Hi everyone, I’m looking at possibly buying a low km (106,000) 2.8 firebird as a new daily. My roadmaster that I was dailying up until last week decided to blow up, and I sold it.

my question is, how reliable is the 2.8? I’ve heard multiple different story’s about how reliable they are. I’ve heard it’s common for them to just blow up, and I’ve heard they run forever.

what are common issues with them?
this one seems to run well, only real “issue” is the coolant looks super bad. Had some milky junk sitting at the top of the rad but after scooping it out of the way the coolant just looks old. Judging by the story of the car I doubt it was ever changed.

 

About as reliable as everything else from the 1980s. Of course anything that is 30+ years old breaks down at least now and then....

 

Wow looks nice! How's the driver's seat and center console cover? I'd say rust... rear inner passenger wheel well. GM spot-welded the inside then covered it with seam-sealer, so what looks perfect = may not be once you poke at it with a screwdriver. Leaves also collect under the hood by the hood release cable (drivers side under the relays), causing moisture and a rust spot on the strut tower. Also the MAF sensor (along the intake, 3 wire connector) might go bad- the orange frequency film should be perfectly flat, not warped. 86 transmission (700r4) is one of the early years, later years got a better fluid pump with more vanes. Make sure the TV cable is adjusted properly so the trans doesn't run on low pressure (but mark where it is first, in case you have to put it back.) You don't think the sludge is from a head gasket? If it's mostly rusty coolant, that could mean a heater core soon...