1997 Firebird questions and advice

[Makenzie71]

I've always been an import fan...well, not really imports...but Supra's and RX7's in general. At the current I have an 89 NA targa supe and a 84 P-Type Supe...problem is they're both pretty much projects. The 89 is being restored and blacked out and the 84 is having a 7m-GTE bottom end dropped in and being turbocharged. But I've decided that I only need one project and I'd like to have a DD that doesn't need to be worked on constantly.

Yesterday I came across a 1997 Firebird. 3.8...auto ...82250 miles...new tires...TA wheels...TTop...black/black...really really clean. It's a smoker's car...or there were wrappers in the floorboards and such but no burns or anything. The interior is mint. The exterior has the typical look of a well maintained 8 year old car. Now...the tach doesn't work...and I have no idea why. I'm not sure how it drives just yet...I'll be doing that tomorrow.

I thought about selling my MKIII Supe and picking this firebird up. It'd be a trade for a slower car...but I wouldn't have to work on it much and it has things like AC and such...lol. Only problem is the owner wants $6000...that's over $1000 above book but I honestly have no idea what it's worth or what they go for. On top of the tach not working it kinna concerns me. Oh yeah...and it's an auto.

Basically what I want to know is:

How much should the car sell for?

What could be wrong with the tach?

Are there any manual trannied 93+ V6 firebirds? I couldn't find any...

Is the 3.8 a good engine? ANy typical quirks or problems?

Those questions plus anything you'd just like to add would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[JoeJoe231455]

Originally Posted by Makenzie71

I've always been an import fan...well, not really imports...but Supra's and RX7's in general. At the current I have an 89 NA targa supe and a 84 P-Type Supe...problem is they're both pretty much projects. The 89 is being restored and blacked out and the 84 is having a 7m-GTE bottom end dropped in and being turbocharged. But I've decided that I only need one project and I'd like to have a DD that doesn't need to be worked on constantly.

Yesterday I came across a 1997 Firebird. 3.8...auto ...82250 miles...new tires...TA wheels...TTop...black/black...really really clean. It's a smoker's car...or there were wrappers in the floorboards and such but no burns or anything. The interior is mint. The exterior has the typical look of a well maintained 8 year old car. Now...the tach doesn't work...and I have no idea why. I'm not sure how it drives just yet...I'll be doing that tomorrow.

I thought about selling my MKIII Supe and picking this firebird up. It'd be a trade for a slower car...but I wouldn't have to work on it much and it has things like AC and such...lol. Only problem is the owner wants $6000...that's over $1000 above book but I honestly have no idea what it's worth or what they go for. On top of the tach not working it kinna concerns me. Oh yeah...and it's an auto.

Basically what I want to know is:

How much should the car sell for?

What could be wrong with the tach?

Are there any manual trannied 93+ V6 firebirds? I couldn't find any...

Is the 3.8 a good engine? ANy typical quirks or problems?

Those questions plus anything you'd just like to add would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

As far as value, the V6 f-bodies are actually more sought after than the V8. At least they fly off the dealer lots more quickly. People have a fascination with gas mileage I guess :> Anyway, go to the NADA website and input all the specs. NADA offers the most realistic resale value. (www.nadaguides.com) He should not be pricing it 1K over blue book if the tach is broken. In fact, you may want to request it be fixed before you purchase the thing. It may be simple, or it may turn into a labor intensive electric gremlin that is hard to figure out.

The 3.8 is a very solid engine. They last a good while when maintained properly and they are probably Gm's most reliable work horse. Can't answer your manual question...

RUN A CARFAX :>

[Makenzie71]

I found out that the V6 birds were offered with a 5spd.

Considering my fascination with this type of car I've decided to hold off. He's asking more for this car than what a LT1 Formula 6spd can be had for...and that's the only bird I'll consider (formula 6spd)...otherwise I'll keep my Supras.

I did stumble across a few Formula 6spd's on ebay and on this site...I'm going to look into them pretty good. What's your opinion of the 5.7 Firebirds? I'm really not familiar with any fuel injected V8...

Thanks for the input man...

[JoeJoe231455]

Originally Posted by Makenzie71

I found out that the V6 birds were offered with a 5spd.

Considering my fascination with this type of car I've decided to hold off. He's asking more for this car than what a LT1 Formula 6spd can be had for...and that's the only bird I'll consider (formula 6spd)...otherwise I'll keep my Supras.

I did stumble across a few Formula 6spd's on ebay and on this site...I'm going to look into them pretty good. What's your opinion of the 5.7 Firebirds? I'm really not familiar with any fuel injected V8...

Thanks for the input man...

I have a 94 LT1 formula myself. You have good taste The LT1 are pretty reliable and durable from what I've read. Alot of taxi's use them (Chevy Caprice) and they last forever if taken care of. The optispark distributors on the earlier ones are the only universal problem. If they get wet or moisture seeps inside they tend to flip out and require replacement. If you take great care to keep it dry it should be fine. I haven't had my bird for too long (2 months or so) but the engine has 139k on it and it is running strong and offering no problems. Now is the time to buy. Winter is the best time to snatch up the V8 cars. I got my 94 Formula, in excellent condition (perfect exterior, clean interior, good mechanical condition @ 139k miles) for 3,000 on e-bay. You probably want a newer year and lower mileage (this is not my daily driver) so you will pay more..but you can find good deals on the V8 cars in the winter.

By the way, 93-97 were LT1 cars, 98+ are LS1 cars. You may want to plop some extra cash down for an LS1. I think they are pretty reliable and they offer 300rwhp as opposed to 250rwhp from the LT1. The LT1 do sound better out an aftermarket exhaust though Time for a few test drives...

[BlkCamaroSS]

I know plenty of LS1's that'll give LT1's a run for their money in the exhaust note market...

[JoeJoe231455]

Ok ok...let me rephrase. I personally enjoy the exhaust note of an LT1 more.

[BlkCamaroSS]

LOL, just giving ya crap. It's my duty as an LS1 owner...

[FormulaLT1]

I own a 1996 LT1 Formula and I think the LS1 stock exhaust sounds better than my Borla Exhaust, Also just so everyone knows the LT1 caprices Taxi's and regular non police duty car's arn't 350 5.7 block LT1's they are smaller versions with a LT1 intake they actually use a 265 Cubic inch block. Also the LT1 Firebird's are solid cars with only a few faults 1. The pre 1995 Opti sparks system (in which when your water pump goes it release it's drain hole into your distrubator shorting out your ignition system causing you to spend around $ 200.00 for the do it yourselfer to repair. 2. The 7.5 rear end is not strong enough to withstand the torque of 325 + pounds and craps out usually at bad time's for anyone that tends to at one point or another apply more than a half throttle.. 3. Computer setting's for Cooling fan's to switch on for a stock LT1 is almost at overheating but can easily be fixed by many mean's . Besides these things and the sensor's going bad from time to time , a Formula which is a smart choice by the way is a Sporty well round modern day muscle Car with enough power to give almost any car a run for its money ,make sure to check the glove box when you start looking that's where they keep the build sheet for these car's and look for code FE2. which is the handling package if the Formula doesn't have this it has the standard V6 suspension and sway bars which is not really enough to keep you on the ground on full throttle sharp turn.

[DVS LT1]

Ain't no prettier sound than an LT1 huffing through the 80 Series Flowmaster (to me anyways).

The Magnaflow catback seems impressive as well (I've only heard sound clips over the net but they sounded great).