Need some opinions on what I should do as far as my car goes... - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

enRo · 12-21-2006, 01:45 AM

Well, Im almost ready to go back to work, and Im almost ready to start working on my car again. But I need some help as to which route I wanna go down...

Ill be honest... there is something internally wrong with the car. Actually, there is ALOT of things wrong with my car. I had my oil changed (since I cant do it myself ATM) about 1000 miles ago... guess what, my oil is empty (good thing I caught it). It managed to eat ALL of my oil in the matter of 1000 miles. So im scratching my head... it also smokes WAYYYYYY too much. When I turn the car off, the exhaust is still smoking for about 10-20 seconds, depending on how windy it is outside

. My gas mileage is soo ****ed up it amazes me... when it was stock, I drove 160 miles upstate NY and only used a 1/4 tank... Recently, I went to Harrisburg, PA not too long ago to take my friend to pick something up from "Dans" house... i had to fill up TWICE, and that wasnt even a long trip. There is a grinding noise (could be the flywheel) but it sounds like its coming from the engine bay, and only does it in low RPMs in drive... (mostly overdrive) (i personally think its valvespring related). I have a broken header bolt that needs to be taken out and retapped. Honestly, I dont know **** about internals which is why I wont even pop the valve cover off, cuz my luck Ill break something even more. The exhaust has more leaks than a babys diaper... The rear is WHINING horribly. My breaks are so bad, it feels like my rotors are all warped. And the car only has 56k miles on it

Ill be honest, I dont "abuse" the car, but once in a while I will get on it, but its not like Im on autopilot to speed up real fast etc etc. I lost all hope in this car when I got my sunoco hood DAMAGED (figured that would put me in the "fix it/mod it" mood....

Now, I either wanna get it all fixed back to stock... which will result in a trade-in for something Im unsure of yet... Or I can have the car fixed to the point where I really dont have to worry about problems here and there... going all out is prolly not an option cuz I really dont feel like sinking ALOT of $$$ into the car, since it is really disappointing me ATM (it could be an option if I get everything fixed so I can take a deep breath and say "Ok I want to start modding again")... but the thing is, I have NO connections to get the header bolt taken care of, cuz thats #1 on my list... and no im not removing the heads myself as I said before, Ill prolly break something.

So what I ask of you people, what shall I do? Be serious too. If you have connections that you can set me up with, to get most of this stuff fixed, I will deeply appreciate it. If you think I should just throw everything back into the car, stock manifolds and all, and trade it in, I might consider. I have anywhere from $30,000 - $80,000+ coming to me prolly at the end of next year from my settlement for my injury... but Im not waiting that long... i want the car FIXED...

Any help please. Thanks =)

-Noah

*EDIT* Not to mention, most of the shops in my area wont touch my car cuz it doesnt have cats :-\

ryanfx · 12-21-2006, 02:23 AM

well if you're serious about getting it fixed, the first logical step would be to invest 100 dollars into two cats to get it mildly "legal" so some shops will even bat their eyes at it. If you are getting this kind of money coming to you what I believe you should do in the short run is to simply get a beater, trade in your tags on the Z and, just let it lie low for the time being. Once the money comes in, you can simply replace the bad parts with good, in chunks, and start fixing things one by one. Make a manageable list and mark it by priority.

It sounds like you are overwhelmed with the car and this make help making it a little more manageable!

EDIT: and I think we'll all forgive you if getting a civic will be the greater good of the Z =p

Mike · 12-21-2006, 05:01 AM

noah whichever route you go, i would try doing it without the help of your settlement...maybe use bits and pieces of it to finish up, but keep the main chunk together to put a downpayment on a home, or somthing else of signifigance

Batman · 12-21-2006, 06:09 AM

I think my shortblock is still good. It would have to be checked out but we could probably work some kind of deal to save you some $$$$. I even still have my old 241 heads. I agree. Pull the tags off, park it for the winter and think through what you want to do and what you can afford to do before you jump the gun on anything. Sounds to me like you lost a piston ring and are getting blow by into the combustion chamber. Other option you have is roll the dice, take your engine apart and if the block is good just get it re-built with good bearings and rings.

BonzoHansen · 12-21-2006, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbrrmike

noah whichever route you go, i would try doing it without the help of your settlement...maybe use bits and pieces of it to finish up, but keep the main chunk together to put a downpayment on a home, or somthing else of signifigance

What he said. Don't spend that money on the car at your age. I pissed away lots of cash on lots of stuff when I was younger and it made buying a house much harder.

