The Gaffer

Hey everyone, just bought my son a 1984 auto Camaro up here in the frozen north, 225k kms on the engine seems to be fairly well looked after by a HD mechanic. Obviously plan on giving it the once over when I get it home
- oil and filter change
- air filter change
- inspect the brakes and suspension
- probable tranny flush/refill

Sorry just read Toms Tune up article so will follow that!

Anything else you would recommend I take a look at?

Also, anyone any ideas WTF the second picture is? He emailed it to me with the other pics of the car and parts that will come with it ??? Didnt want to appear too dumb by asking him

RubberDucky

iTrader: (4)

Second pic is a ring and pinion. Other than the basics check for rust on the frame rails and the floor boards.

Base91

iTrader: (1)

Check the strut towers for rust too. And welcome to TGO.

Gumby

ya wont know the full story till you gut the interior, lost of bad rust you cannot see from the bottom can hide.

and everyone should do it, not hard, can power wash carpet n stuff while out.

The Gaffer

Ok, so went and picked the car up last night, its a bit of a project vehicle, so it aint perfect but drove home 3 hours without issue. Main problems appear to be:

- significant oil leak in front of engine, a buddy who was with me thinks it the main seal between the fuel pump and engine - solution - just order new pump? We did stop regularly and check oil level to avoid damage
- Engine seems to seriously bog down when you floor the gas pedal, runs smooth under a steady load, but he tried flooring it a couple of time just to check and we would get plenty of smoke out of the back end but lots of bogging at front end. Hoping this may just be a carb issue but will check again after I run some seafoam through the thing, the car has been sat for several months.

Any comments or advice would be appreciated

Thanks

Base91

iTrader: (1)

Post more details about the engine. Capacity, condition, noises, any mods etc. etc. Maybe a couple of pics. Get some feed back before throwing money at it.

The Gaffer

I performed an oil/filter change at the weekend, which is about I had time for, I must have drained between 5-6L of oil from the sump????? There must also be close to 1L sprayed all over the engine and underside of hood from the drive home which I cleaned up too, WTF? The manual says that 3.8L is the correct oil capacity, so not sure what the PO was thinking.... this guy claimed to be a HD mechanic, is there possibly something more sinister here?

RubberDucky

iTrader: (4)

2.8L 6*V6 tales 4.5 quarts, what that equates to in metric I'm not sure. The fuel pump for your car should be in the tank, I don't know if the TBI V6s had it under the hood. As for your bogging issue, I'd do a full tune up on it then see if it still bogs down. Check all engine seals and gaskets for your oil leak as well.

Stewie

With that many miles, the engine is probably loose. You might consider using heavier weight 20W50 oil which helps tighten up things in the engine. Being in Canada, I'm sure you'll probably install a head bolt heater.

Enjoy the car. Very fun to drive.

willexoIX

225,000kms = 139,000miles. I have 300,000 miles on mine and still use 30 weight oil and it doesnt leak. 20w50 is too heavy for Canada. 15w40 MAYBE. But unless you have excessive wear there is no reason to run anything but the recommended 5w30.

Check the RTV seal on the front of the lower intake manifold, behind the thermostat housing for an oil leak. Check for rust under carpets and underneath the car as suggested. Check tires for dry rot, and all the suspension bushings for rot/looseness.

RubberDucky

iTrader: (4)

I've never had a V6 make it to 150k. Its all about how it was maintained and treated.

willexoIX

Hehe, I found your oil leak. Which sounds like the same as his. That stupid RTV seal on the LIM.

And yes you are right, which is why I added to the last post.

RubberDucky

iTrader: (4)

I won't lie, I was lax on my maintenance and beat on my V6s, but boy was it fun. LOL

Gumby

over 230K 20-50 yr round, 30W in my T5

Maverick H1L

iTrader: (8)

Um, guys, it's an 84...

1. Weak crank (skinny mains)
2. Smog choked too-small CARB
3. Cruddy heads (smallest ports of any 60* V6 on top of being the stock cast iron boat anchors)
4. First year for the 700R4. Very weak and was upgraded several times until 92.

Fuel pump is located under the driver's side exhaust manifold, not in the tank. Oil leak could be there, could be front main seal, timing cover itself, or could be intake manifold china wall leak (which I seem to have myself at current ). If the fuel pump is where the oil leak is, all you need to do is to get a new mounting gasket.

Only good part of that engine is that it has an aftermarket intake manifold available.

willexoIX

While you are right, he didnt say he was going to modify it. If its going to be a daily then the major tune up stuff is fine. And it being an 84, 20w50 is a HORRIBLE idea.