Howdy all. This is my first post, so if for whatever reason I'm doing something wrong, please let me know.


I recently bought my first car, a '91 Camaro RS. I've never really worked on cars before, so honestly I don't even know where to start. To my knowledge there is absolutely nothing wrong with the car, except a few minor interior things and the horn not being currently installed.

I bought the car for $2000. I hadn't planned on buying a car yet, but I saw this and couldn't pass it up. The previous owner swapped the stock motor with a Circle Track 350 small block. He also replaced the stock transmission with a Gearstar 700R4. There are quite a few other things he said he put in, such as new motor mounts, but I don't remember all of them. The engine and tranmission were replaced at around the same time and they only have about 14k miles on them, though the body has 166k. It came with a set of 16" ABS Firebird rims and a set of 18" C5 (I think?) Corvette rims. My first priority is to get new tires and use all 4 of the Firebird rims so the front isn't lower than the back (I've already scraped it on the driveway). I actually prefer the look of the Corvette rims, but I'd rather pay $130 for a performance tire than $300.

I'm not looking for anything in particular as of yet, but I just wanted to introduce myself to the community (though I'm not sure how active it is) and see if anyone has any tips for someone that is brand new to owning a 3rd gen Camaro (any car, really). I'll attach some picture I took the first day I got it, though they're not very good.

 

Welcome to the team sir!

Great Color! There is PLENTY of really great people here.

 

Welcome to the community! Car looks Great, best advice I have is order a GM service manual and if you have a question ask. All of the members here will have your back, they're very supportive!

Enjoy the new toy!!!

 

Either set of rims will look great!

 

That car looks real clean. Nice color too...

 

welcome, first car is a right of passage you wil never forget, congratulations.

 

That's a great looking car for $2,000! Congrats and welcome!

 

Nice car. I doubt swapping wheels helps. These cars are just long and low in the front. You gotta get used to wiggling then in places.

 

Congrats on the car it looks great man! Wealth of knowledge on here to help you along the way with it.

 

Welcome! The car looks good. You mentioned not really having worked on cars before; do you have basic mechanics hand tools or access to them?

 

That's a killer ride for 2 grand!

 

Thanks. I was actually looking at a few different manuals online, but wasn't sure which one would be the best. There was some mixed reviews on most of them. Would you happen to have a link to where I could get one?

 

I actually have a fair amount of tools, and my bestfriends dad is actually a mechanic, so if anything major were to ever pop up, I could get help from him. My bestfriend actually know quite a bit too. I've definitely learned a lot of things from both of them over the last 8 years or so, but most of it was just from watching and getting them tools while they were under a car.

 

Here's the cheapest one I could find

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1991-Chevro...8AAOSwDLhc~aID

I stay away from the CD-ROM's & PDF's

 

The link to the manual 92RS-HeritageEd posted would be perfect. There is absolutely no substitute for the original service manual for properly repairing our cars. Don't hesitate to ask for help. And whatever you do don't hack up anything on your car. At the price you paid this could actually be a good investment for you. But doing "repairs" that are irreversible will hurt the value. Good luck! These are wonderful cars to own and drive.

 

Wow you stole it at that price. Assuming you are a teenager so advice, the rear diff is going to be the weakest part. Watch the burnouts, it it starts to wheel hop you will likely crack the ring gear

 

Hell of a price for hell of a car, very nice and Ungawa.

 

You can order a CD copy of the factory service manual from Dave Graham.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...464&cc=1035773


I have the Firebird copy and it has saved my skin a few times, especially for vacuum line routing . It's the best $20 I have spent on the car to date.

 

Nice car at a great price! Congratulations!

 

I'll definitely be careful with it, lol. Already floored it once at a stop sign and it fish tailed a bit. Now that you mention it, though, I think the guy I bought it from said the rear end is from a 4th gen camaro. Not sure how much of a difference that makes.

I'm actually still on my learners permit for another 5 months since I got it really late. I hadn't planned on buying a car yet, but I had enough saved already and I actually love the 3rd gen camaros. My best friend actually had one for a while that didn't run and was in rough shape, but it was a fun project while it lasted before he sold it.

The original asking price was $2900 and over a month ended up at $2400. I had offered him $2200 if he kept the Corvette rims, but he said he needed the money and would just take $2000 if I had it that day. It really was perfect because he knew my best friend already, so that helped I'm sure.

 

When you put the 3rd gen spec wheels on the rear they will stick out an extra inch on both sides or so if you have a 4th gen rear. You can def get 275/35R18 for your front for way cheaper then 300 a tire. 18's have come down a lot to what they used to be.

Otherwise it's going to be a fun first car, just respect it

 

Right now the corvette rims on the back have 295/35 18's on. Is that the only size that would fit the rim? If so, there aren't many options, and the cheapest I could find for 2 tires was $600.

For example: Would 285/35/18 tires fit? Or vice versa, 295/40/18?

 

Check Amazon i buy lots of tires there much cheaper than anywhere else usually.

 

...sounds advice, but on a high mile RS, with a swapped engine, trans and rear.....I'd do pretty much whatever you feel like doing. You're not gonna hurt any type of possible appreciation in the future. Still, naked lady mudflaps and stick on fender vents aren't necessary. Say NO! LOL!!!

This is a great group. 99% of us are here to help and offer you as much help as needed. Wanna see an example of a BAD forum? -spend a few days on the Corvette Forum. What a train wreck!

All that said, that's a sharp car for $2000!!!! Enjoy it! Welcome aboard!

 

Welcome aboard!

That's a great looking Camaro. Congrats!

 

imo keep the corvette rims,if you have a full set....if not try and get 4 rims essentially the same style if you can.

16" rims can be difficult to find rubber and it wont be any higher up with 16" rims.
you need to watch coming in and out of steep driveways,watch speed bumps etc....with this car anyway!!

it seems strange that someone would put a circle track engine then put
exhaust manifolds back on but that's neither here nor there.
NICE CAR!!! enjoy it

enjoy your car and do what you like,all the advice is our opinions anyway but say no to "rice" lololo

 

can I get that for a 1989 firebird?

 

Congrats!!!