I am new to this site and to Camaros so bear with me on this 1st post.
I just recently purchased a 95 Z28 with 100k miles,LT1 5.7,a 6 speed manual,3:42 posi,runs like a cheetah on steroids,shiny black paint,clean interior and working a/c for $600.I have been a Ford guy the past 25 years but had to buy this car.Bought it sight unseen from a transferring out Army soldier and am thrilled with the car.The only repairs needed were replacing the driver door trim panel and the door wiring harness and electronics.Put around 100 miles on it tooling around laying tracks.Trying to perform maintenance before putting it on the road legally after New Years (surgery on clutch foot in 4 days so cannot drive til Christmas anyway.Already put 2000 SS wheels with 275/40-17 tires as well as new rear brakes and rotors.
Last time I had it out it lost a lot of coolant.Never ran hot.Coolant is nasty looking.Ran radiator flush but haven't found source of leak.At first look,with fans out,it looks like hoses running everywhere in this thing.I was considering replacing all the hoses,radiator,possibly the water pump,thermostat and getting the fans tested for operation.Looks like several hoses are assembled with metal tubing and look to be expensive.I have been looking at radiators and haven't really seen much in the way of options.My Fords would accommodate 2" radiators but this looks tight with a 1" one and looks like everything offered is only 1".Another issue is low oil pressure reading on factory gauge at hot idle but good while driving and no knocks or ticks.As far as coolant the only antifreeze I see is in the area under and behind the a/c compressor but cannot tell from where.
My questions are as follows.Is the stock radiator size sufficient ? Should I spend the bucks for a water pump (I know about the distributor issues but think mine is vented) ? Why so many water lines ? Any trick ideas or advice on spark plug replacement and which brand is best ? Is it worth the $$$ for a K&N CAI ? What is the weak link in these cars besides NO TRACTION (no traction control on this car) ? Don't mind installing quality parts but gonna miss a few weeks without pay and don't want to throw money away if not needed.Thanks for any advice or input.

 

yes some (heater hoses) of those hoses are expensive and one that goes from the coolant reservoir is not available anywhere. the motor has a reverse flow cooling system and to deal with the hotter running motor they had to have constant flow to certain areas of the motor, one of those little hoses goes to the back of the heads, there are two that send and recieve coolant for the oil cooler by the oil filter, there are two that provide coolant to the thottle body to keep it cool and two for the heater. they make a wider radiator the tubes are a little wider. one of the guys on here used one,,, dang i,,, cant think of who it was, well hope he comes on here. lol. ngk tr55ix have worked best for me. the tr55gp did almost as well. yes it is worth it for a quality cai, i like the moroso a little better not sure of the quality of the summit or jegs brand but im thinking the plastic is thinner, expansion chamber may be smaller. weak link? rearend, opti, lol old age, oh and water pump leaks when they go bad but it goes right on top of the opti. have not had one go yet but then i replaced mine when i did the opti.