EDIT: Oh, I forgot the “what to do” part:

1. Sell it as is. If you are going to sell it, this could be the best route. Least aggravation, no more money required.

2. Get a motor from a used or yard, put it in and sell it. Make it legal too. You might not make anything extra, you might even lose some money compared to option #1, but you might learn a lot if you do it, even if you are just helping. If you have to pay to have this done, go back to #1. You’ll most likely lose money.

3. If you get a very trustworthy used motor, then do that & keep it.

4. Buy a crazy new big cube motor and keep it.

I’d buy a beater in any event. It is so much more fun to work on a car when you don’t need it to get to work tomorrow.

Oh, on the settlement, IMO, the most you should use on a car (or anything) is 10%. Bank/invest the rest. You will thank yourself 10 years from now.

jimmyboy8301 · 12-21-2006, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbrrmike

noah whichever route you go, i would try doing it without the help of your settlement...maybe use bits and pieces of it to finish up, but keep the main chunk together to put a downpayment on a home, or somthing else of signifigance

best idea ever, possibly invest or what not, but DO NOT blow that money on a stupid car reguardless if it's a beautiful F-Body.

jimmyboy8301 · 12-21-2006, 10:57 AM

maybe buy a used car as a daily driver and fix up the Z28 as you get money. Maybe use a little from the settlement and by little I stress A LITTLE. Make the car a project.

DieselKickYoAss4Sure · 12-21-2006, 11:25 AM

Screw it! go all out save money up get the engine rebuilt make a little more Hp ANd keep driving it! but dont use money from your settlement!

enRo · 12-21-2006, 01:47 PM

Well ya, im investing alot of money from my settlement, I would like to use some of it to toy around with tho. But in any event, thanks for the opinions guys. Keep em coming.

Anti_Rice_Guy · 12-21-2006, 03:02 PM

Vito's in Dover on Blackwell Street (close to the bridge that connects Blackwell street Rt. 10 (Salem street possibly?). My dad's bud, great guy, good old boy mechanic. Not expensive either. I'd check to see how bad it is, and that would decide for me how badly I want to fix the car, or how much it will cost to fix it. If it'll cost a lot or you're not real attached to the car, I'd probably sell it. AS is.

WildBillyT · 12-21-2006, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDaddyKane

Well ya, im investing alot of money from my settlement, I would like to use some of it to toy around with tho. But in any event, thanks for the opinions guys. Keep em coming.

First- I'm glad you are doing better, and will be 100% soon.

Second- As others said, don't blow your settlement money.

As for what to do-

Buy a beater, so you won't be without wheels if you have to disable the Camaro for a few days. Then fix the known problems one by one and see what goes away. Leaky headers in particular can really mess with your performance. Fill it with oil yourself, and check and fill the rear axle since it sounds like it might be low.

Just go step by step fixing things.

ar0ck · 12-21-2006, 06:18 PM

Pick up a nice daily driver, and tuck the camaro away untill you are 100%. The way I see it is no matter what you do you seem to loose in the end with something

r0nin89 · 12-21-2006, 08:43 PM

If your rear is whining and your still driving it fix it before it costs you more than it needs to... My rear recently went out in my pickup and took all the bearings in the third member and 1/2 the ring and pinion teeth with it. Thats a $800 adventure if you dont know someone...

WayFast84 · 12-21-2006, 08:48 PM

sell it on ls1tech im sure plenty of people will want that sex of a machine, even if it has a few problems.

Teds89IROC · 12-21-2006, 10:34 PM

I'd pick up a beater like everyone else is saying and fix the camaro problem by problem. At that time you can also decide if you want to fix it back to stock or fix it with performance.

unstable bob gable · 12-21-2006, 11:20 PM

I'd put nawz, twin turbos, and a blower on it! But first I'd pick up a beater, bank most of yer settlement bux, and get back to the Camaro at a better, later date.

BonzoHansen · 12-22-2006, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unstable bob gable

I'd put nawz, twin turbos, and a blower on it! But first I'd pick up a beater, bank most of yer settlement bux, and get back to the Camaro at a better, later date.

I thought you'd say sell it and buy a T-Type.

Brando56894 · 12-23-2006, 06:10 PM

fix it and keep modding that bad boy!

Rich189 · 12-24-2006, 08:42 AM

no matter what you do your going to lose money imo.... if your not attached to the car and dont want the frustration or would prefer something else then sell it as is.... if your attached to the car buy a nice h/c shortblock and do the tranny/rear at the same time and spend the money once and not have to worry about it.... just dont dig to deep into the settlement money.... and buy a beater