need opinions
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
need opinions I got a guy that wants to trade his 97 formula vortech v1 supercharger,cammed,built motor,headers,2400 stall,art carr built trans,800 miles on motor 1500 on the trans,but its untuned,i have a 96 bolt on z28 we both have oil leaks from the timing cover...this trade sounds to good to be true....should i make the trade? What to look out for? Im working with $1500 but i dont wanna take that risk in something being severly wrong with it.
sounds way off most likley something wrong with it id check it out adn bring someone who knows what there looking for and looking at,also its best to keep the z and slowly build it yourself with a timing cover leak your going to have to replace the gasket so you might as well save up for a small cam and do it while you got it apart thats my opinion and youll feel much more satisfied that you did it and the car is set up for how you want it.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 634
Likes: 0
From: In the garage fixing LT1
You could sell the supercharger for the cost of another LT1 alone. The timing cover leak is usually just the water pump seal, which is easy to repair *if* you do your homework. As for the tune, that's just a case of going to a good tuner. I would want to know more about the engine, compression, parts, who built it, and how well does it run? Then there's injectors which have to be correct for the tune.
Trending Topics
If this is a daily driver situation I say no right away.
If its a 2nd car/toy I say hell yes. But only after you make sure its not ticking, knocking or making any other weird noises. You could call up PCMforless or madz28 and probably get a tune that will atleast make it a little more safe to drive after that.
Sometimes you come across deals that arnt to good to be true, its just that the problems the vehicle is having is to advanced for the person who owns it. A timing cover gasket leak is one of those things thats a cheap fix, but noone wants to do it since its not life or death and you can still drive the thing. Mine does it to, after replaceing it with a felpro gasket. Im pretty sure as a safe measure you should rtv the whole front edge of the gasket, will be harder to get off down the road but I think its worth it not to waste the time wrenching and it just leaks again. Tuning could be done too, for that deal even I would shell out 700$ for a dyno tune depending on the rest of the car.
Like speedy said it could be injectors are wrong, and dude doesnt know anything about it, its running like crap and hes tired of dealing with it.
Check everything on that car though. Frame, pinch weld, get a good look underneath it. Things you can see from just standing there can be fixed easily, its chassis damage that cant be. If that motor is making any weird noises, walk away, get as much info as you can. IF the guy doesnt want to open up and talk to you about the car, its best to just not do the trade.
If its a 2nd car/toy I say hell yes. But only after you make sure its not ticking, knocking or making any other weird noises. You could call up PCMforless or madz28 and probably get a tune that will atleast make it a little more safe to drive after that.
Sometimes you come across deals that arnt to good to be true, its just that the problems the vehicle is having is to advanced for the person who owns it. A timing cover gasket leak is one of those things thats a cheap fix, but noone wants to do it since its not life or death and you can still drive the thing. Mine does it to, after replaceing it with a felpro gasket. Im pretty sure as a safe measure you should rtv the whole front edge of the gasket, will be harder to get off down the road but I think its worth it not to waste the time wrenching and it just leaks again. Tuning could be done too, for that deal even I would shell out 700$ for a dyno tune depending on the rest of the car.
Like speedy said it could be injectors are wrong, and dude doesnt know anything about it, its running like crap and hes tired of dealing with it.
Check everything on that car though. Frame, pinch weld, get a good look underneath it. Things you can see from just standing there can be fixed easily, its chassis damage that cant be. If that motor is making any weird noises, walk away, get as much info as you can. IF the guy doesnt want to open up and talk to you about the car, its best to just not do the trade.
Last edited by trilkb; Jul 7, 2012 at 08:22 AM.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Thanks for all your input guys. The motor sounds pretty good,no knocking or anything of that nature,i forgot what the compression was but everything was ported and polished,this is my play car but i dont wanna make the trade and be hit with a surprise soon as i get it. I think im scared because the day after i brought my z28 my transmission took a poop
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
@Pancho no just straight up my car for his car,i have $1500-2000 saved to spend on whatever. Im on my cell phone idk how to upload links or pics but both cars are on Craigslist in the Baltimore section. Mine is white with c6 replicas painted black selling it for $4500 and his is under "formula" in search and is going for $4999 or trade
After looking at it...You car vs his, your car looks way better.
Id keep yours and throw a cam at it with the 1500-2000 you have.
I think youll be happier in the long run, Take the supercharger off that formula and your left with a car that needs alot of work. Gauge cluster needs replaced? thats not good at all, Id be suprised if its 108k actual miles.
Your drivetrain looks nice as it sits, all its missing is a cam. Fix the leak when you do a cam. His car, ehhhhh, not worth it, that hood doesnt look to great either. Your car looks alot better.
Do a cam, clean your engine bay, and I would also say get some new wheels, but if you like the black c6's then keep em.
Id keep yours and throw a cam at it with the 1500-2000 you have.
I think youll be happier in the long run, Take the supercharger off that formula and your left with a car that needs alot of work. Gauge cluster needs replaced? thats not good at all, Id be suprised if its 108k actual miles.
Your drivetrain looks nice as it sits, all its missing is a cam. Fix the leak when you do a cam. His car, ehhhhh, not worth it, that hood doesnt look to great either. Your car looks alot better.
Do a cam, clean your engine bay, and I would also say get some new wheels, but if you like the black c6's then keep em.
