Hey guys,

I am looking at this 92 Firebird with the LO3/700R4. The car is pretty solid except I'm worried about the engine. Can you guys please tell me if this is normal?

-First, I started it from the first try (even though car has been sitting for weeks).
-It idles at about 1000RPM when warm but when I listen to the engine while its idling, there is a barely audible, very quick clicking (Is this a knock in the engine, or could this be the injectors).
-Also when I rev it and let go, it's kind of rough returning to idle RPM
-Then when I took it for a ride, the car was pretty slow (like my 2000 Camry I4 slow, I know LO3's aren't that slow)

Please tell me if this is within the normal parameters or if I should look elsewhere.

Thanks,
-Max

 

No LO3s are that slow.

The ticking is probably the injectors.

Oh yeah and the LO3 is really slow.

 

Well that's what I wanted to hear. Can anybody else tell me any trouble spots to look for on a TBI motor specifically?

If I get this car I'll prolly be frequenting these board, or my mom will laugh at me that her Camry is faster then my V-8 Bird

Thanks guys,
-Max

 

Any car, especially an F-body with a SBC is OK in my book Very easy to fix and easy to find parts that won't cost you an arm and a leg like the parts on your moms Camry.

 

tru dat

 

OH........ you have no IDEA!!!!!!

I got a G-Tech this spring and even though I've had my car to the strip a few times, I wanted to check to see how my basic mods did.

With 180K miles I wasn't expecting much. 16.7 ET. Not bad considering when I first got the car is when I took it to the strip and ran a best of 17.14

Now for the bad part.

Just for grins and giggles I took my wife's 1996 Lumina Minivan with a 180HP 3.4L V6 and ran the G-Tech on it. With only a K&N filter (more for MPG and less filter changes) that van ran a 16.89

Talk about feeling less of a man!!!!!

AJ

 

my advice, dont buy it. Get a tpi if you want an f body. *** is that 305 slow. Especially the 88. Only had 150 HP. the only reason i bought my 88 SC is that i was too broke for anything better and it shows by how rough the car is.

 

The L03 did have 170 hp in 88 but besides that, I may still consider it if I were you. I'm not sure if my opinion is bias because there are almost no thirdgens in my area, let alone good ones. But if it is a straight and solid car, with decent interior, I would at least keep it as an option if you can't find anything better like a TPI car. Just my .02

Tom

 

What are your plans for the car? I drive my tbi everyday to and from school. Its been very reliable, fairly fuel efficient (30+mpg on the drive from columbia MO-Chicago illinois), not terribly fast, but will deffinantly get you around. If you are also maybe planning on getting crate engine, or building one a tbi car would be a good idea since they are generally cheaper than a tpi giveing you more cash for the motor build up. If you want speed right off the bat and want to make the most power you can with the factory engine, then stick with a Tpi. Its about as reliable as a tbi, a little more of a fuel drinker but not much, maybe a mile or two per gallon. Really its a matter of what you want, what you can afford, and whats availible.

 

Go with TPI if you have the choice. If I had done more research, I would of.

 

Well the thing is, this is going to be used for dialy transport, so price is a huge factor. I got the 83 in my sig waiting for a new motor to go in, just need to get around.

I also had a TPI car before it. I was impressed with the reliability of the engine. The trannny broke, and the whole car started rusting apart before the TPI engine broke (biggest problem was a faulty IAC valve)

Anyway I took the car for a longer test drive today (on the highway) and wow, that car feels like a 70's Caddy. The front struts are soooo shot on it, it's dangerous to make a lane cahnge at 60mph, the whole car starts rocking like a boat. Fortunately the driveline felt real good.

Looks like I'm going to get it. I'll take pics as soon as I do.

Thanks,
-Max

 

Not me!
All the 305 F-bodys are slow from the factory, TBI or TPI it don't matter.
If you want it faster make it faster!!

And before anyone starts doggin' the TBI, go drive a 90 Chevy 454-SS and see what you CAN do with a 2 Inj. TBI...

Peace

 

Whether or not this is correct, im not sure. But, in the years 88-89, the tbi engine only had 150 hp. I think they made a cam change in '90 which gave the remaning lo3's 170 hp. As for the 454, got power and lots of torque but in my opinion its a bit heavy and itll throw off the f/r weight ratio.