1984 camaro z28 H.O.

I bought the car last year not realizing everything was dry rotted. It drives fine with no problems except for something with the electric choke. Oh and EVERYTHING leaks.

From the carb to the oil pan leaks.
The powersteering pump leaks(simple fix)
The seals for the steering box and shaft leak
The radiator leaks(simple fix)
The transmission leaks
The trans pump leaks
All emission hoses and all other hoses that i havnt replaced are dry rotted

Again although everything leaks it starts rite up, shifts pretty good, has power(not full potential), and it has never broken down. The hoses would blow when i got to where i was going. Ive taken it to its max once on the highway and its the smoothest car ive driven.

Ive been talking with my uncle about possibly pulling the engine and replacing the gaskets and exc.

What am I getting myself into. My uncle has done many rebuilds and swaps and loves camaros. I havnt really been talking to him because he works alot so im looking for some guidance. Someone to either give me hope or make me realize i wont have the funds.

What price should i be looking at?

 

To add the car only has 76 k miles. Any ideas?

 

I'm starting to think that many on this forum will think that I'm just a bubble burster but; please understand my replies are based upon experience, and not just 5, 10, 15 or 20 years

First, a 27 year old car with only 76k miles????? Is it possible? Sure it is. Is it documented as only 76k miles? You do know that the odometer rolls over at 99,999 miles? Heck, my 89 that I'm restoring only has 65k miles. Do you think I believe that??

Anyway, a 27 year old car. Where do you live? Has it seen road salt? (you do know it's classified as an antique???)

As for what are you getting yourself into; what do you want as the end product? Do you want an almost leak free car that will start almost every tme you turn the key? If so, what you list is a huge red flag that the prior owners just drove it.

You state that the car has power but "not full potential". How do you know? What are you using as a comparison? If you want performance of a 4th or 5th gen then that won't happen without $$$ invested.

The next question is how much time do you have and how much cash? And please be realistic. Does this vehicle need to be your daily driver or do you have other wheels? It sounds as if you are young so will mom and dad allow the car to be tied up in the garage for months? Those are real logistic issues. Do you have the tools or must you buy them? Do you have the money?

As nice as friends and family are, you should factor in the one person on whom you can count on and and that is yourself. Any extra help is just gravy. We all have lives and priorities and sometimes helping you will be shuffled down in the priority list (not to be a bubble burster, just a realist)

So, now that I've scared you, yes, the project can be done. You need to look at all of the bushings, weather stripping, move the carpet and inspect the floorboards, the wheelwells etc. Assume the suspension is shot and needs shocks, struts and bushings. It's a lot of little things that add up quickly and become time consuming. Again, I would bring into question the actual milieage so if you need to replace seals and gaskets, why not open it and rebuild the motor that I suspect has a "1" in front of that number. The same then holds true for the tranny. Right there you are looking at $2,000 minimum to get both done. You then need to fix the accessories and other leaks. If it were me, and I had to set aside a budget, I'd assume brake lines are shot, hoses, weatherstripping et al. I would budget $3,500 minimum and go high of $5,000 because it probably needs new tires.

But, that's if you want to do it correctly and on a tight budget.

Not to be long winded but, I'm doing an 89 RS right now. Yes, it's a 305 and not a fire breathing monster (I already own 2 of those)

I had the engine rebuilt (reman'd actually)
tranny rebuilt with some new hard parts
reman'd t/c
new shocks/struts
bushings replaced
of course all hoses and belts and I mean all hoses, don't need a vacuum leak.
new brakes
brand new complete interior(rugs, leather upholstery, headliner, sun visor, repaired dash)
new tires
new sound sytem
fixed all of the loose *****
everything electrical will be working
shorty headers and y pipe
all new sensors on the motor
AC works great
and I'm now trying to get motivated to sand and then paint the car

In other words, I've rebuilt the car

I will drive it for a while but will then try to sell it for around $5,000

If i can get near that then I'll sell it. Why would a parent buy their kid a $5,000 car from a lot with high miles and in need of maintenance and repairs when the 89 I just did has everything done?

