Hi, my name's Chris. I just bought myself a 1990 Firebird Base 3.1L v6 for 1400 dollars. I love my new car, and I want to make it run as smooth as I can.

First off, I probably bought it about one month ago. I think there's a leak in the radiator, the antifreeze goes fast but it never overheats. Maybe the reservoir is what's leaking. I haven't really checked. There's also a problem with the muffler and one of the exaust pipes. It has the (factory?) dual exaust but it's loud. My dad thinks the muffler is clogged, so I'm going to get a new one. Also, there's a hole in one of the pipes. My question is, should I buy a new pipe or just get a "Sealer kit" from Autozone?

I'm new to car work, my dad's real good at it but we don't have much time to do anything together since he's got a bad shoulder and doesn't get home from work until after it gets dark.

Now, what I've done to the car. Very simple stuff-
6 new double platinum spark plugs
Spark plug wires
New "premium" distributor cap
New "premium" rotor
Oil Change
Fuel Filter (Which was still stock when I replaced it. A lot of gunk came out)

One thing I did was bend the fuel line a little. It's metal. It didn't seem to change performance or anything, because I bent it back best I could. But I'm wondering if I should take a hack saw to it and put on a new rubber fuel line instead of keeping the bent up metal on there, since it did end up a little smaller than the original fuel line.

I also would like to know any recommendations anyone has for a "Complete" tune up for the car, any maintenance I can do. Now I'm 19, just lost my job recently, don't have a big budget, but my car is my first priority.

I've been looking at things like cat back exausts, and I think it would be a good experience for me to do something like that, but with the v6 is it worth it? And I don't have 1500 dollars to get a 350 for anyone who says I should. I've been reading these forums a lot, probably atleast a half hour every day since I found the site, a week after I got my car. I apologize for the complicated first post.

My whole point- or question - is, what all should I do to my car to make it run nicely for the next few years, should I get the engine "cleaned" somehow, or anything? How about the under body? It only has 80k miles on it. What kind of maintenance should be done? What do 02 sensors do?

Again, I apologize for being so.... detail oriented.

 

Chris,

The best favor you can do your car is to keep it clean and change the oil every 3000 miles... more often if your oil gets dirty.

Any repairs you do to the exhaust pipe will be temporary -- but new exhaust systems run about $300 or more. So, do what makes sense, but safety should always come first. You don't want fumes leaking into your car.

As a Dad with limited free time myself, I suggest that you offer to lighten Dad's load at home a bit in exchange for some help with the car. You could also just ask him to guide you by offering advice and teaching you things that you can tackle on your own.

Don't even think about engine swaps unless you have lots of time and money that you weren't going to spend doing anything else. It sounds like you got a nice car... enjoy it.

 

I would start here https://www.thirdgen.org/mods101 with getting a nice base to start from for the car, sub frame connectors at minimum. Cat-back would be a nice addition as well because of the HP gain and great new sound.

As for tuning up the car start with things like a K&N air filter and learn how to play with/set the timing. Also think about using some throttle body cleaner to clean up some of the carbon buildup from over the years.

 

I've never heard of playing with the timing. That sounds like something my dad and I should tak about. And the K & N Airfilter I can buy for 35 bucks, so I'll make that a priority. I will make sure to talk to my dad about how to do the sub frame connectors, and I'll have to to bolt on instead of weld. My dad says he stinks at welding, and I don't have the money to have it professionally done. Especially if I spend 200+ on the part. That does sound like a good idea from what I've looked at now though.

And my dad and I have a special relationship. It's just him and I. We both procrastinate a lot. I'm 19. I usually have a job but recently lost mine. I do a lot of the household chores but he has a bad shoulder, so even when I do have him around to work on the car with me, he can't do anything under body. because if he gets on the ground, he messes up his shoulder.

My dad and I hang out every night. On the computers. For the last 6 or so years I've been a computer nerd, and so has he. But he used to hot rod. Used to have a Cuda, a Nova, a 79 Camaro and a Vega. He talks about them all. I actually have inspired him to start thinking about cars again. He didn't want a new older car until recently, when I started talking about buying a Firebird. Now he wants a '77 Trans Am. And I want him to get it too, we can both have some fun.

The things I plan to do to my car, please tell me if I'm headed in the right direction

1 - Sea foam the throttle body and gas tank

2 - Fix Muffler/get new exaust pipe until I can afford a full new "catback exaust"

3 - Replace 02 sensors

4 - Get new Monroe shocks/struts (The car pumps a little too much in the back, with Monroe they're cheap and have a lifetime warranty. I read a lot of reviews for them, they don't seem like that bad of an idea. But people say they make the ride "Soft" for the front nose, and for the life of me, I have no clue what that is. Someone please explain.)

5 - Sub Frame Connector sounds like a smart idea that I'm going to have to talk over with my dad, because I have no clue how to do it, but maybe it will stop my car from bottoming out so easily along with the new shocks/struts

6 - Just looking over those "Basic modifications list" all four of those sound like a good idea, and good experience. They work themselves up to 1000+ dollars, but maybe I can find some aftermarket parts in a junk yard that someone put on their car before crashing it.

