I have a 84 Camaro Z28, it just overheated one day. I didn't know that it was running dry till it was to late. So my car overheats I let it sit for a day. Next day I try and crank it up. I fill it with water and start it up. The car starts up but its running really nasty and shaking. The min I put it in gear, drive, reverse it turns off. I know my water pump failed and that needs to be replaced. If there is no water running threw the engine will it make the car act like this or did i manage to do a lot of damage to my engine ???

 

Most likely

How hot for how long did it get?

Too hot for too long ( couple of minutes ) may have put you in the replace engine dept

 

Once it started to get hot it made a small knocking noise then it turned off. I would say it ran hot for a few mins before it turned off on its own.

The next day I turned the car on and it was running but running bad. If I messed up my engine were it was needed to be replaced it wouldn't have turned on at all ?? At least that what I was hoping thats why I jumped on here to get some info before I have it towed to a shop to get worked on.

 

If it got so hot it shut it self down you probably did some pretty major damage. When you start it now is there water moving in the radiator as soon as it starts? If so you probably warped a head or a head gasket is shot. Check that first. Is there water in the oil? Or oil in the water?

 

The water pump failed, there is no water running threw the car so I stop turning it on. Any and all the water I put in the radiator shoots right back out the reserve. So i can't really answer your first question.

No, I checked and I don't have any water in the oil.

 

I would do a compression test with all the plugs out. If you get any cylinders that read zero or close to it, pull the heads. It could be a blown head gasket....

Skeeeter

 

I agree with jagdprcp. My car over heated once because my fan quit working and it had a leak from one of the head gaskets, and it stalled out. I replaced the head gasket, and put in a new fan and have had no problems. I had the same thing happen in my old 84 LG4 Z28, I think there is a sensor that is designed to kill the car when it overheats. But it will still cause some serious damage, So compression test, oil change, and a radiator flush to clean out the system as well as replacing the water pump. Hope you get it back on the road soon.