Mikes86SC

I'm thinking of buying a 86 Z28 with an LG4 and 5 speed. Any current owners want to comment on the reliability of this set up? Do the LG4's have any particular problem I should look for?

Asking price for the car is 2500/best offer. Should I jump on it or away from it?

DSaylor

I had an 85Z, lg4/5spd for about a year before it got totaled, 100,000 miles, but it was the cleanest used car I ever owned,
anyways in that year(and 20,000 miles, mostly cruising around in town) The car only needed 2 repairs

1- the clutch , mostly worn out when I bought it.

2- some sensor in the carb went out and caused it to idle at about 2000 rpm or so, so I had the carb rebuilt and it turned out to be a $50 sensor.

Other than that, I had no problems and the car was kind of peppy too, for what it was. I don't think they have any particular problems to look for, not that I've ever heard of.

On a side note after I wrecked it,(the body was twisted pretty bad but it still drove, kind of) I figured I take it out and try to break all the stuff people say is weak on these cars, mainly the rear and tranny, and after a day of dumping the clutch at 6000 rpm every chance I got, the only thing that broke was the rear u-joint and I think that was mostly because the subframes were so out of whack.

I found out the car was faster and stronger than I thought .

Mikes86SC

It's definately faster and stronger than what I got now!

TransAm

I love my 85 LG4 / 5 speed... Only "problem" i've heard of with the 305 is it doesen't particuarly bode well under high RPM conditions. Only issue w/the 5 speed is the t-5 is too weak to do things like powershift.
My 85 has 138,000 on it and it's my daily driver. I've had no problems other than typical 138,000 mile stuff.

RedFirebird

Besides the fact that it gets lousy gas mileage and that its a dog in the power department, the LG4 is a fine motor. They're a very reliable motor and last forever. I had one in my old 5-speed '87 Formula. I sold it with 150000 miles on the clock and it was still running as strong as it did when new and it had no problems (didn't even have GM's dreaded leaky valve seals). I guess there's not much wear to occur when you have a whole 150 hp on your hands. Now that being said, don't buy that z28. It'll feel nice and fast for about a week and then you'll regret it. Buy a TPI car. I was using my '87 Formula as a driver by the time the time i dumped it....trying to keep the wear-and-tear to a minimum on my '85 corvette at the time.

Sitting Bull

Put a set of headers on the Z28 and you will blow by all the 305 TPI cars--especially when the fuel injection Gremlins come to visit. LG4s respond well to EVERY piece you put on them. And they get very good gas mileage anyway.