in the sound of the car, and if it's functioning properly, unless you drove the car before a kit was installed to know how it felt before, you won't be able to tell anything from feel.

I'm not sure about third gen world but in the mustang world it's very common to install a shift kit in a v6 along with a better rear gear.

O2 sensors can be a pain, especially if it's the original one. Get a nice o2 socket and a breaker bar and keep soaking it. Applying heat with a small propane torch can do wonders as well to help loosen it up.

HoosierinWA

Thanks for the advice, when accelerating through the gears. The shifts are very firm at lower speeds. Does not feel bad tho, when accelerating fast it goes very smooth and quick. Tried a big breaker bar,the idiot who attempted to take it off before me rounded off the nut. So i'm thinking of using a pipe wrench. It has over 210,000 miles, t tops dont leak which amazed me. Anything i should be aware of that fails on these cars?

Wife'sCar

iTrader: (1)

I have no knowledge on the v6 variants. I've only messed with 305/350 cars. But the big thing is the tops, if they aren't leaking you are so far ahead of the game it's not even funny lol. That's sounds like a shift kit to me.

Wife'sCar

iTrader: (1)

Oh and heat applied to the sensor where it meets the exhaust as well as the pipe wrench should get it off.

HoosierinWA

Yeah as much as i would love a v8, i do enjoy the gas cost lol. Any site for camaros that pulls info off the vin? i know theirs pay ones, but didn't know if there was a diamond in the rough out there?

Wife'sCar

iTrader: (1)

It's kinda kit or miss, gm didn't keep good records. Look on the bottom side of the locking compartment lelod in the rear or the bottom of the center console lid. That's where the rpo code list should be located. This is the list of everything that came from the factory on your specific car. There are sites that will tell you what each code means.