ok, after 2.5 months of work and saving up cash, I have finally gotten my 3rd gen to the point I am having the mrs put insurance and tags on it here in the next day or two. So I have a few last minute thoughts, and qucikie repairs to do.

I have gave it a good tune up, cap/rotor, plugs, wires, rad flush, tstat, oil, hoses, belt, sprayed tb off while I had it apart. Anything I miss???

I need to put shocks on the rear soon, whats a good brand/model for these? I'm not trying to race it, just a zippy every day car.

It idles high, and kinda ruff, I am giving some credit to the car sitting 6-7 months before I got it, and another 2-3 of me just moving it around the yard, quick 30 sec moves, so I'm sure theirs alot of crap built up in the engine. Should I be giving that much credit to it sitting, or should their be a few sensors I need to change, IE: IAC,Oxygen Sesnsor, TPS, bla bla bla??

I need this to be a realiable car for my woman and kid to ride in!!!

Much thanks to all who respond, and have helped me get the car this far!!!!:hail:

 

OO, yea, forgot, I havealso put on it:
air filter when I made the CAI.
Got rid of the GM plastic wheel bearings, yes they were still their after 12 years and 165100 miles
I put wiper blades on it, they melted to the windshield, so I gotta get new ones of them.
Front break pads are fine, gotta replace a hose on the right side.
Tranny has been rebuilt, so new filter, fluid, and tranny mount is now assembled properly.
All lights work.

 

Feels good to get it this far, doesn't it! I would say that if you are not looking to spend much money, just go down to AutoZone or somewhere like that, and get a good set of factory replacement shocks for it. Just getting it back to factory specs will be a big improvement over shocks that have 100K+ miles on them. I think that I would run a tank full of 93 octane gas and a couple of cans of fuel system cleaner through there and see if it gets better. If it doesn't, then probably look at the Idle Air Control Valve. Your car should idle at about 1200 RPM when it is cold, but should drop down to about 600-700 RPM when it gets warmed up. Check your tires good for dry rot. Tires don't do to well sitting out in the sun on a car.

Good luck and happy driving!

 

I would go with the 93 octane but don't use the bottled cleaners from the store. Your 3.1 is equipped with Multec injectors and GM advises that no cleaner be used. Maybe a shop can clean them if necessary. Did you clean the IAC?

 

Oh yeah one more thing -- Did you check the timing? After 165K, I'd throw a timing light on it to make sure the timing mark is holding steady. If it's dancing around, I would change the timing chain

 

Dale, I've still got the plastic outer wheel bearings on my car! The bearings look fine, too- I repack them every time I change the brake pads. I'm going to finally replace them when I rebuild my front suspension.

I bet you can't wait till that's on the road! Any rear shock will be better than the old originals... KYB makes some GasAJust shocks that cost $20/each thru Summit. The GR-2 struts are $60. KYB's making adjustable struts now for our cars, the "AGX" series, and they cost $120/each, but I don't think they make an adjustable rear shock.

 

OO, tires are damn near brand new, got a nail in one and had to replace it. but no dry rotting on them

If the injectors are bad, I am gonna get a set from pull it yard, and send them off to that place tomp suggest

I didn't put a timing light on it. When I start it up, it revs up to about 2000 then slowly drops to 1500 or so?? I just dont like how it "lurches" when you put it in gear

I have not pulled the aic out, actually havent even looked for it

Shocks, I was thinking of monroe gas charged. Think they should be fine??

And I would have fun driving it, but its for the mrs But I am sure I will drive it a bit. Some how gotta sneak in it and install a power chip for it. Think she would notice??

 

LOL! Might need to check the idle speed, and maybe reset the IAC. I think the procedure's called "TPS & IAC" under the thirdgen.org tech section. I think the Monroe's would be fine; I have monroe sensatrac struts on the front, and they were awesome when I first put them on. Over 100,000 miles later, they're shot- I suppose I could call them on their "lifetime warranty"... I bet they didn't think anyone would keep a car that long... but I want a new brand of strut. I'm probably going with the KYB's for $60/each. Let me know how you like the Monroe's, I'm probably going to lose the air shocks.. even though I love 'em.. but with a front end rebuild kit in, I want this car to handle like it's on rails. Since I don't street race anymore; hell, I barely even speed, I can get my "kicks" in the twisties.

 

I will find and tinker with the iac tonight, shouldnt be to hard to find

Right now, I am just getting back shocks, not fronts. (it needs them, just little short on funds) I have always been fond of monroes, and gabriel hasnt done me bad either. It has quite a bit of sway in the car, but for 12 years old, not bad. Plan on replacing all the swaybar bushings soon.

Life time warranty, HAHA, yea, that means 5-7 years usually. If I think I have gotten my $ out of a "lifetime" part, I make no comment, and go get another.

Think she will notice the 15+ hp a chip is to give it?? I bet I could have it installed in about 10 min I can do that while shes giving the littlin a bath

 

Arh, I went to clean the IAC, I snapped the damn screw off in the throttle body I attmpted to drill it out, and re-tap it. Lets just say I $#^&^ it off even more. So, is their a tb rebuild kit avaliable, and just replace part I fubared, or am I better off getting a diff one out a junk yard? BTW, it was very very dirty, cleaned it up, plugged it back in, held down buy one screw. Now it idles VERY ruff?? WTF?? Any suggestions??

 

Lucky that's all you did. When I was putting the TB back on I cracked the upper plenum right where the "ear" that the bolt goes in connects to the rest of it. 647 bucks from the dealer. I just put some JB weld on it and no problems since. I think this car is cursed too. We, me and my dad, go to rebuild the headlight motors, HE snaps the bolt of the motor housing. I'm beggining to think I shouldn't even touch the car anymore but I can't help it!
David