I'm looking for "TomP's Major Tune Up."

yeah, i should have bookmarked it or printed it before, but i didn't, and i'm sorry now. anyways, i couldn't find it in the archives or the tech section. (maybe it's there, and i'm just too dense to find it ) anyways, could someone (or tom) point me in the direction (or repost/email it to me)??

thanks ahead,
Evan

 

Let's see if I can remember it all:
-Oil change (filter too - a PF52 equivalent filter works, 87 (or 88) and lower years specify a PF47 i think - the PF52 is larger, hence more filter area - I personally use the Purolator L24011 I think is the model #).
-Spark plugs (stock AC's are good)
-Spark plug wires - 8mm at least, MSD Superconductors are nice if you upgrade to a good aftermarket coil, such as the MSD Blaster GM. I would recommend getting the MSD Superconductor wires and the coil - makes for a nice difference in throttle response. If not the Superconductor wires (since they are about $75), then either the MSD Helicore wires or Accel spiral wires.
-Replace distributor cap and rotor
-Distributor rebuild - essentially you pull the distributor out, take it apart, clean up the shaft, grease it, put it back together, replace the O-ring on the outer shaft, and some will try to even the gaps between the "fingers" on the top that are under the rotor. Oh! Also, when it is apart, you might as well replace the pick-up coil - it's just $8. Some people replace the Ignition Control Module while they are in there as well.
-Clean out the throttle body, IAC, and plenum with some intake clean FOR FUEL INJECTION engines - not carb cleaner. It's a good idea to unscrew the IAC with the ignition OFF and clean off the pintle on it and spray out the IAC passage.
-Bottle of fuel injector cleaner at the next fill-up.
-Replace the air filter(s) if needed - I like the K&N's myself.
-Replace the fuel filter - quite easy to do really (at least it was on my 87 and 89 Camaro - had no problems with rusted connections or anything like that).
-Check for cracked vacuum lines (or if you can, for leaks). Replace as need with 5/16" wiper hose.

Hmmm...anything else anybody? I can't think of any others right now.

 

I Think Linux has it covered. But here is a repost of a copy of a copy of TomP's Major tune-up guide

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...=Major+Tune+up

 

Timing chain replacement!! You'd be AMAZED what this + distributor rebuild can do for a car with 80k+ miles!

 

btw, here's the original (I think!)

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=62070

 

replacing the timing chain makes a big difference? would you do that yourself or have someone do it for you? if you have someone do it for you, where would u go? how much does it cost? i'm curious about the distributor stuff, too. i'm a poor high school student, and i dont wanna go tearing into the ignition system or go mess with the timing chain just to screw something up and put myself in a bad position.

 

thanks guys, that'll do it.

 

I did timing chain on my 3.4l while its out of the ride. not hard but does require rental of some tools, but you get the deposit back when you take tools back.


Did distributor re-build last night, and it wasn't hard at all. Helped that I had a work bench and assorment of the proper tools at my disposal.

 

Timing chain is no problem... you just need a decent amount of brains, and you should be set. Pick up a Haynes manual on your car, and look at what is involved, and decide if you want to tackle it, or not.

 

squirrley, don't know how you didn't find it... I just reposted it on 12/13/2002 : https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=148806 How'd you do the search? Try doing this search:

Search by keyword: major tuneup
user name: TomP
Forum: v6

That should pop 'em up.

And /technically/, I don't think a distributor rebuild, or a timing chain swap, or replacing the spark coil can count as being part of a major tuneup. Those pieces (distributor, timing chain, replacing spark coil) have much different maintenance intervals... and some (distributor rebuild and spark coil change) might never need to be done.

Dale's right, a distributor rebuild is cake; I rebuilt mine a long time ago and it took me longer to get the distributor in/out of the engine than it did to rebuild the thing! Timing chain is a bit of a pain; two "memorable" moments are scraping the old gasket material off of the aluminum (gouges easily so be careful!!) timing chain cover, and ruining the threads in the snout of the crankshaft by installing the balancer the wrong way.