ive been searching for a post on this but i havent found n e thing.... i got a 91 camaro rs with 143k miles.... wut is the average amount of miles for a 305 tbi.... like wut is the most common parts needed to be replaced or fixed and wut can i do to maintain this engine... thanks alot pals... i praise n e one who helps... :hail: :hail: :hail: :hail: :hail:

 

Do a search man, tons of info on this subject. If you just bought it, a good rule of thumb is to change the spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor, air cleaner, oil, and fuel filter. You never know when the last time they were changed was, regardless of what people tells you. Your gas mileage depends on how hard you push all 170 of those ponies

 

The most common repairs/service needed are listed above. And other than that....a good injecter cleaning, water pump, and alt. are usually things that need changing/doing with that amount of miles.

 

Bought my 90' in July of 02' with 95,000 on it, and it ran like a friggin CHAMP. Since then I have replaced the ENTIRE A/C system (still R12), perdy much everything in the tranny but the gears and bell housing, the Alternator (which I understand gets replaced a LOT on ThirdGens), new ignition switch, new muffler, new raidiator cap, new PVC valve, new intake, bout' 1/2 way on 3rd set of tires, and ALWAYS change the oil every 3000 miles. She just hit 119,000 miles....

Did I mention that my engine has NEVER, and I mean NEVER, had a problem? (just the rest of the car decided to go into early retirement...)

*EDIT* ohh yeah, it get 20mpg in the city and about 29.8mpg on trips...

Bruce (90RS305)

 

As long as your car is in a good state of tune you should see between 10-15 city and up to 30 on the highway. I used to get 31 on the highway when I just had a cat-back, full tune up, and open air element. Now if your right foot is heavy than you will get no where near these numbers.

 

wow... thanx alot guys.... i cant beleive the responses i got.... it really helps me out... i dont wanna sound like a dummy... but iit is my first car... and i just wanted to no where i was starting at and how much needed to be done.... i hear that these engines dont need major work until over 200k miles if u keep them in good shape... i was a little shaky about buying a car with 143k .... but i REALLY love this car.... once again thanx alot and one more quick quesyion... is the open air element worth doing? :hail: :hail: :hail: :hail: :hail: :hail:

 

Glad you enjoy your new car. The open element is a great first mod to do.

 

If you do the open air element, get Edelbrock's Elite Series Triangular Air Cleaner. No spacers or anything are required and there is no problems of fitting incorrectly.

 

Or just hop down to AutoZone and pick up the regular round drop-base like I have. Fit on with NO PROBLEMS at all, just a minor wire issue, which was easily solved. I think the open element is well worth the money, and easier than crap to do. Check out this thread...it'll answer a lot for ya...

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=171757

Bruce (90RS305)

 

should i do open air.... or dual snorkel, or the style with the air box in the front... i think the air box looks sweet... is that hard to mod?

 

Open element. I think that air box you are refering to is TPI, which is an entirely different setup...

 

yea im talkin about the tpi setup.... can i mod a single snorkel to go to the airbox looking thing?.... i just really love that look...

 

they actually have people who make a ram air type tbi setup with open element... but i dont remember who or where i saw it..

my beast wont quit and i dont abby her... 128 on the clock and i'ver replaced the head gaskets...(ran hot no air damn previous owner was stupid and i fixed it)

new fuel pump... thats the common problem with the non carberated thirdgen....replaced mine twice

water pump(wasnt bad but bearing was shot to hell made the loudest rattling you EVER heard)..bad valve seals but that happenes to 90% of thirdgens..

thats all no internal problems as of yet( knocks on wood) and i have many plans for the 128k block as well

 

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you don't know when it was last done, I'd replace all the fluids/filters, not just engine oil. Do it all - trans, brakes, power steering, coolant, rearend lube. If the A/C works, I'd probably just make sure it's full. It doesn't cost that much, and then you know a little better what you have. HTH.

 

Well I will tell you what my father always tells me. He is a Heavy Line mechanic and he deals with GM cars days in and out and the your car will last as long as you want it to. We own a Astro Van that has a V6 TBI and it has 295,000 miles on it and it is still running strong.....The only thing that has been done to it is minor stuff like AC Compresor, alt, ext.....
My dad also tells me to stick with the TBI engines because they are the most reliable engine GM has made.....They last forever but the drawback is they have no power. It is only a matter of time before stuff starts going wrong. I just replaced my Water Pump and Distributor at 130,000..... Which isnt bad.....My Engine is still running strong but I also change my oil every 2,000 miles. I dont know if this helps but if you have any questions just let me know.............

 

absolutely.

my dad said there were two things you HAD to do to make an engine last forever:

1. change the oil AND filter every 2,500 miles

2. let the car warm up for at least one minute every time it's sat for more than two hours and let it warm up for at least 2 minutes every time it's sat for more than 4 hours.

he's never gotten less than 200,000 miles out of a car, and always got top dollar on them when he traded because they ran so well. i always thought he was full of crap, but a couple of years ago i thought about all of the money i've spent repairing cars and how little he spent and decided to try his advice. so far, so good.

 

wow guys thanks again... i new about the oil and filters.... kus my dad has a dodge spirit v6 with 100k miles and he always replaces filters and fluids when needed and its still running like brand new... i no its not exactly along the lines of a chevy TBI v8,, but its the same idea.... well thanx again i should be getting a major tune up ASAP,... later duders