Here's my story . . . a couple of months ago I bought a 91 Camaro RS. The person who I bought it from lived with his dad who's a mechanic so I figured the car was in good shape. The interior and body of the car is really nice and I thought this meant that they took good care of it. Soo, like every other Milwaukeean I took my car to emissions, thinking it would pass because the kid told me "it passed every time". Well it didn't pass and the test showed a misfire so I changed the spark plugs. I took it back and it failed again. I finally took it to a mechanic yesturday. Today my mom and I picked up the car to find out that we had to pay $90 for these guys to look at it, and would have to take my car to another place because one of the cam lobes has been worn down and this shop didn't do that. So here are my options and questions. I have a friend who can put in a new cam so all I will have to pay for is the parts. That's option #1. Now, if I do that do I pay 400 or whatever it is to get a new one, or try to find a used one? But what if for some reason the car doesn't pass again, then I won't have it on record that I paid the waiver amount ($450). Sooo . . . option #2 - Should I take it to a mechanic at a garage and pay a much higher amount because of labor? Or, option #3 which I hate to say but . . . do I sell the car and get something else? Well, I guess that's it . . . anyone's input would help very much. Thank you

 

Cam lobe wear on a roller lifter engine is either: 1) a bad cam, which should fail within the first few thousand miles, or; 2) horribly neglected oil changes.

I suspect a bad diagnosis.

In most states, the seller is responsible for the vehicle passing emissions. I'd check that before I spent another dime.

 

I'll second that. Get another opinion, and dont tell the other mechanic what that one said.

If they give you the same diagnosis then I'd consider

A) complete rebuild (like Five7kid said, might have skipped regular oil changes)

B)Selling the car to get some of your money back (unless you feel like just getting a new motor)

C) Take it back to the old owners and ask them about it and demand your money back.