Whos got the highest miles 3rd gen out there?(without engine work!)
i have an 88 celebrity with 180,xxx miles on it with no major engine work that ive seen, previos owner was my uncle who took good care of it, lots of boneyard parts but its starting to crap out on me now forcing me to drive my 1987 TA in snow (no biggie replacing rusted floors this spring and coating them) and the 87 TA with 305 TPI has 160,xxx original miles and still runs great, im glad to see all these numbers in the 200,000's, im not in such a hurry to finish my 350 now, i have plenty of time on my 305.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,812
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From: 62656
Car: 1991 S10 pickup 2700lbs
Engine: 4.3L Z TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.08 7.625"
most recent higher mileage car would be the 83 caprice LG4 700r4, its just rolled to 186000 recently, runs strong no oil use and is un modified in any way cept a/c belt removed and oil changes, even AIR and ESC un touched and all in working order., car hauls butt very well still, i cant see it dying anytime in near future. have had several trucks with millions miles on numbers matching engines such as a 69 F100 with 240 six and three speed with well over 200k and a 68 C-10 307 three speed that threw two rods at hair over either 200 or 300k dont know which and a 78 Big 10 pickup with VERY tired 350 and th350 with somewhere in 200k range, had a 92 cavalier 2.2L couple years back that died at 220k, and recently a 90 corsica 3.1L with mid 100k range and oil leaking bad and getting tired, two 79 vans with 350 and th350 with wayy over 200k runnign strong enough to drive in tri-state area reliably needing nothing but oil changes, wish i had kept the last 79 G20 van i had, sold it to a guy down in MO as a drivetrain donor for a 57 bel air he has had since his high school days
now have a 88 bird with 2.8L MPFI with i dont know mileage, doing fuel tank work to it currently, i dont think it has alot of mileage, i dont like 2.8L engines, they are the oddball engines and the carb models in the 80's were complete crap unreliable, but this one is FI so hmmm... we'll see,....... ill give it a chance...
thats ones off top of my head in last couple years
good luck
now have a 88 bird with 2.8L MPFI with i dont know mileage, doing fuel tank work to it currently, i dont think it has alot of mileage, i dont like 2.8L engines, they are the oddball engines and the carb models in the 80's were complete crap unreliable, but this one is FI so hmmm... we'll see,....... ill give it a chance...
thats ones off top of my head in last couple years
good luck
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 694
Likes: 0
From: Glasgow Kentucky
Car: 04 Vette
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 2.73
my TA has 183,000 on the stock 305 my wifes 91 grand prix has over 260,000 and we take her car everywhere and it never uses a single drop of oil
Member

Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 180
Likes: 13
From: NE PA
Car: '89 IROC, '14 LTZ Burb, '18 H6 Outb
Engine: 355 TPI /w Vortec
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3.27
check the sig. I just pulled it and the int look great prob had anuther 50,000 left on it. You 200+ guys:hail:
Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 6
From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Wow, old message! 2 years ago when I first responded to this message, I was at 204,000? Well I'm up to 244,000 miles on my 2.8; I guess that's 20,000 miles a year? Thank goodness I don't do that much driving anymore. (Bought it with 64,000 miles on it in January '94.)
Only thing I did that was close to "internal engine work" was install a Cloyes true dual roller timing chain at around 180,000 miles. Yep, even running the original cam! Planning to rebuild it (and this 3rd transmission, acting up pretty badly) this summer.
Only thing I did that was close to "internal engine work" was install a Cloyes true dual roller timing chain at around 180,000 miles. Yep, even running the original cam! Planning to rebuild it (and this 3rd transmission, acting up pretty badly) this summer.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,122
Likes: 2
Car: 1984 Trans Am 15th anniversary
Engine: L69
Transmission: 700r
Axle/Gears: 3:73
280,000kms 1992 LO3 TBI ,trans went at 77,000 (found a recept in the car.Oil pan leaks (rotten) burns a quart of oil every oil change .valve seals are still good,no smoke,has failry lousy oil pressure but runs like a dream all sensors are original and starts up every time.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,852
Likes: 1
From: Valley of the Sun
Car: 82 Z28
Engine: Al LT1 headed LG4 305
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.73 posi with spacer
Originally posted by kfoley
I read about a guy who had a gmc truck and he got 1 million miles. He drove it like 1,000 miles a day and changed the oil every 3 days... As for me, I have a measly 85k on my LG4, but hopefully it will be replaced by 100k.
I read about a guy who had a gmc truck and he got 1 million miles. He drove it like 1,000 miles a day and changed the oil every 3 days... As for me, I have a measly 85k on my LG4, but hopefully it will be replaced by 100k.
