StangEaterSS

iTrader: (41)

My mother contacted me and wants a Camaro like mine but with a V6. I'm going to start looking for a 98-02 with the 3.8L and automatic trans for her. I have never owned one or worked on one before. What kind of things should I look for when test driving one? any known issues with the 3.8L? I'm used to the LS1 and how reliable it is, I'm unsure what to expect with a 3.8L v6 car.

EarlyZ28!

iTrader: (2)

The only thing to expect is no power.. Lol

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

3.8L is extremely durable, other than intake gasket coolant leaks on the plastic intake models (such as front wheel drive W, H and C bodies - not sure if the metal intake version used for F-body has this issue or not.)

AronZ28

iTrader: (2)

Tell her to not be so cheap and spend an extra few thousand dollars and buy a V8. Or go get herself a nice grandma owned 2000 Toyota Camry, as that is a much better car for about the same price, if you don't care about performance.

StangEaterSS

iTrader: (41)

Ya i dont know what her deal is. I told her get a 6-speed z28 and it will prolly get better mileage on the highway commute to work. But she found 2 v6 cars she likes for cheap so Im gonna have to go with and look them over.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

There really isn't any reason to get the V8 if the purchaser isn't concerned with performance and just wants the look/feel of an F-body. The 3.8L is a perfectly reliable engine and would last just as long as any equally maintained LS1. Granted, I agree that the car would be much more fun with a V8, even if you don't live at WOT, since tip-in throttle response is much better with the bigger 5.7L, but if her budget is limited then I'd agree that her dollars should go towards condition rather than performance; so a really nice V6 car would be a better buy for someone in this position vs. an average or below average condition V8 version for the same price.

SlasherVRGR

iTrader: (1)

I had a 3800 car. Other than being gutless, intake gaskets, coolant elbows, lifter noises, 98 cars got a really stupid angled throttle body so most lids won't work properly with them. The 99+ cars are DBW.. The v6 trans mounts go much quicker as they are fluid filled rubber mounts that just tear super quick.

tjlangel

What's four Windows not working radio shutting on and off little things like that go to the BCM circuit bored take it out flip it over and look for the other spots for the main fuse and should be 3 large together and two large ones underneath that check them for cracks this will fix unimaginable amount of problems also watch out for oil sending unit

bad_408_vert

iTrader: (6)

One major issue I had with my old 3.8 2001 Camaro was that the ignition coil module would burn out every 4-5 months.

It was prone to heat because it was 2" above the left cylinder head.
Crank & cam sensor went on my car few times .

Fuel pump once
Starter also

Granted the owner before me abused the car to no limits.

The rest was usual Fbody stuff like window motors, clunks, rattles etc

97camer

my 97 3.8 camero has 35,000 miles had 19,000 when purchased in 08,right now has oil in coolant,two cly. has low compression the rest has 205psi,the head gasket is a paperlike material so probily age deteriated it coolant tested -35 so it didn"t freeze,has had still has a lot of issues.probily the gasket was why it never ran right,i think any economy type gm car of that era is junk.