Almost 170,000 miles.
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I bought my '89 IROC 305TBI 2 months ago with 178,000 miles. It was smoking like a fiend! It was burning more oil than a Burger King deep fryer! I had a brand new engine installed and a few other things. But man, this thing runs strong now. We'll see how it goes from here.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Nazareth, PA
Car: 89 Trans-AM
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 5 Sp.
Good old TBI
I just sold my 88 T/A with TBI and 5 speed. It had 178,000 mi. It ran strong and no oil leaks. It might have burned a little but the damn thing still moved. As long as you take car of them they run.
On another note I just bought an 89 T/A with TPI and 64, 000 mi
So we'll see how that goes
On another note I just bought an 89 T/A with TPI and 64, 000 mi
So we'll see how that goes
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Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 169
Likes: 1
From: Centreville Va
Car: 92 RS
Engine: 350
Transmission: auto
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Mines got about 182,5xx on it. Origional engine, never been rebuilt.
There is a tiny leak on the front of the engine somewhere and a small tranny leak, but other than them, the car doesnt give out a trace of smoke, sounds great, doesnt miss or anything. Amazing IMO.
Just curious, is there any kind of cleaning or matenance that the TBI unit needs?
There is a tiny leak on the front of the engine somewhere and a small tranny leak, but other than them, the car doesnt give out a trace of smoke, sounds great, doesnt miss or anything. Amazing IMO.
Just curious, is there any kind of cleaning or matenance that the TBI unit needs?
Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 682
Likes: 24
From: MidWest
Car: 91 RS/ 99 T/A/ 72 Vette/ 02 Z28
Engine: LSx/ Dart400
Transmission: M6/ M6/ TH400/ 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 4.10's / 3.08/ 2.73
My RS has the 305 TBI w/700R4, this weekend the car will have 230,000 miles on it. Original owner, car has never had any engine or tranny work, and still runs strong for a LO3.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 86
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, TX
Car: 89 Firebird Formula T-Top
Engine: SP383 FIRST Fuel Injection
Transmission: T56 Tremec Magnum
Axle/Gears: Moser 12 Bolt, 3.42 Eaton Posi
278,000 TBI 305, usually run s good - see "One Injector not Spraying" No internal engine work.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 627
Likes: 0
From: Stafford CT
Car: 1988 Camaro SC
Engine: LT1 SBC
Transmission: LT1 T56
Axle/Gears: 3.73 Moser 12 Bolt
I await the laughs at this - so go ahead - but I spent 2 years at an engine machine shop and saw two TBI 350s that had over 200,000 and over 300,000 on them. I'd like to hear Carb guys explain how cylinder wash is a good thing
TP
TP
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 700
Likes: 32
From: McDonough, GA
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
165,000+ on my LO3 automatic and no major mechanical problems. Bought it new in July '91. I believe routine maintenance is the key.
My grandfather, who retired from GM after 25 years, used to tell me.."You can run it without gas all you want, it's not gonna hurt it, but keep the oil in it".
My grandfather, who retired from GM after 25 years, used to tell me.."You can run it without gas all you want, it's not gonna hurt it, but keep the oil in it".
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Charleston, SC
Car: 1988 Pontiac Firebird, flat black
Engine: Stock 305 LO3
Transmission: Five speed
I am coming up on the 160,000 mile marker, I am the 3rd in line on her. No engine work and org. clutch!!! Still has some life in it!! I get a puff out of her when I start her up, but none after. I have heard of a ***** going to 600,000. I did work at a honda dealer. The key to that motor is preventive maint. I change my oil before 3,000. Little things can make a difference.
600k my ....buddy of mine had an old corrola with 300k and original clutch before he let it go for 700$....still looks good but noone wanted a car with that kinda milage
Last edited by snflupigus; May 11, 2002 at 07:42 PM.
Supreme Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 4
From: Tallahassee, FL. USA
Car: 92 Camaro RS
Engine: 350 Crate Motor
Transmission: Tremec TKO
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 3.73
My 92 RS 305 motor was at 215,000 Miles when I replaced it with the 350.Still ran well,didn't use much oil or anything, just figured it was due for more power.Car is at 227,000 miles right now, with the new motor all broken-in and whippin the snot out of any stock 4.6L Mustangs (including Cobras).