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From: kissimmee fl
Car: 88 iroc-z z-28
Engine: 383
Transmission: th400
Axle/Gears: 3.42
i got 195,000 on a trans am with only changing the injectors and other non engine parts. (a/c,alternator,fuel pump,etc.)
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 9,067
Likes: 1
From: Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Car: '83 Z28, '07 Charger SRT8
Engine: 454ci, 6.1 Hemi
Transmission: TH350, A5
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi, 3.06 posi
Originally posted by Val
HOLY CRAP!!! A post got resurrected after a year in purgatory!!!
HOLY CRAP!!! A post got resurrected after a year in purgatory!!!
Two year bump I guess!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,789
Likes: 0
From: NOR CAL USA
Car: 89 iroc-z 5.7tpi 350,
Engine: 5.7tpi 350,
Transmission: T-56
my 83 4bbl 305 had 300,000 on orignal engine, radiator blew, oil boiled crank SEIZED, 6,000 later still running i sold it i hear its strong as ever 305's last forever because they were overbuilt for what they had in power
and my 89 iroc well its falling apart at 98,000 timimg cover major leak, tb gasket leak, intake manifold leak, bad injectors, dizzy went out, o2 sensor, egr valve, and this is all within 9,000 miles
and my 89 iroc well its falling apart at 98,000 timimg cover major leak, tb gasket leak, intake manifold leak, bad injectors, dizzy went out, o2 sensor, egr valve, and this is all within 9,000 miles
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore, MD
Car: 2004 Pontiac GTO
Engine: LS1
Transmission: M12
Checking in @ 209K + here. No major engine work at all. Transmission needed a rebuild around 185K. Smokes a bit when I start her up, but after that, its like brand new.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
From: st. Petersburg, Fla
Car: 83 Z28
Engine: vortec 305 for now
Transmission: 5 speed
240,000 miles
http://www.fl-thirdgen.org/blacksheep1-featyear.html
OK I'll admit, it's not TOTALLY documented, but it's pretty close. It would still wiggle by itself at that mileage, but it was pretty sad. The speedo was broke when I got it @ 35plus thousand miles.
It still lives:
http://www.fl-thirdgen.org/blacksheep-1/camaro.mov
http://www.fl-thirdgen.org/blacksheep1-featyear.html
OK I'll admit, it's not TOTALLY documented, but it's pretty close. It would still wiggle by itself at that mileage, but it was pretty sad. The speedo was broke when I got it @ 35plus thousand miles.
It still lives:
http://www.fl-thirdgen.org/blacksheep-1/camaro.mov
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Car: 1989RS////1998Z28
Engine: 305////350LS1
Transmission: 700R4////4L60E
289000 on my 89RS 305, 700r4. Needs tranny rebuilt but will still run 70 mph at 2100 rpm and gets 24 mpg. Repaced water pump once, alt. twice and one starter. Got to love these cars.
Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,445
Likes: 1
From: Huber Heights, OH
Car: 00 TA, 91 Formula, 89 RS
Engine: LS1 / 305 / 2.8, respectively
Transmission: T-56 / auto / auto
Originally posted by FyreLance
183k, 305 TPI
183k, 305 TPI
... I really need to get my thirdgen driveable. It's only gone up a few hundred miles since I posted this, a year and a half ago... :: sigh ::
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: capecod, ma
Car: 86 t/a
Engine: 383 turbo world heads ect.
Transmission: t400
this post is going to have almost as many miles as the cars we drive!
just like to add that i'm a proud member of the 200k+ millage club:hail: have 235k on the clock. 305 tpi the intake & valve cover gasket replaced but that's all. trans rebuilt @ 175k and shifts strong. :lala:
just like to add that i'm a proud member of the 200k+ millage club:hail: have 235k on the clock. 305 tpi the intake & valve cover gasket replaced but that's all. trans rebuilt @ 175k and shifts strong. :lala: Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,989
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From: Calgary, AB
Car: 1993 Nissan 240sx
Engine: Turbo KA24DE
Transmission: 5 spd
Axle/Gears: 4.08 VLSD
My 86 has 211k KILOMETERS on it, and it smokes a little on startup, but is otherwise pretty good. The LG4 isnt too strong, but then again, it never was.
The 87 has 250k Kilometers on it and it runs pretty good, save for a little oil consumption and the fact that it is in dire need of a tuneup.
The 87 has 250k Kilometers on it and it runs pretty good, save for a little oil consumption and the fact that it is in dire need of a tuneup.