So, it's also decision time for you. Do you have the time, energy and cash to undertake it or should you cut your losees and look for a better maintained vehicle???

 

I am in the same boat I bought my granmoms 84 z28 last year only has 56,000 on the clock, so far I've done tires ,brake hoses ( lines will be done later) , brakes , window sweeps , window triangles, all new springs shocks bushings. I don't have the money to do it all at once but it's not my dd so I did what needed to be done to make it water tight and safe/reliable and now that I'm happy with that I'm waiting to do the motor and trans that leaks but I'd rather wait and build a better motor than just reseal what i have . There's no point in pulling a 76,000 mile motor and trans and just doing gaskets , you'll put it back in beat the snot out of it and bust the rings right off on the ridges then have to pull it again and do it right . Just a opinion from a guy whit the same exact car in what sounds like the same shape.

 

I bought it from the second owners who owned it since 86. They were a really old couple who bouaght it from a dealership(STICKERS STILL ON IT). The wife bought it so she could have something nice but later got bored of it and gave it to the husband. He said he drove it on weekends and occasions mainly. He said it was garaged for the winters and seen rain every now and then in the summer. He also said that through out the years they would stop driving it for 3 to 4 years at a time. And they did this about 4 times. The only time it had maintenance was when something broke. It did get a tune up a sometime but im not sure when. The only thing they said they did was change the oil every now and then. The paint is original and in decent shape. it has some cracking and fading in the back right quarter panel and the left side was replaced at one time and repainted. Before you say it I know I should get a car fax report but I keep setting it aside.

From their story and the condition of the paint and even the engine bay make me lean towards it really being 76k, but yes I dont know for sure.

Yes I know its classified as an antique which is why im trying to keep the original look.

Im kinda unsure now if it actualy is leaking alot or a little from the gaskets since it doesnt actualy drip oil onto the ground(it looks like the howl block is covered in grease or something)

As for the rust. The only actual rust ive seen was on the rear wheel well. It looks like alot of surface rust underneath and the strut tower has no rust either. Door jam has small spec of rust on lower part

As for what I want
I want to keep the engine and trans stock
It doesnt have to be perfectly leak free
Im kinda leaning towards getting it bored (moneys set aside)
It starts rite up everytime i get in, but if that changes im not gonna throw a fit
replaces all hoses and belts



Your rite I dont have anything to compare its power to, but I am not looking for any gaine in power

Ill be doing the rebuild at my uncles who is gonna use some of his 8 weeks vacation. I have alot of trust for him. I spent most of my childhood at his house with my cousin. I strongly beleive it wont be garaged up for months because I can get extra money borrowed if needed and my uncle wont stop until its completed. But yes I do now im not his main priority

Im using my moms car. She used her car to drive to work and back in chicago but developed cancer and is now working at home. Shes supporting me in what im trying to do so im not really worried about a second car.

Ive already had in mind to replace shocks, struts, bushings, and ive already started on replacing weather stripping. The brakes feel good but ive yet to take a look. Wouldnt doubt it needs replacing.

Im not trying to actualy restore the howl car at once. My dream is to keep hold of it as long as possible and do all of these as time goes on

I have the time and the energy and will power. My problem is the cash. My goal is to have a g or more by the time I do it.

I dont know if I answered everything or if what I said even makes sense. But you are not bursting my bubble. Im a youngin but I have a dream and really want to fulfill it. I just dont want to get in over my head before its too late.

 

Oh and it came with brand new fire hawk indy 500 tires all season all around

My cousin(uncles son) brought to my attention doing a complete engine and tranny swap from a 4th gen(probably totaled)

I havnt even thought about it or how i would be done if mounts are different. If the engine and trans are good( it will come with wiring) How much extra work am i looking at? If its a howl big talk then you dont have to waste your time explaining it

 

Got the carfax.

The earliest report was in 86 with 33k
No accidents recalls or anything.
Passed every emissions
and in 97 it had 66k 99 68k and the last reported mileage was in 03 with 69k

So im leaning more towards the truth. However the left rear quarter panel was repainted?