How reliable are the V6 Camaros/Firebirds?
07-24-2006, 09:47 PM
#21
My friend has a '95 auto 3800 II Camaro with 250k miles. He drives it to school 2 hours away. He replaced the seals in the tranny. That's it.
My '95 3.4 M5 Camaro had 175k on it when I sold it to a girl I work with. She's a terrible driver. The car is still fine.
That's it.
My '95 3.4 M5 Camaro had 175k on it when I sold it to a girl I work with. She's a terrible driver. The car is still fine.
That's it.
07-24-2006, 09:57 PM
#24
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I had a 3.8 before my LS1 and not only was it not bad in the snow ( if your smart obviously ) but it was very reliable and a great engine for a DD. If i remember correctly i got pretty good gas mileage in that thing too. The 'lude or the eclipse would probably do better in the snow being FWD if i had to guess though. BTW....i believe someone had a spare 3.8 on this site and actually tried to destroy it by running it without oil etc. absolutely giving it hell, and it did nothing to the engine. Anyone else remember this or maybe post a link to it?
07-24-2006, 09:58 PM
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I had a 3.8 before my LS1 and not only was it not bad in the snow ( if your smart obviously ) but it was very reliable and a great engine for a DD. If i remember correctly i got pretty good gas mileage in that thing too, but like panther my alternator went out. The 'lude or the eclipse would probably do better in the snow being FWD if i had to guess though. BTW....i believe someone had a spare 3.8 on this site and actually tried to destroy it by running it without oil etc. absolutely giving it hell, and it did nothing to the engine. Anyone else remember this or maybe post a link to it?
07-24-2006, 10:04 PM
#26
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I get lots of crap about this but both my parents have Fbodys. 1 is a 2002 Camaro V6 3.8 w/ 85K on it No issues except window motors. My fathers is a 99 Firebird V6 w/ 115K on it and still no issues. Both are autos and have been very good cars for them. Yes 3 fbodys in the family.... 
07-24-2006, 10:08 PM
#27
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Originally Posted by ChocoTaco369
God, i've been waiting to say this forever: 4L60E FTW!!!
You only get to say that as many times as you see Haley's comet in your life.
07-24-2006, 10:38 PM
#28
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when you guys say the T-5 is glass, are you talking about for racing or just daily driving. Im not looking to mod or drive it crazy. I just want it for a everyday car to go to work and **** in. Save the crazy driving for the weekend car.
07-24-2006, 11:13 PM
#29
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I have a Buick with a 3800 Series II and it lasted well over 350,000 miles. Other than routine maintainence, I never had to replace anything. It finally died when I gave it to a relative and they wrecked it.
We kicked the hell out of that motor, too. Very reliable. I wouldn't put a dime into performance parts into anything less than a V8.. That's just me though.
We kicked the hell out of that motor, too. Very reliable. I wouldn't put a dime into performance parts into anything less than a V8.. That's just me though.
07-24-2006, 11:14 PM
#30
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I had a 3800 Series II in a buick and lasted over 350,000 miles. Besides routine maintainence, I never had to replace anything. It finally died when I gave it to a relative and they wrecked it.
I wouldn't put any mods into anything less than a V8, but that's just me. I also had the same engine in a Camaro, unfortunately it was totalled by someone that ran a red light. Oh well, still a great engine.
I wouldn't put any mods into anything less than a V8, but that's just me. I also had the same engine in a Camaro, unfortunately it was totalled by someone that ran a red light. Oh well, still a great engine.
07-25-2006, 01:17 AM
#31
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i drove my moms 3.4 vert alot, very reliable engine ran great at somewhere around 200k miles before she traded it in. slow as molases, but relaible. the only thing that we had problem with on this car was the rear kept going. the first time was probly due to wear, the other 9 were due to the guy fixing it didnt know what he was doing at all... my sisters 3.8(much better engine imo) runs great with 100+k on the o/d.. only problem with that car is she cant see out of it very well(short) , and ran over a few curbs putting a small hole in the oil pan, so not the cars fault .. the t5 internals in the v6 must be different then the t5 in my 84z. i knew the spline was different but my 84z has 450hp and i reapetedly dropped the clutch at 2k rpms in that car with no issues reverse is another story though.......
07-25-2006, 01:39 AM
#32
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Originally Posted by lo_jack
Stock v6, you are right. But there are people out there that are not stock running double to triple what the 3.8 is supposed to put down, and then the 10 will probably not be the best choice.
The bearings and seals will all go out just the same though.
The bearings and seals will all go out just the same though.
07-25-2006, 01:47 AM
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you guys think you beat the **** outta your cars. my friend has a 96 with the 3.6 i think. when he got the car it had a new clutch and tires, and after 6 months he was getting new tires, and after 8 months he needed a new clutch. i don't think i have ever seen anyone shift harder. my car with the shift kit on and the higher line pressure from the retune doesn't shift as hard. now is the 3.6 a good engine at all?
07-25-2006, 07:48 AM
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my car right now is a 1999 v6 with 130,000 miles on it...and nothing major has even went wrong with the car except the occasional window motor 
but thats every fbody
but thats every fbody
07-25-2006, 07:52 AM
#37
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I have a 3800 II engine in my 97 Pontiac Bonneville with 158K+ miles on it. The tranny gave out before the engine. After the tranny was rebuilt it still runs like a tank. Between city and highway driving I can still average 25-28 mpg. If the engine was evenly moderately taken care of it will last.
I think there was a video of a guy try to destroy a V6 from a Firebird and couldn't. He ran no oil and it still was running.
I think there was a video of a guy try to destroy a V6 from a Firebird and couldn't. He ran no oil and it still was running.
07-25-2006, 07:53 AM
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my car right now is 1999 v6 camaro with 130,000 miles on it and it still runs like a champ..the only thing that has ever happened to it was the POS window motors but hey thats every fbody
but hey thats every fbody
07-25-2006, 08:02 AM
#39
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I have a 3800 II engine in my 97 Pontiac Bonneville with 158K+ miles on it. The tranny gave out before the engine. After the tranny was rebuilt it still runs like a tank. Between city and highway driving I can still average 25-28 mpg. If the engine was evenly moderately taken care of it will last.
I think there was a video of a guy try to destroy a V6 from a Firebird and couldn't. He ran no oil and it still was running.
I think there was a video of a guy try to destroy a V6 from a Firebird and couldn't. He ran no oil and it still was running.
07-25-2006, 08:11 AM
#40
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great car. and you can get one dirt cheep. and dont worry about driving in the snow. just go slow and you will be fine. ive never owned a fwd car and we get crazy snow here in wisconsin. i say get it.