-Rich-
-Rich-
Moderator
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,184
Likes: 0
From: Tempe, AZ
Car: 92 RS, 02 Tacoma, 2 73 Porsche 914s
122k sounds like crap, crank bearings are going, idler needs replaced, and the ac comp rattles too. Exhaust has leaks. It runs great, but sounds like crap.
o and my rear torque arm bushing is worn so it clunks as well.
o and my rear torque arm bushing is worn so it clunks as well. Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 627
Likes: 0
From: Stafford CT
Car: 1988 Camaro SC
Engine: LT1 SBC
Transmission: LT1 T56
Axle/Gears: 3.73 Moser 12 Bolt
well take this guys - my 1988 SC had 97,000 and had the WORST rod knock in it you'd ever hear (clack-clack-clack-clack). The kid that had it b4 me put on 'kustom' brake/gas pedals and dropped the car (improperly as it turned out - i had to fix his mess) and thought he had a race car. Junior very quickly found out that a 305 doesn't like high-rpm. VRooooooooooooom! lol
TP :sillylol: :sillylol: :sillylol:
TP :sillylol: :sillylol: :sillylol:
i've got one of the lowest mileage cars in here so far. 111xxx and still runs like brand new. the only problem i have with my auto lo3 is it burns up starters in about a year. other than that it's g to g.
Supreme Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 1
From: Morris, IL
Car: '91 t-top RS; '91 hrdtp Z28
Engine: LO3;383tpi
Transmission: 700r4;very nice 700r4
Axle/Gears: 4.10 zt posi, 3.70 auburn
150,000 mi and going strong..... have one bad lifter but no big deal.
Supreme Member

Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,977
Likes: 1
From: Davison / Troy ,Michigan
Car: 1991 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: 3.8
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Dana 60
115,500 miles and no leaks, no burning oil but I have had one problem. Lower radiator hose leak off the water pump. But thats it. Still runs strong and is gonna have a new cam and intake on it soon. and hopefully if I feel it be safe, install that nitrous system I have.
Mobil 1 synthetic oil every 3000 miles including the oil filter.
Mobil 1 synthetic oil every 3000 miles including the oil filter. Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From: Greenfield, WI
Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 5 spd
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt w/eaton posi 3.73
131,xxx and running strong. I get a little smoke on start up but that goes away.
I'm the third owner of the car.
I'm the third owner of the car. Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,467
Likes: 1
From: The nation's capital
Car: 91 RS
Engine: 350 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
I have 71K on my 91', but I'm more worried about the tranny going before the engine. When I bought the car with 67K on it, the tranny fluid had never been changed!! What an idiot.....they replaced the water pump, belts, hoses and rotors, but never the tranny fluid.........and another thing (sorry for ranting here).....but why is it that someone feels they must mention that their father is a mechanic???
Does having your father being a mechanic automatically bless the car with immortality and justifies charging me more money????
O.K., I'm done now.
Does having your father being a mechanic automatically bless the car with immortality and justifies charging me more money????
O.K., I'm done now.
car=155-160k .. ish.
Engine = somewhere around 90-100k.
FREEZE PLUGS, i hate freeze plugs. Only thing that leaks and my drivers side caliper is rattling a bit i think. Paint it gone to hell, the clearcoat is peeling off in places. Oh, and valve seals. Blue smoke once in a while at startup.
I am the second owner and the one before me was a woman ... so it was never raced or driven hard. A fragment of metal in the road punched the oil pain which in turn drain the oil which siezed the engine. (this was her not me). She handed me all the service records from every oil change to tune up to major work when i bought it. She was kewl, kept up on the car.
I beleive it can last a lot long but i got a 350 sitting in my garage ready to be assembled.
~Tim
Engine = somewhere around 90-100k.
FREEZE PLUGS, i hate freeze plugs. Only thing that leaks and my drivers side caliper is rattling a bit i think. Paint it gone to hell, the clearcoat is peeling off in places. Oh, and valve seals. Blue smoke once in a while at startup.
I am the second owner and the one before me was a woman ... so it was never raced or driven hard. A fragment of metal in the road punched the oil pain which in turn drain the oil which siezed the engine. (this was her not me). She handed me all the service records from every oil change to tune up to major work when i bought it. She was kewl, kept up on the car.
I beleive it can last a lot long but i got a 350 sitting in my garage ready to be assembled.
~Tim
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
Car: '89 RS
Engine: 9C1 w/ TPI
Transmission: rebuilt 700R4
170,000 here. Put a new motor in at 158K but only because I wanted to...LO# still ran. Original tranny went out last weekend. I'm surprised that the car has lasted this long....because right after I bought it over a year and a half ago, the previous owner tells me "yea, she's pretty fast, I got 12 speeding tickets just last year"
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