Past month I have been debating whether or not I should keep my V6.


I currently have 123,000 miles, oil psi reads 40 while cruising and 20 psi at idle. Has lots of rust on driver's rear quarter requiring new quarter, needs new fenders, bumpers. Interior needs all new pieces including center console. Engine still runs, but stalls at idle frequently. Mpg wise im only getting 22-24 city and 28 hi-way now. Basically it needs new everything.


Should I keep it and continue to mod it, or call it quits and look for a different daily driver?

 

that depends, you love your ride as much as TomP? or are you quick to change, in my opinion the car is doable if you have the time/money, personally i wouldn't right now because of my newborn (check sig), how ever i do love my car at the very least you coulld part it out or something

 

I think your getting better gas milage then me

 

Nothing you said sounds very bad or hard to fix. Those are also some what low miles for a 60* V6, they last an easy 200,000 with simple maintenance.

mpg sounds fine as you must be having some motor problems, as you stall. If it stalls something is wrong and once fix you may notice better mpg. Body work is just a part of owning cool oder cars.

is the exhaust original? has the cat ever been changed?

a cat should be change at 100,000 or less. They can and do plug n cause funny problems. Seen cars with stalling problems but once going they ran fine. seen one glow red hot on a chevette but it ran fine once you got on the gas.

 

Well I picked up an impeccably maintained '84 V-6.
100000 miles on it. Only problem is surface rust. Even fenders have no perforations. Spare tire compartment is like new. Wheels have obviously been swapped, as there is tons of room, looks kinda weird right now, but still driveable. I was thinking cleaning it up a bit, and just flipping it for a couple of 100 bucks profit, especially since is is the "lowly" V-6. Pobabaly make a good "chick's" car (no offence)
After reading lots of posts on this forum and other topics, I figured I might get a cheap paint job and keep it as a daily driver. I still haven't decided, but I'll have to see how it turns out. I know I'm not going to be racing anyone around, but I've always wanted one of these birds, and I guess the positive is that it won't eat me out of house and home for gas!

 

do the tuneup thing. Erl pressure is gonna be lower at idle than cruising. Fenders/bumpers are relatively cheap & interior swaps, depends on who you know. I got all my stuff free from firebirdjoe (remember him?) and 85 T/A front seats for $40 from a swap meet. After it's all done, you'll have a nice ride w/a known history.

 

Well thanks for the advice. I have finally solved my nagging stalling problem that occurred rarely over 3 years, but shown its ugly face a few days ago. Turned out to be my accel ignition module. GM one lastest way longer, lol I may now stick with more gm or ac delco parts since I know they are garaunteed to work. My car ran kind of rough even with accel box (which was only thing keeping my car from stalling routinely). I haven't reinstalled the Accel box, but now I can honestly say its running the best it has ever run and its so quiet its shocking, hehe.


In case anyone was wondering here is a list of things I changed on my car:


MSD 8.5mm wires
Accel Cap, rotor, ignition module, coil, 300+ box
Bosch Spark plugs,
new distributer
new starter and solenoid
hi flow cat,
Dynomax cat back with hooker muffler with no tailpipes
180 thermostat
my hand-made aluminum intake with K & N filter
upgraded emmissions parts

Engine and trans is basically stock except for those minor parts.



I think its safe to say Ill keep my car for a little longer. You guys are right, nothing on my car is beyond means of tackling, just takes some time. Compared to Tom P I have nothing to complain about.

 

Only 28 on the highway??? I would have killed to be able to get that kind of milage out of my 2.8. I was lucky to get 22-24 on the interstate.

But then again, mine does have the 3.42 gear in it. Hard to say.

I would say leave it alone and just continue driving it. The body can be fixed, but the motor sounds like it's still running good. Mine went to 214k before it went up, and that was only because it detonated for some strange reason.

 

drive it till the wheels fall off then bolt on some more wheels and keep going.and buy another one for a project or to mod up heavily while your driving the other one......

 

you really want something good to do with your car "give it to chairty" **coughs

 

nah just give it to me ..lol

 

Yea man, that gas mileage sounds awesome!! I would leave the engine alone if you are going to keep it because right now Im lucky if I get 23 mpg on the highway.

The other stuff you described didnt seem that hard to fix besides the rust. A new quarter will be a lot of work but if you are going to fix it make sure to do it right or the rust will come right back. I guess thats why they call it cancer....

 

You could do what Idid. Take the 6 out, put in a v8, and then make one hell of a V6 mpfi go-kart

 

I blew mine up, so i'm just going to swap in a LS1/6 speed. There comes a time when the V6 can't take it anymore and you just feel the need to go faster but the engine itself is holding you back. I say sell it and get a better car.

 

Turbocharge it! Keep that 28mpg, and run 14, with the option for 13s and lower down the line!

 

Keep you V6.
Check out my car domain site so I don't have to type all the stuff I have done for my car and what I'm working on.
You know, turbos, Port and polish haeds and intake, valve traine design and building, Titanium parts, fuel system upgrades, New ignition, injectors, over sized tb, mad science gone insane. And the new security system.