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From: Arcadia ,Ca
Car: 82 firebird s/e 83 Trans Am
Engine: 5.0L 305ci 4b carb.....CFI
Transmission: TH200C....700R4
my car had 67,000 miles when I bought her in feb of 04........now it has 97000 miles,I know its not as much as other cars mentioned here but have put a shizload of miles on her in the 10 months I have owned her...................
however ,my 1st car the toyota cressida made it to the 300,000
mile club before it went out of commision..........
however ,my 1st car the toyota cressida made it to the 300,000
mile club before it went out of commision..........
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
From: New York City
Car: 1986 IROC
Engine: 355 Tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt 3.27
My other 86 has 252,413 in the parking lot at work, SCCA, drag racing etc.. I replaced 4 700r4 trans (two were built by an idiot) 1 10 bolt and about 8 valve springs (tranny #2 came apart WOT on freeway 3rd gear 7Krpm. Heads never been off, uses a quart of oil every change. I have to run 20w50 in the summer to keep oil pressure safe though. 305 tpi. Oh yeah 6 injectors are OE. Best motor I've ever had....Wish it had moree power
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Finland
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI (L98)
Transmission: TH-700r4
Re: Whos got the highest miles 3rd gen out there?(without engine work!)
My friend has an '89 Camaro RS (305), I checked the odometer on it once and it said ~500 000 miles!
As far as I know the car's engine has had no serious work, just replacement of oil, plugs and such, even so it's mighty impressive.
The car is starting to get all kinds of little problems, like one time it wouldn't start, he had to go under the car and hit it somewhere with a hammer, various electrical equipment is failing too, cruise control has give up the ghost and one time when I was driving it home(designated driver) in the winter it stopped blowing warm air, again he went out and hit something in the engine and the warm air came back
As far as I know the car's engine has had no serious work, just replacement of oil, plugs and such, even so it's mighty impressive.
The car is starting to get all kinds of little problems, like one time it wouldn't start, he had to go under the car and hit it somewhere with a hammer, various electrical equipment is failing too, cruise control has give up the ghost and one time when I was driving it home(designated driver) in the winter it stopped blowing warm air, again he went out and hit something in the engine and the warm air came back
Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: nebraska
Car: 90 RS, 83 z28, 85 ranger
Engine: none, 350, 2.8
Transmission: none, t-5, 5-speed
on my LO3 I only had 126000 before i replaced. There are sometimes when a radiator will hold water is a good thing. running hot for a extended amont of time tends to wreck havoc on parts. i think if it would have held water i'd still be going on it. but up to that point all i had done was an alt, and tune up.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Carson City, NV
Car: 1987 Camaro SC
Engine: LG4 305
Transmission: TH700R4
My '87 Sport Coupe has 112,000 original miles with only routine scheduled maintenance and minor repairs such as the alternator and one waterpump. It does puff a little smoke occasionally upon cold startup, but still requires no oil addition between oil & filter changes. It still runs remarkably well for an 18 year old original vehicle. These cars seem to be very durable if properly maintained.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Pr. Rupert, BC
Car: 91 Firebird Green
Engine: SBC L03 - TBI 5.0L V8
Transmission: WC T5
261,000Km out of my 91' 305 LO3 so far, and has only ever had the fluids changed regularily with some minor work... New TPS as of yesterday, new alternators etc etc.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Grand Terrace, CA
Car: 88 Camaro
Engine: 310 LG4
Transmission: 700R4 w/2200 stall
Axle/Gears: 3.42
265,000 on the old V6 (2.8), the last 10k were REALLY hard since i thought it was only 150k on the motor, DOH! But now I'm down to 0k since i'm doing a swap to a V8.
91 RS 305 700R4 260000 miles just regular service .trans service and oil change. dosn't burn oil and gets 25 miles to a gal. i ran 20/50 castor oil for 200000 miles and changed to caster oil 5w50 senthetic
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 186
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From: West Allis, WI
Car: 85 iroc & 81 sc
Engine: 357 tpi 350 4bbl
Transmission: 700r4/ richmond 4speed
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3.45/3.42 8.5"
Just wondering how much of this is bs saying that most of our odeometers only have 5 digits with the 1/10th white roll. I owned a 79 Malibu 3.3 litre with a 3 speed manual on the floor. the odometer read 13000 when I bought it so I figured 113000. No big deal. I was coming out of work and a lady stopped me and told me she was the original owner and sold it with 190000 on it. My.02
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 156
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From: Pr. Rupert, BC
Car: 91 Firebird Green
Engine: SBC L03 - TBI 5.0L V8
Transmission: WC T5
I'm about to hit 300,000km. 5w30 was starting to burn about 1litre every 800 or so km. I just changed to Pennzoil high milage 10w30 with a tube of Lucas... I havn't burnt any in 1000km. May or may not rebuild the engine this summer. The 3rd and 4th sychros are worn out in the WCT5. If anything, I'll fix that or find one at a wrecker before the engine sees any work. Other than that, she's in pretty good shape.
Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 8,113
Likes: 6
From: NWOhioToledoArea
Car: 86-FireBird
Engine: -MPFI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3:42
210,000 miles
Original clutch and T% trans went south at 200,400 miles. Though the clutch did need floated like a boat to launch decent.
Original clutch and T% trans went south at 200,400 miles. Though the clutch did need floated like a boat to launch decent.
ok i dunno if someone's posted this already since i havent read this whole thread but,,,none of u guys with really high mileage cars have had to replace the timing chain?? i thought chains eventually stretched even at 100k in some cases. im surprised a lot of these cars can go this long without any work.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 300
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From: Rockford, MI
Car: 1983 Pontiac Trans AM
Engine: 355 chevy
Transmission: 700R4 Built
Axle/Gears: Built 10 bolt 3.73 gears
might be a little off subject but my winter beater is an 87 caprice with a 305 roller motor in it. The motor and trans are original and it has 223,000 miles on it!
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: Ohio, USA
Car: '92 Camaro RS, '93 Ranger
Engine: LO3, Vulcan
Transmission: 700R4, M5OD
Axle/Gears: 2.73, 3.45
I had 297k on my '90 Firebird. It burned less oil than my 92 with 175k miles 
I had to sell it due to rust. I had a full record of service and there was just minor stuff like tires, oil changes, strange smells from the passenger side.....
both are 305 TBIs

I had to sell it due to rust. I had a full record of service and there was just minor stuff like tires, oil changes, strange smells from the passenger side.....

both are 305 TBIs
Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 0
From: Spicer, MN
Car: '83 Berli, '84 Berli, '84 Z28 HO
Engine: L69, LG4, L69
Transmission: TH700-R4, TH700-R4, T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08, 3.08, 3.73 Posi
The engine in the car has 225k (minor stuff done like timing chain replacement) car has 200k on it.. with the stock 700r4 that it came with way back in 1983
(Motor has more miles on it because it is older than the car itself, and was in a previous camaro i had that was at 210k before it took a dive into the side of a protoje
(Motor has more miles on it because it is older than the car itself, and was in a previous camaro i had that was at 210k before it took a dive into the side of a protoje
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Deer Park, NY
Car: 1987 camaro, 1994 z28
Engine: 2.8l V6 mpfi, 5.7l lt1 350
Transmission: 700r4 in the 2.8, and t-56 6-speed in the z28
wow im a chump compared to you guys i have 105k on my v6er still runs strong but everything around the motor is going or gone lol my alt is done right now tryin to get one for cheaper then 100 dollars which i think is a ripoff but well see
Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 0
From: Spicer, MN
Car: '83 Berli, '84 Berli, '84 Z28 HO
Engine: L69, LG4, L69
Transmission: TH700-R4, TH700-R4, T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08, 3.08, 3.73 Posi
100$. yea that is a rip.. Mine has a new one.. bought it for $60 at bumper to bumper... never had a problem with it... even with my stereo.. at least not yet lol. and i have had it for 3 years
Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 193
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From: Spokane, WA
Car: 1999 Camaro SS
Engine: 5.7L LS1
Transmission: 6-speed
either 107,000 or 207,000 on my T/A...I don't know for sure since there's only 5 main digits on the odometer (I'm not naive enough to think that I got a 20 year old car with only 7,000 miles on it).
No major engine work...just some cleaning and a few small parts replacements. ^_^ (spark plugs, thermostat, etc).
No major engine work...just some cleaning and a few small parts replacements. ^_^ (spark plugs, thermostat, etc).
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From: Somewhere around the South Side of Chicago just crusin' in one of the Niteriders
Car: 92RS 25th Anniv./88 IROC Z28 Vert
Engine: 305 TBI w/Tpi Air / 305 TPI
Transmission: 700r4/700r4
Axle/Gears: Posi
Thought I would bring this post from the back of the archives.
The '86 has turned 253,000 today and still going strong. Changed the usual stuff, alt, starter, battery, etc., etc. Now running synthetic oil and a smal blue Chevy salute but other than that on some days it runs better than my '92 25th Anniversary. I get offers everyday to sell but it is like a family member. I will have her till the rust wins.
My '92 has a long way to go to keep up with the '86. 95,000 mies with no majors but runs on synthetic oil also.
The '86 has turned 253,000 today and still going strong. Changed the usual stuff, alt, starter, battery, etc., etc. Now running synthetic oil and a smal blue Chevy salute but other than that on some days it runs better than my '92 25th Anniversary. I get offers everyday to sell but it is like a family member. I will have her till the rust wins.
My '92 has a long way to go to keep up with the '86. 95,000 mies with no majors but runs on synthetic oil also.




