I have been toying with the idea of a 3rd gen project. I was thinking 90-92 cause of the air bags and anti-lock brake stuff. The car would be for my daughter to use, She is 15 now and turns 16 in about 8 months. As slow as I am it will take that long for any project . I looking for an RS 305 or maybe a 3.1 but I happened across a Z28. The guy says its stock but it has low oil pressure. When I looked at MSN auto they listed the HP as only 210. That is a good number for me because my daughter does not need power.

So I am looking and maybe a short block or maybe a ring/bearing job. Opinion?

http://allentown.craigslist.org/cto/1773389109.html

 

I'd offer $800 and see if he bites. Looks like a solid car. I'd pull the motor out and do a basic rebuild on it (shouldn't run anymore than $800 with some other new parts.)

 

Well parts are cheap

http://scranton.craigslist.org/pts/1793300341.html

 

how low of low oil pressure? typical idle pressure is only about 5 psi, and it maxs out around 18 psi at 2k. if anything, run it with some heavier oil amd let her drive it. id say 10-40 or 15-40, maybe even 20-50

 

I need to get over and check it out. I use the 10PSI per 1000 RPMs rule. Since she will most likely not use the car till next summer I think I am better off getting the thing running good and solid instead of having her drive it a month or two then have a problem. I am liking the idea of rebuilding the lower miles 305. I did a few of the 305 TPI motors back when they were still under warranty in the late 80s. Its a pc of cake compaired to the 4th gens. All I remember that was a pain was the fricken heater hose in the back by the firewall and getting all that paper gasket off the intake parts.

I just need to figure out how to not turn this into a full on project, If you see me talking about header or a chip just slap me.

 

looks like a good deal

 

Doesn't look like too bad of a car.
Oil pressure specs for that car are minimum of 10 psi at idle, and 30-55 psi at 2500 rpm. The 30-55 would vary depending on how hot the engine is.
When up to running temp., my old 91 (with 118k miles on the 305) would easily stay above 30 psi at that rpm. Btw, on the dash oil gauge, 10 psi is in the red (danger zone).
Maybe with a good oil filter and thicker oil, the pressure may go up noticeably. For all you know, the pressure switch could be bad.
microkid, sorry but your engine is very tired if that's all the pressure you're getting out of it. Those aren't typical numbers.

 

Here is the repy I got when I questioned the seller

"The engine does have normal oil pressure when you start the car but
once it gets warm the pressure drops and the engine stalls out. It is
still the original engine with no work done to it."

He did not mention valve noise. I need to get up there and check it out.

 

Sounds like you will not be able to drive that car home. I was getting the same pressure reading at idle out my 305 and the engine only had 76K miles on it before I upgraded with a mild cam. After having posted a thread related to this, I changed the recommended 5W-30 oil weight over to 10W-40. I now have 10psi at 900 rpm idle also with around 8psi in DRIVE.

I would grab that Z28 in a heartbeat. Don't know about those so called "Racing Tires" though. Stalling can be low fuel pressure or something really simple like that. Having an erratic idle can cause incorrect oil pressure readings. You may already know all this. Imagine getting that call.... "Daddy, there is a loud knocking noise every time I press the go pedal". Rather than spending extra money on rebuilding a worn out 305 or getting another TPI engine, just get one of those low cost crate engines with warranty. Then recharge the A/C, buff out the paint and call it a day. You will not lose what you invested because you can sell the car to me if she doesn't want it!!!!!!! AutoZone has a cheap 2yr warranty crate engine and you would only pay something like $40 bucks a month.

your lucky, my daughter wants my 68 convertible for her 16th.

 

my factory oil pressure gauge only went to 30 psi. i was reading the specs out of my manual. my engine only had 36k miles on it when it let go