- Camaro and Firebird General Information and Recommended Maintenance Schedule<br>Important information to help you understand your Camaro or Firebird.
LS1 Maintenance Suggestions
It was the only repair I've ever done where I was literally speech less after I went for a ride.
Its so overlooked...the years go by and you don't realize the gradual degradation.
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Ngk tr555 spark plugs from oreilleys
Cheapo spark plug wires from autozone
Fuel filter from oreilleys was $8
As mentioned the o2's dont need to be replaced at a specific mileage however if you are going to make a day out of it you may as well knock them out and keep the old ones as a spare set.
Do not get a k&n filter. Get a cheapo Fram as the k&n are way too oily for our mass air sensors.
If you plan on keeping the car a while you may want to go ahead an order window motors
But to have ball joints and bushings changed in factory upper and lower control arms.....it'll cost you more than $500. Its HELL to change them. I bought two upper and two lower arms on this forum that were in new condition....$45.00.
I did all new bushings and ball joints for my front end last year....after 200,000 + miles on my car.......jeez it was like a brand new car. It was so bad the tire alignment guy said there's no way he can align it...lol Its such a slow process of degradation that I didn't realize how terrible it was.
Of course though, I had to rebuild my QA1 shocks and I bought new Bilstiens for the rear.
Change radiator hoses before they pop or split. Including the coolant crossover line and overflow tank fill line.
Dump a full can of SeaFoam into 1/8 tank of gas and run it out....THEN change the fuel filter.
Regarding 02 sensors......they either work or they don't. Don't waste the money on them unless they are failing. Only a scan can tell you how they are working.
Drain all the brake fluid and replace it completely. Make sure its done right WITHOUT running the master cylinder dry.
Top end cleaning..........DO NOT USE SeaFoam. Use MCCC (Mopar Combustion Chamber Cleaner). If you can't find that......make sure you use a TOP END CLEANER.....NOT SeaFoam.
If its never been done.....You should really take the A/C condensor out and have it professionally cleaned.....I'm talking about the outside of it. This will require a new A/C charge, but most A/C shops will capture your old and put it back in when you're back together.
Clean the radiators exterior too........
MUCH better engine cooling with a clean condensor and radiator.
Bulbs are cheap....change all the tail light bulbs. Mine were actually dark and burned but still not blown. I changed mine on one side last week......holy brightness batman. I thought I had some other issue. Just darkened bulbs........
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Clean your MAF
Clean your TB (remove from intake and clean it good!)
Clean your intake
Plugs/Wires/Fuel filter/Air filter
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Does the engine just run like crap...NO. But its ever so slightly killing performance little by little.
Leave the K&N's to road racers, they can barely oil it, still keep the big chunks out and have a little better flow. But they don't care, they rebuild engines 5 times a year.
And they DO NOT protect your engine from small particles as good as a paper filter, not even close. More airflow getting through = more dirt getting through also. Power gains claimed by K&N....all bullshit lies. You cannot put a car on a dyno, do two back-to-back pulls at the same engine temp and get two identcial HP/TQ numbers. IMPOSSIBLE. All they do is keep doing dyno pulls until they see a higher number, then they tell everyone, "Hey, we have a 5 HP gain." Its bullshit......
Do yourself a favor and get a Mann air filter. Best one out there. Protect your engine properly and give up that .0000001 HP increase K&N claims.....
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if i lost the race then i rebuilt.








