This is probably the wrong forum, but definitely one of the more active ones...

I currently own a 92 RS 305TBI with 228k on it. Car is great, but won't live forever. I'm thinking about selling it & looking for a 4th gen with either LT1 & 6spd or a really cheap V6 for a swap project. Wanting to do my homework before buying.

This is a great site, and I'm looking for a similar site for 4th gen F bodies. Can anyone point me in the right direction? TIA~ Trace

 

Try www.camaroz28.com there are multiple gens there if you need more info.

 

No offense, but you're not going to get very much money out of your 228 thousand mile 92 third gen.

So why not just keep it and go looking for a good 4th gen to build-up?

Check the auto-trader, there are lots of them for sale on there.

 

Extra cars are always good.

 

I'd like to add my two cents, I own a third gen and my friend owns a 4th gen LT1. Just hearing some of his horror stories has turned me away from wanting to buy one. If I were to buy a 4th gen it would be an LS1. He put headers (SLP) on it, that took along time and some bloody knuckles, 4.11 gears, added a MAF and hypertech programmer and that actually lowered his time in the quatermile by .200. When I went over to swap driveshafts with him, we were checking out what else he did under the hood, and it looked a lot scarier to work on the our thirdgen. Plus, with the headers he installed, after every pass he makes on the strip, he has to retighten the header bolts. Oh, and don't let me forget to tell you how long it takes to change the spark plugs.... 8 hours! Now don't get me wrong, I like to drive the car, but working on it, I'd rather work on a Honda.

 

thanks all-

insight on how much work for swaps, upgrades etc is a big part of what i'm researching.

i know i wouldn't get much for mine, and i'll probably keep it until the engine blows anyway. just looking for a good replacement when the time comes. i like my 3rd gen a lot, but i am getting a little bored with its looks too, and will probably want something a little different next time. also, a lot of the plastic parts on my car are starting to degrade, and i don't want to have to go thru the whole electrical system & such. also, i don't really want to pay insurance on an extra car, and i like my 99 Z71 and Camaro fitting in my 2 car garage, and nothing in the driveway.

if i bought an LT1 or LS1, it would probably remain fairly stock anyway, but how can it take 8 hours to change spark plugs?? did you have to unbolt the motor mounts & jack it up or something? i thought the plugs on mine were a PITA, and that took about an hour under the car with my air ratchet & u-joint socket. >:\

thanks again for replies.

 

No, he didn't have to unbolt the mounts and raise the engine, you can't raise the engine out through the hood, it has to come out from underneith. Half of the engine is behind the fire wall, next time you have a chance to look at a 4th gen, take a look under the hood and see how many spark plugs you find. It's only my opinion, because I don't like wasting a whole day on simple fixes. If Chevrolet decides to come out with a 5th gen, hopefully it will be easier to do your own mechanical fixes.

 

Supposebly the plugs for lt1's are good for like 80000 miles or something way to huge, but it stills seems to be just poor engineering when it takes 8 hrs to change plugs
Great new technology makes it so you'll almost never have to replace your plugs... but a complete lack of engineering means that it will take you 10 times as long to do when the time comes...

 

i still just can't see it taking 1 hour per plug? how is that possible?

 

When 1/2 an engine is under the firewall, kind adds to the difficulty.


My Dad couldn't even get a jack under my step moms '97 Firebird.

 

OK, evidently you gotta remove the starter & alternator:
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...threadid=37871
yeah, that's a lot of work to change the plugs.

i appreciate what you are all saying, though. i've changed a couple timing belts on Japanese cars...

 

I still think the 3rd gen is one of the last back yard, do it yourself fixer car, where someone can jack it up and fix it themselves. I hear horror stories all the time about LT1s and LS1s on how it takes so long to do the littlest things. and stuff like headers are $$$
ok I am done
biker

 

Hey guys,

My accessory belt on my 1997 GrandAm started squeaking a few days ago, so I went to replace it last night. It took me an hour and 15-20 minutes just to replace the AC / Alternator belt.

I really don't want to get into it.. but suffice it to say, on my Pontiac Fieros (which people consider hard to work on) it only takes about 15 minutes to change a belt.

It used to take me like under 5 minutes to change the alternator belt on my 1982 TransAm!

 

If you want a fast car, get a LT1. Me and my buddy always help each other with our cars, he has a LT1, me with my Formula, and his plugs were simple because most were done from under the car. You don't need much to get them moving either, he has full exhaust, a stall, and some suspension and is gunning for 12s.

 

My advice though for you is to stay with the Third Gen and buy a lower mile L98 car. Better handling, better looking, more simple, and a personality.

 

better handling? why? rack & pinion steering & upper control arms are some of the things i'd be looking forward to most with a 4th gen. 3rd & 4th gen suspensions are otherwise very similar, no?

what exactly is the L98 package?

 

It's a 350 TPI.

As far as "better handling," I've autocrossed 3rd gens and 4th gens, and the 3rd gens just have a better feel about them. This is just with basic Solo 2 "stock" mods (shocks, front sway bar). I don't know if that makes them "better handling" (or exactly why), but I feel more confident driving a 3rd gen. It's not a huge difference, though, just a subtle difference. It's not like, "Holy **** 4th gens suck *** and handle like grandma's Crown Vic!"

3rd gens can also get a bit more negative camber in front than 4th gens (stock of course).

 

how about an Impala SS?

 

I love the third gen classic styleing to much to have a 4th gen instead. There is however nothing meaner looking on the road then a 4th gen WS6/Ram air. For a car to mod they are a nightmare though. half the engine is under the dash and windshield.

 

If I were you I would buy a new engine for my 3rd gen and mod the hell out of it. It's cheaper and alot of fun.

 

Yup, Third Gens have the handling advantage. 4th Gens have a better ride as they compromise for the road and Third's are pretty much no compromise. Some things that makes this is that the 4th's have a higher center of gravity, they threw out struts and added shocks to the front, double a-arms, and use smaller front sway bars. All that makes for a better ride but this takes away handling and G ability.

Mod for mod the Third will always be better too, this is why they are taking 1st place still today over them and other cars in SCCA.