Camaro savings
UPDATE: I had about $1200 saved up, but had a lot come up including problems with my current car, and I lost my job. I just started saving again because I found a p.o.s new job, hopefully I can pic up some side work to get even more cash flowing in. Starting to become a bit discouraged.
2nd Gear member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 350
From: Colorado
Youre OBVIOUSLY young and not in any position to buy any kind of old car that would need any work done to it. Keep what you have and dont worry about buying a Camaro until youre set a little bit better financially. Take the money youre saving and open an IRA, youll be light years ahead....
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January 2010 ROTM Winner
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^ lol. Wait till your optispark goes bad, and you start cussing out the mechanical jeenyus who designed that setup. Otherwise, there's nothing wrong with an LT1.
2nd Gear member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 350
From: Colorado
Also, the previous owner was nice enough to install a billet MSD Opti and do the spark plugs and wires for me on a couple of thousand miles before I got it.
Last edited by 2Z's; Jul 14, 2012 at 11:53 AM.
3rd Gear Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 885
I learned the hard way about the optispark. Honestly had never heard of it before. One engine wash later and I knew all about them...lol...Replaced mine 3 times (along with the water pump) before finding a bad connection. The car runs like a top with 180,000 on the clock. I'll get it rebuilt one day, but now I just can;t get the grin off my face every time I drive it. I paid $3500 for 94 Z28 6-speed. Interior (except the cracked dash), suspension and brakes re-done by the previous owner before I bought it. 2000 camaro wheels and new tires were already on it.
Tech Droid
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 9,215
From: North East PA
In reality, I don't think you can use the words "Camaro" and "savings" in the same sentence. 
Whatever you wind up getting, and spending, make sure you have some money leftover to cya in case some unforeseen repair sneaks up on you. With an old car, that would happen sooner than later. Nothing worse than looking at your nice "new" car sitting in the drive, as you roll by on roller skates!
Whatever you wind up getting, and spending, make sure you have some money leftover to cya in case some unforeseen repair sneaks up on you. With an old car, that would happen sooner than later. Nothing worse than looking at your nice "new" car sitting in the drive, as you roll by on roller skates!
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January 2010 ROTM Winner
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I have an LT1 Vette and changed the opti on it. Compare changing the distributor cap, rotor, & plug wires on a 3rd gen taking maybe 15 minutes, as opposed to an all day project for the LT1. For that reason alone, the LT1 usually doesn't get preventative maintenance tune-ups. It's usually drive it for about 100k miles till it goes bad, then give the engine a tune up. That's something we never did with the old cars.
Last edited by Camaro 69; Jul 14, 2012 at 04:32 PM.
2nd Gear member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 350
From: Colorado
I have an LT1 Vette and changed the opti on it. Compare changing the distributor cap, rotor, & plug wires on a 3rd gen taking maybe 15 minutes, as opposed to an all day project for the LT1. For that reason alone, the LT1 usually doesn't get preventative maintenance tune-ups. It's usually drive it for about 100k miles till it goes bad, then give the engine a tune up. That's something we never did with the old cars.
Tech Droid
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 9,215
From: North East PA
My first car was a new 55 Chevy V8. Glad they don't make them like that anymore. lol
Maintenance intervals
1000 miles:
oil change; however it didn't come with an oil filter, brake adjustment
10,000 miles:
wheel alignment, new brake shoes, cut drums, points, plugs, condenser, rotor, fuel filter, adjust carb
20,000 miles:
tires, shocks, antifreeze, change transmission & rear end lube, new exhaust
50,000 miles:
rebuild engine, new clutch
60,000 check for body rust
100,000 drive car to junk yard, get paid $50 if it is still running.
Maintenance intervals
1000 miles:
oil change; however it didn't come with an oil filter, brake adjustment
10,000 miles:
wheel alignment, new brake shoes, cut drums, points, plugs, condenser, rotor, fuel filter, adjust carb
20,000 miles:
tires, shocks, antifreeze, change transmission & rear end lube, new exhaust
50,000 miles:
rebuild engine, new clutch
60,000 check for body rust
100,000 drive car to junk yard, get paid $50 if it is still running.