I just found out that Im goin to get a tune up tomorrow, what sparks plugs should I get. Also new im getting new shocks which kind should I get?

 

Sparkplugs you will get 1000+ answers. Personally I like the ac delco rapid fires.

The platinum +4 don't seem to work well in these engines.

Shocks, I like monroe, gabriles seemed nice on some of my previous cars.

 

new shocks ? and springs ? , I just got new shocks the otheer day, and damn.. you'll notice a BIG difference with anybrand I say, I cant wait till I install some new springs,

 

Depends, I've heard the Monroe Sensa-Tracs aren't bad for a cheaper replacement...

personally, I'm going for a set of KYB AGX series on my '88....

 

Sensatracs cheap? I haven't priced 'em lately, but back in '96, I paid $90/each for the front struts. Although, that price -did- include installation.

Bigpuncp27, are you having the tuneup done for you? That's not good... you're going to pay more $$ and have less work done than if you did the job yourself. Why not try it yourself? The usual $100 tuneup is changing the oil, oil filter, air filter, plugs, fuel filter, and maybe the plug wires. You can do a major tuneup and replace over 3 times that much.

 

Will having bad shocks and springs in the back;
-Make it harder to chirp or spin the tires?

-Make it harder to burn out?

- Cause the rear end of my car squats when I floor it.
And the back sits a bit lower then the front.

thanks

 

Don't know on the first two, Yes for the second two

 

Your back sits LOWER than your front? :P Definitely bad rear shocks...back should sit at least equal, usually a tad higher than the front. But having bad rear shocks and springs in the back...I would ASSUME it would make it harder to chirp and burn out, because the car's going to squat much easier, which means it's pressing down on the rear tires more...same effect as adding weight to the back end, which means better traction. But crappy rear shocks/springs, while it could help your launch, will make your car handle badly. But I'm no auto tech, so...

 

BTW: Spark plugs-STAY AWAY FROM PLATINUMS!!! I just put some in about 2 weeks ago..they're fouled already. The stock ignition is too hot..devours those tiny, colder Platinum electrodes..

 

So since my rear end sits low and bottem out a lot, Do I need Shocks or Springs?
I am getting $400 bux soon from a old 'friend' that nicked the nose on my car and made a crack in it, But **** him, I will try to
Fix it myself. Then I will have rougly $300 canadian in my pocket.

Debating... -- Exhaust (muffler has a BIG 4" long slit in it and leaking like mad, and some other pipes are leading. Might get a cat-back.

OR

I need new reear tires for the winter. MY right tire is a 'home made' Drag Slick lol. I'mn just gonna get 2 rear tires.

OR

Rear End Shocks and Springs....

 

That's a hell of a choice, Mike. Look at it this way for spending that money.. Tires is the normal, sensible thing to do...but I've never met a Camaro owner that is normal and sensible. So, you can do that...depending on how bad those tires are, maybe you can get away with putting your slick on rear driver's side.. I've got a slick too so believe me, I know where you're coming from. Now, if you dont want tires, you have to choose between speed and handling. Do you accelerate more, or do you like to slide through parking lots, do your own little slalom runs, scare the **** out of the people on your streetcorner...lol... That's what you've gotta decide. As far as having to replace the shocks or the springs, I'm really not sure which would be responsible for your ride height, but I'd assume a little of both. Are your shocks mushy? Do the speed bump test...roll over one at a few different speeds and see how your back reacts. That's a shock test. If it sinks down and kinda rides back up, really softly..then your shocks are bad...they should have a pretty quick rebound. Springs...well, the car will just sit funny and handle bad probably. Do the cheaper of the two first. I haven't looked into spring prices, but I assume shocks are cheaper...so do the shocks, if that doesn't fix it completely, do springs. Hope that helps!

 

How long has it been since any of those were replaced? If they're still all original equipment from '86, you should replace them all. I shoulda replaced my springs years ago... I'll be doing it this summer. But shocks don't affect ride height... they dampen the spring. So if your rear sits too low, you probably need rear springs. You might also have one broken/sagging rear coil that's throwing the whole car off. Example, say the right rear coil is sagging. This will lower the car more in the back, and raise the front right of the car up more. Kinda like a table with one leg that's too short... messes up the whole table.

 

Speaking of shocks...anyone know of a good brand of shocks? I'm looking for ones that will keep my handling very good, but at the same time not be too hard and jerky..my current shocks are stiff as hell, it's irritating because the rebound is so harsh and instantaneous that even hitting a little pothole, the entire car hits pretty violently....not to mention the constant vibration from the road is rattling my louvers all loose!

PS-Shocks and struts...what's the difference? Do we even have struts?

 

We have struts in the front, No idea whut in the back.
I shoul be getting that 400 soon, plus another 300-400 for my guitar, plus another 200 bux for the amp I am selling LOL
I will have like 1,000 Canadian...
I might get headers from Chc too, But I have no idea how much an exhaust shop would charge me... prolly an arm and a leg...
I'm just gonna get some used tires from somewhere, Just cheap replacements for now.. The roads have been wet/hazzy/snowy here latly so the 'homemade' slick doesnt grip.
If I can pick up a set of 2 215/65/r15's for $100cnd or 2 235/60/r15 for $100cnd I would be happy.
Then I could buy rear Shocks/Springs. say about.. $200cnd for both..

Then the Dynomax exhaust is $230 so right there is $530.. plus taxes.

I like driving fast/ and taking turns fast lol.

I have no Idea when (if) the rear shocks or spring were replaced cause i got the car a year ago.

 

Struts in front huh... Gotcha.. I'm gonna have to look and see if mine are original..I think the fronts are, but the backs are BRIGHT red so I highly doubt they're original..dunno what they are though..

 

BTW..I like accelerating fast but not driving fast..and I'd like taking turns fast too if I didn't have so little tire grip and so much body roll. Has difficulty pulling a 90 degree at 30 mph..that's sad.

And I'm running 235-60R15 BFG Radial T/A's too...

 

Fastest II took a 90degre is at like 55km/h and the back end started sliding out, lol

 

About 35 mph..not bad for a fairly weighty, rear wheel drive car..not bad at all. In my dad's Cavalier, I can pull one at 30 mph easy. 35 I can do with some serious effort. 40...I did it once...almost suicidal. All the way from the outside, HARD on the inside and very early, and a slide to the outside... Can't say it wasn't fun though... Only good part about that car is it's front wheel drive..its tires are small and lack grip and it's got a lot of body roll with a high center of gravity.