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Soon to be Camaro owner, tips please
http://classiccamaroclub.mfatw.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2172		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Zanib [Mon Feb 06, 2012 3:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Soon to be Camaro owner, tips please
Hi there,

I have been into American muscle since birth, mainly due to my Dad having a 32' cabriolet and a 39' woody Ford, now its finally time for me to have some V8 Power :D

I'm looking at a 97' Z28 Auto with the LT1 5.7l. Its a 30th anniversary edition. I will hopefully be getting it at the end of the week and i been too see it already, checking the body and rust levels out as well as the owner himself. What I could do with from you guys is any tips or things to look out for when I go to see it again and take a test drive. I have researched a bit on the internet already and things to look for are apparently:

--Side window seals
--Noises from the back, diff whine and bushes
--Hold it @1300RPM and floor it to see if it judders or hesitates
--Check the VIN

Most of this is was not for a 97' though instead for the later LS1 versions, is there anything specifically to check with a LT1?

Many thanks for any help you can give me and I greatly look forward to joining the ranks of all you Camaro owners :)

Ollie
Author:  Z28DUNC [Tue Feb 07, 2012 10:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Soon to be Camaro owner, tips please
Hi Ollie,
I've got a 97 LT1. I would check the diff although this may difficult. I had a problem with mine a year ago and a Chevy specialist (lol) it turned out had not put the correct additive in. However there was only a noise after the diff oil got warm, 30 mins of driving and only when turning.

I don't think the weathers good enough to hold it at 1300RPM and flaw it. All you'll get it the ACS or ACR (cant remember what its called) kicking in and cutting the engine spark + braking the back wheels. I've had my car step out at a ton (2nd to 3rd on a auto) in the wet. Be carefull, theres a lot of torque in these engines developed from low rpm.

There's only going to be so much you can check without borrowing the car for a day!

Sometimes the bushes on the gearbox can split and cause a knocking in the driveline, £15 to fix.

Ask if it's had the plugs and leads changed as this is a big plus. Look up Camaro LT1 plug changes, nasty job.

The rear shocks started leaking on mine. Cost £70 to replace.

I'm sure the other guys will come up with more stuff to check!

Oh and lots of pics when you get it!

Cheers, Duncan
Author:  chevy-stu [Tue Feb 07, 2012 6:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Soon to be Camaro owner, tips please
Don't forget to check the Optispark condition, known issue on the LT1 engine....

Good luck with it though ! :thumbup:
Author:  Zanib [Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Soon to be Camaro owner, tips please
Right then!

I am a proud new owner of a Camaro :D

Weather isn't great yet so the best pics are the ones it was advertised with.

What the car needs is a little TLC, going to change all the oils, plugs (I know its a bitch! :cry: ), new battery and anything else I can think of while its in the air. Is there anything you guys suggest? A good deep clean will do it justice too, think it has been under a tree for a while -__-

Reason I'm getting a new battery is it starts slow, first turnover, but slow. The lights dim sometimes and the interior lights blinks if your sitting still. Also I don't think it holds charge all that well, it does look about 200 years old though! :P Any suggestions on specs for that?

One other thing I noticed is when you still it "clicks" fairly loudly but it sounds much like a relay for rad fans cutting in (and sort of the same time between clicks to be that) doesn't seem to effect it in anyway, just seems quite loud. Any clues?

Sorry to ask so many questions that are potentially very noob but in my experiences the knowledge from forums is always x10 better than from anywhere else. The guides on forums on how to change plugs for example :)

Many thanks guys! I'm sure ill think of more soon.

One other thing, anyone else live near me with a Camaro? Guildford, Surrey.

Cheers
Ollie

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Author:  Z28DUNC [Mon Feb 13, 2012 10:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Soon to be Camaro owner, tips please
Congrats on the purchase!

Take your old battery to ManBatt or somewhere similar and they will match is up for you. The terminals are at the back of the battery so it's not that common. I think my batterys of a big vauxhall/opel of some kind.

Is the clicking sound only when the engine is running?

Theres loads of other Camaro website. Z28.com is a good one. I've used there forums in the past to problem solve.
Author:  chevy-stu [Tue Feb 14, 2012 2:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Soon to be Camaro owner, tips please
Nice car.. :clap:

Looks like a Euro spec one (cos of the mirrors) with a kit and BIG rear spoiler...

As mentioned already, the side mount terminal batteries are the same as some Vauxhalls, so check the CCA and get a similar size one of the same rating..

I'm no 4th gen expert, so hope others will chime in..
Author:  maudyZ28 [Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Soon to be Camaro owner, tips please
nice buy dude, and welcome to the club

you can get an optima red top battery for about £160, bit steep but good starting power. Also eurocar parts did reference a battery for the camaro so try there :D
Author:  Arizona [Tue Feb 14, 2012 2:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Soon to be Camaro owner, tips please
Hi and welcome,

Have you a local American car specialist, they may have easy access to the battery type. If you give an area in which you live, the membership may be able to point you to a good dealer.

Worth remembering that if you are not going to be using the car daily, a battery conditioner such as an Optimate, will keep your investment in good order.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Author:  neil'98'camaro [Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Soon to be Camaro owner, tips please
Hi mate,

I am in kent/essex so not too far from guildford, am i right in thinking the car you have just bought was advertised on autotrader??? if so i was deciding between your one and the one i purchased on autotrader the same day as you, my version unfortunately is only the 3.8 v6 however its in top nick and also has the bodykit but not european mines from japan, listen to the guys on here with the advice buddy ive done well out of some of the members advice already, if you hear of any meets near us let me im def up for it........new car looks the biz mate well done


neil
Author:  Zanib [Tue Feb 14, 2012 8:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Soon to be Camaro owner, tips please
Thanks for the welcomes :)

I am going to buy a optima red top as its been highly recommended on the net and one of my buddies father has one in his corvette and apparently swears by it.

The car is my daily so should be good regarding conditioner.

The car is actually from Japan. . . all Jap writing on it, checked the VIN and its was built in Canada so its a American car, build in Canada sold to Japan to then be shipped to the UK for the guy before me! So pretty well travelled. On that note, I think the odometer is going up in Km, need to double check but the guy sold it to me as 90k miles and if its Km that like 56k :D

Neil. . . it was in autotrader, along with pistonheads. What a coincidence that we both bought a Camaro on the same day! Same for you if you hear of any meets etc would be good to check out your ride :)

As far as the clicking noise goes, yes its only while running and it definetly sounds like a loud relay. . . ill see if a new battery helps, might just be something turning on and off.

Ollie
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