TSB - Technical Service Bulletin. Sort of like a recall. Common problems ammong the camaros and firebird are the stock steel driveshafts causing highway speed vibrations. These can be replaced with aluminum driveshafts to correct the problem. I have heard this is free.

I talked to the guy today, He Assures me there is a chip and it plugs into the ECU. He says he'll show it to me when i get there. He says i can removed it too. He mentioned something about a hypertech but i am pretty sure that he was saying it wasnt a hypertech. When i get the car back i'll post everything that i see on it.

He said that he used to have it in competitions before the stereo was stolen. The first competition he took it too he broke the rear window. He says there is an 'unbreakable' plexiglass piece with a rubber surrounding or something. He said it's what most camaros and firebirds replace the stock glass with when going with alot of bass. This seemed weird since he says it has under drive pulleys. I have heard of camaros hatch glass breaking because of bass before though so maybe he's not making that part up. He said that the only frame damage was a bend in the radiator mount, no leaks, drive fine except that the wheel well hits over some bumps. I would expect this though because of the damage done. Other than that everything is good to go. As long as it makes it home i'm happy.

 

The driveshaft TSB is simply a Technical Service Bulletin, which is something the tech/mechanics use to determine a problem. I believe they are issued by automakers to help narrow down problem areas. Say GM discovers the steel driveshafts are prone to be out of balance and cause vibrations at certain speeds. If a car owner comes in complaining of vibrations at certain speeds, the TSB will help point to that problem area. But, it doesn't mean a free replacement - that have to be something covered under a warranty or a recall. So, you'll still have to pay for the parts and labor.

At least that is how I understand TSB's.

I would also consider ditching that "custom" intake. Most cold air kits for the LT1 cars take air from outside the engine compartment. The setup I saw in a pic will actually be taking hot air confined to the engine compartment, which is not good. So, look around for a good K&N or Moroso kit.

Also, don't forget about upgrading rear end gears, torque converter, and adding a shift kit and tranny cooler. Those mods would certainly give you more bang for your buck.

 

The JET "chip" he's referring is actually a type of reprogrammer. So you aren't actually replacing any kind of chip, just using a handheld device to make changes to the computer.

 

If it really does have a chip, then it's either 1) Not a '95, but a '93 F-Body, or 2) The car is a '95, but the engine isn't stock, and it was swapped in from a '92 or '93. 94+ F-Cars simply do not have removable chips, stock.

 

[ He's flat out lying about the Jet chip, because 94+ F-Bodies don't use a removable computer chip.


Actually no. The JET "power module" or whatever they call it, IS actually a removable in-line "plug-in" to your stock PCM. I had one on my '94 for a while a long time ago.

 

True, same with the HPPIII, he may just be ignorantly referring to it as a chip.

Programmers are a waste of money, they really don't do much.

 

Yes LT1FUN that is what a TSB is. That's exactly what it is. I referred to it wrong. I would say it is a recall. I am not positive though. From whay i have heard if you complain about vibration, you get it replaced. It's not a safety recall like the VR4's transfer case was (fluid leaked out, TC locked up on freeway sent you into nearest building on telephone pole) which means anytime the problem occurs they have to fix it but it is a known issue which i believe they have to replace atleast once. I am not 100% sure though. I've just heard the driveshafts have problems. You guys are the experts .

So this plug in chip, he could be reffereng to if wrong? He said it plugged directly into the ECU so i think it might be possible since he also called it wrong since it's a PCM. Any ideas on gains? He said you could notice the difference when removing it but it was only like 6 or 7hp.

He also said he didnt use synthetic oil. He changed the oil ever 2k-3k but not with synthetic. Can i use Mobile 1 15w 50 synthetic oil? I mean i know i can but is there any problems? Like with my turbo car you shouldnt use 10w 30 synthetic because it can leak past the turbine seals. Just wondering if there was a reason for him not using it.

 

Ok. Update.

I went to pick the car up yesterday. The body damage is nowhere near as bad as it looks. We removed the plastic fenderwell then bent the wheel well with a C-clam and hammer and it's just about perfect. Straightened a few bent bolt holes and it's ready for the new fender. I also put on the rear bumper and tail lights. There are about 3 or 4 bulbs out on the entire car, no big deal. The front bumper is perfect. All glass is perfect. He had new door pannels he let me have for free. They are in. All of the power options work.

The transmission shifts perfect in regular and performance mode. I checked for mods. It has a 10 gallon fuel cell. I get about 22 highway mpg (steady speed of 75mph). I do see the jet 'chip'. It's a black box under the hood hooked into the PCM. It looks like it's in series. It say JET right on it but not what stage. It has a cat-back system. It's about 3 1/2".

The biggest problem i found is that it is speed limited at 115mph. That rediculous. It pulls harder than most any car i have driven then hits the limiter. How can i remove this? I let my friend drive and he's the one who found it. Some guy in an Impala SS was riding right on my bumper (well lack of bumper) so my friend slowed down since he couldnt pass and gave him the finger (my friend needs help) and he floors it and flys up to 90 from like 40 then lets off. He sees the guy flying up to us and floors it again when he gets about a car length away then hits the limiter and the guy flys by giving mike the finger. I made fun of him all day about it loosing to a 4-door (i think) sedan. Anyway, how do i get rid of it?

 

There have been some LT1 and LS1 cars...especially base models...ie...z28, trans am-non ws6, and formulas that have a 115mph governor. Three options...hypertech power programmer, computer tune, lt1 edit to raise mph.

 

Which is the cheapest

 

Hypertech....find a used one for about 150 or so.....LT1 edit is $$$$$ and only the experienced need apply for that....and a custom tune can vary from place to place.

 

Check out this place www.madz28.com they have a 'saver' package for like $50 if you just want your top speed governor reprogrammed

 

I will pay anyone local to me $30 to reprogram my car. I don't feel like buying a Hypertech

 

i havnt read through the whole thread yet but im gona add my 2cents.. first off, ur '95 bird isnt runnin anywhere near 400hp.. tell whomever told u that to "pass on grass".. as for the mods, i dont recommend longtubes unless ur running a larger cam with overlap, longtubes r ment for an imporved "scavenge" affect, stock cam i recommend shortys.. no need to run 2 seperate air intake's.. and from what ive "heard" from other f-body pros, the granetelli is a waste of money..

 

MadZ28 only charges $50 for the "Saver Package"

You should do that...

 

I figured i wasnt running anywhere near 400hp, but so far, I have spent about 2500 on this car including buying it and it's comepletely done except for the big block hood. I removed the stock lights and now i have some super white HID fog lights. I hope they pass inspection. I'm just going to tell them i converted to Camaro Euro lights or something. Nobody in the inspection lane knows anything about cars. They passed my Vr4 with straight pipes off of the turbos

One side is set below the hood and the other above. The little lip on the frame was bent down on one side form the accident so i figured i would try it both ways to see which looked better. I am gonna bend the other side down so they sit below the hood. They are about 3 times brighter so they work alot better. They also cost me about $65 for both sets. The round ones are low projector beams and the rectangle ones are HID fog lights for high beams.

I plan on creating some sort of cover for the empty area. When i am done this will look almost identical to the way camaros are set up. Not that i prefer that look, but it's different, and it doesnt cost $500. I need two headlights, motors, and the light bar to hold them. i figured i'd try something new.

I have pictures but i can't get them to upload. they are about 112k each. I have a 56k so it never works right.