1000 bucks to make my car have good structural integrity, sounds like a beautiful idea. Then maybe I can jump up to things like headers? I don't know how those work out for most or if they're worth it. Then after the new headers and a new exaust... Then, maybe, after getting a job and making a decent amount saved... I can do some sort of engine swap. That's my master plan. I need to start reading books on it right now. Complicated stuff.

Oh and a paint job. Oxidation sucks. It's the only thing I didn't like about that car.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/...0&fpart=1&vc=1

That's such an interesting thread for when I get a garage. I wouldn't call my car a bucket, but I know that any paint job I get for it will make it look better than it does now. I just wish I had a garage...

I'm so happy I got this car. I wanted a car that if I really worked at it, it would be sporty and nice, and not too expensive. A big upgrade from my '89 Thunderbird.

 

Are you crazy? That's exactly what I thought 5 years ago when I got my 1st Camaro - then I got bit by the bug! 5 years and $13,000 later, I'm still scratching pennies out of the couch cushions for that next mod!

OK - you covered the basic tune up. Exhaust isn't that expensive - especially when we're talking a V6 car - you don't have 800 horses needing an escape route. Get a new stock intermediary pipe replacement at local muffler shop (stay away from chain stores, go to a real muffler shop) - about $80 I think. Another $90 will get a Hooker Aerochamber muffler - quiet until you stomp it, great flow, easy install (again at local muffler shop). I wouldn't get crazy on exhaust - Aerochamber and stock I-Pipe will be plenty for any mild 350 you install later. Headers not worth the trouble I wouldn't think on a V6.

Check timing - a simple $30 Harbor Freight timing light is all you need, and set it at stock settings, take a drive, and then bump it up a few degrees, and drive it again to see if it helps.

If you don't have the Serveice Engine Soon light on, and no codes for the O2 sensor, leave it - nothing's wrong with it.

Rear shocks are easy driveway job - they attach in the trunk under the carpet there are two foam triangles - remove those and you'll see the tops. Jack up rear, loosen tops, loosen bottoms, replace. Monroes are soft compared to other expensive jobs - but for now we're worried about safely driving and not 400hp canyon carving.

Get under the car and replace the sway bar end links - these always rust out. Can get stock rubber ones for abou $30 front and rear, or Energy Suspension polyurathane for about $50 front and rear - Autozone has them on the shelf - same size for front and rear.

Sub Frame Connectors are great, and highly needed in these cars - but I wouldn't rate it a priority this month unless you plan on some hard driving. You can do bolt-ons, and then have them welded after they are in place - that way you can save the labor of paying a welder for the whole job. They need to be installed with the car on all four tires and level and straight.

Check and replace vacuum lines! They get old and crack, causing leaks - it's amazing how a vacuum leak can make a car run like crap.

I'd spend any money I had on new brake lines first - can't GO until I know I can STOP! The rubber lines between each wheel and the hardlines gets worn and will balloon when brake pressure applied, causing sloppy brakes.

Definitely oil change every 3000 with filter.

Flush out coolant system and refill with good 50/50 mix.

Another suspension add on would be the "wonderbar" if you don't have it on that car - about $100 from TDS (a sponsor here at TGO).

Get that far and you'll be ready for daily SAFE driving to/from that next job! And you'll NEED that job - 'cause the bug will bite you too, and you'll be digging pennies like me!

 

Well, I may go a little crazy too. I've already been looking at so many things to do to the car that I don't even know where to start. You've helped a lot though. Knowing the specifics of the car make it so I don't have to deal with these problems later. Running well is all I need right now, but I have a feeling I will be doing whatever I can to make this car perform once I get the money to do it. Even with my crappy Thunderbird I was willing to shell out all my money so it would keep runnin' well. Reading these forums seems to give me new insight daily. Especially your post.

The first thing I do before I get ANYWHERE with this car, is read a few mechanics and GM vehicles for dummies books. I want to know what everything is before I start taking things apart.

I need me some knowledge. I'm going to look around this site for recommendations on books to read for car knowledge. I really do need it. So far all the knowledge I have is "What people say is good" and what I have done myself. (Plugs, brakes, plug wires, caps, rotor, fuel filter, oil changing, and the basic of taking off my intake manifold and valve covers to change the gaskets, but that was on my Ford.)

Looking at an engine, all I can really tell at this time is whether it's a l4, v6 or v8. I want my knowledge to be endless. And I'm going to work for that. I'd like a job at a place like Jiffy Lube actually, just so I can look at a lot of different engines and know what is what. Since they gimmick you in to changing everything.

 

Slimp, where do you live? The reason I ask is that I have a complete V6 exhaust system I removed during my V8 conversion. Would sell cheap.

That coolant loss sounds like the dreaded heater core going out.

 

I live in Oregon. I bought one from Autozone... but if you'd sell it to me for cheaper, I can take it back with no problem.

Not many people in Oregon are F body fans though.