I'm buying a 89 camaro RS with a V8, unsure whether it's a 305 or 350 (the block was replaced at some point) and it really doesn't matter. I need to get the car registered and to do that in VA requires an emissions inspection. So I figure I'll give it a nice tune up before I take it in so I can hopefully get through on the first go. However, I realize while I've read a lot about modding a small block, I know little to nothing about maintaining one. So I have a few questions that I hope you guys could give me a hand with.

1. What weight oil does a SBC like? (Example, SAAB spec'd 30 weight for my engine, but they seemed to really like 40 weight)
2. How many quarts does it take?
3. What kind of automatic transmission fluid do I need? (This is only the second auto I've ever owned)
4. What kind of spark plugs do these engines like? (SAAB's demanded NGKs, what do chevys like?)
5. What gap should I run?
6. Any particular brand of plug wire I should buy? Anything I should avoid?
7. Other than a clean air filter, would you suggest anything else for a tune-up?

I think with this effort I shouldn't have any trouble getting the through emissions, assuming the cat works and the reverse gear moves. The engine is quite strong torque wise even if it falls on its face at 4000 rpms (it still has LO3 heads even if it's a 350 shortblock).

 

1: I use 10W30 in my engines, the sprint car I was working on used 20w50. If that gives you an idea of what is appropriate.
2: Your SBC should take about 5 quarts, make sure to fill the oil filter with oil when you replace it or you will starve the engine for oil for a brief moment at start up, IE no bueno.
3: Have the guys at auto zone look up you application. I really dont want to mislead you on this.
4: Im running AC Delco Rapidfire Platinums in my L98 and it loves them, and they are like $3 apiece.
5: Again have the auto zone fellas spec that for you, but I run a .045.
6: As for plug wires you should be fine with a good 8mm wire. Just make sure you get one with radio suppression or you will get interference in your stereo.
7: New O2 Sensor and a big can of throttle body cleaner and of course...SEAFOAM! lmao that stuff is amazing. Just dont do it in a closed garage or you might not make it out alive!

 

It's just a standard 700R4.

It actually has no radio so no problems there.

Never heard of a new O2 sensor, but I guess it couldn't hurt. Of course, throttle body cleaner, I forgot about that. Is seafoam some kind of magic liquid? I've always been really leary of pouring that stuff right in the throttle.

 

1. 10w30 is usually appropriate.
2. I used 5 in mine and it turned out to be about 1/2 a quart over
3.I think some people use atf and some people use gear lube but i would also ask someone to look it up.
4. ac delcos seem too work just fine
5. my camaro came with the spec sticker under the hood that said .045 gap, but there was a correction sticker next to it(for a recall i think) that said .035 so I went with that and it ran great.
6. I used autolite. they are a little better than oem and work good, not high performance though.
7. o2 cencors and if you have the money for it, a new cat for emissions.
I would also get a new distributor cap, rotor, and ignition coil.

these engines arnt that picky and not like a saab, they are a simple but well working design and probably a lot less expensive to maintain.

 

You guys spend too much money or stuff you dont really need

My bi-annual tune-up

Plugs - Shorty header plugs Advance Auto .040"
Wires - Premium replacements for a 95 CK1500 truck 7mm
Dist cap - stock 3rd gen
Rotor - stock 3rd gen

Annual filters
Fuel filter
Air filter

10W-40 on 3k mile intervals from the odometer ex: 190,000 = oilchange

Do not mess with the trans fluid or filter unless you are having a problem with it. The best youll do is stir up the junk in the bottom of the pan and recirculate all of it thru your trans. It took years to get deposited there. You dont want it all instantly floating back thru

Dont bother with the O2 sensor unless you have a problem with it. The ECM is quite capable of checking all of its sensors on a fraction of a second basis. It will let you know if one needs replacing

Dont bother with a new IGN coil unless your headlights dim when you start rolling

A bad cat will royally mess up how your engine performs in general. Replacement should be a needs basis, not a routine thing

Seafoam is good in moderation. It does a good job cleaning out what you cant get with the carb cleaner, but beware. Excessive Seafoam will cause detonation

 

Thanks for that, forgot about rotor, cap and coil. As for the cat, I think I'll keep that as my trump card. If I fail I have to make it pass or spend $450 trying to make it pass. Shiny new magnaflow cats are $380 + an installation fee and I'm at the limit even if it fails again.

Nah, my saab is very well behaved. It gets $45 worth of spark plugs once a year and it's a happy camper.

This camaro is going to be my play thing, I drive the saab everyday. I just need the camaro road legal, which means I have 60 days from the title date to get it emissions inspected.

 

This is more of a one time thing. I don't know how this car was maintained.

 

I suggested an ignition coil because I was having problems with my car when I got it and that turned out to be itand its only like a $20 part. I figured a new one couldn't hurt.

I suggested new o2 censors and possibly a cat because hes trying to pass emissions and those would be the most likely reasons of failing. although I would probably wait until after I failed a test to change those andI should have said to wait or something.


where do you get $380 for a cat from?
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...=MkMdlYrSearch

the MOST expensive is $243 and the $58.00 dynomax one probably works just as well.

 

I was looking at the fancy dual setup that's also an upgraded Y-pipe. If I'm doing the cat, might as well upgrade at the same time.

 

If thats the way you want to go then i would just upgrade the whole exhaust since upgrading one thing wouldn't make a diffrence since the rest is still restrictive. I myself am going to get headers very soon, a custom y-pipe, cat and a magnaflow cat back. should be pretty awesome

They make some very nice emmisions legal headers called "hooker 2055" and I know a lot of people on here use them.

 

The OP was asking about a good tune up. Not problem fixing

Like posted above, no point replacing a part if you arent positive its shot
And no, O2 sensors are NOT the #1 reason for a emission failure. O2's are the main sensor to determine if the mixture is correct. If its slightly off from ANYTHING upstream it will throw a O2 related code because the O2's are indeed reading out of spec. Do a search on O2s and when people swap them. They usually get a new O2, clear the code and the next day have the same issue because the problem was upstream

If you want a specific example, look up Code 32

 

All in good time. Emissions first, then transmission, and then I'll go fast!