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  1. #1
    Junior Member
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    red
    1998 Z28

    Want to buy this 98 Z28 but. need opinion

    I drove it today, and will take it to mechanic tomorrow to look under it. I havent driven a6 speed before, but it was hard to get into 5th and 6th gear, but never got about 65mph so maybe thats why.
    Only engine mod here is slp cold air intake houseing and filter. Owner added new alt, but not sure if new or refurb alt.
    I did notice a noise at idel, and in 1st and 2nd gear, sounds like something in the front of the engine like the belts. sound is a metal squealing that increases with rpm. Maybe a harmonic balancer or belt tensionior. Alos the abs and brake light stays on. Brakes seem to work, but I know owner is young and has added corvette rims and may nave changed the brakes at some point, could that have a problem? Car seems to have more power than my LT1 I just rebuilt and sold.

    Drivers side tire is bald, but all other tires have tread, they are all falken low profile. Owner said he replaced passenger cause of a nail, but it seems used but not bald. Could there be a problem I should look for tomorrow? When I drove, I didnt notice any pulling, and stoping was good ant strong. Seemed to pull strong thru low and high rpm, but did see a little oil residue on passenger side of engine, maybe a pcv or egr valve leaking.

    http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/388599573.html
    heres a link to site where Z28 is for sell, Im getting a muuuuuuuccch better price than what is posted, like 4k less.

    Anyhow, I didnt get to take to shop today he had classes, and I couldnt get an appointment at the local Fbody shop I trust. I am hoping tomorrow.


    Please take a look at ad, and maybe ten tell me what you think after seeing the car.

    Just had trouble getting into, hard to find most likely, the other gears went in fine, just 1st time in a 6speed and gears are much closer together and in different format seems like. I was only able to drive around residential areas and never got about 65 or 70 so I may never have even gotten into 6th gear territory.

    I didnt hear any noise from rear end, exhaust sounded pretty smooth and had a nice rumble to it. Sounded better than my 95Z28. From what i could see under car, it had sub fram connectors, but not sure if bolted or welded. It looked like old oil or grease on driveshaft are on bottom of car, could see the actual driveshaft but the area of the car seemed to have alot of old buildup of grease or oil and grime.
    I know this guy is second owner, he purchased car in Texas at 50k miles, and driven it for 59k miles in Ga and in Texas. Never any snow or bad winter driving. No wreck damage as I could see except someone keyed the driverside of the car and the hood, but he lives on college campus, and I saw a couple of other cars there keyed up.

    As far as ABS and Brake light, I had same problem on 95Z28, but was a problem with the 3rd brake light, and drivers side brake lightbulds were burnt and grounding out. I also had ASR on 95Z28, that light came on too with abs and brake, but I didnt notice an ASR light on the 98 Z28. Does anyone know if 98 has Traction Control Option?
    Car brakes very well, and I didnt notice any pulling when driveing or braking.

  2. #2
    Member Bouvers's Avatar
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    Blue 1997 Trans Am(Sold)
    Pewter 2001 Trans Am Vert

    Well I'm sure you're already doing this but I certainly wouldn't ever buy a car without taking it up to highway speeds first that may be the only problem with your 5th and 6th gears. As for the brake light, when you take it to the shop get them to scan the computer and they'll tell you right away what that is all about. As for the grease and oil underneith the car I'd be a litte weary of what tahts all about I know front cranks seals and oil pan gaskets are about a 500$ change each up here in Canada. But when its up on the hoist you'll be able to see what that is too.
    Traction control... I thought the 98's had it, I was always under the impression that if you have traction control that you'llhave the togel switch in front of the shifter. So if its not there then you don't have it... but hey I don't know forsure.... :S

  3. #3
    Junior Member
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    LPM
    2001 WS6

    yes, Bouvs is right, if your 98 has traction control there will be a switch on your dash for it. if it is not there, then you don't.

    on a side note, you sent me an email about the powder coated valve covers and my reply bounced back cause your email box is full. i posted a response in my for sale thread for ya.

    jman

  4. #4
    Junior Member
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    red
    1998 Z28

    Thnx, taken care of email problem gonna go over to your thread to see response.

  5. #5
    The Bandit Wesman's Avatar
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    SGM
    1998 Trans Am WS6

    The belt squeaking sound you describe is a common occurance on LS1 F-Bodies. Mine does it whenever the engine is cold. If its real bad, you may want to try changing the belt, and possibly the belt tensioner.

    The issue you describe with 5th and 6th gears could be a couple things. If the car has a stock shifter or a factory Hurst shifter, they are very imprecise and it takes a little while to get a hang of where all the gears are. If there was a lot of resistance before it went into gear, something may be internally wrong with the transmission. There are a lot of components that can get worn out inside the trans that will cause hard shifting and prevent you from smoothly engaging a gear.

    Like the other guys suggested, get the codes checked for the ABS/brake lights. That could be an expensive repair bill if something went wrong with the brake system or ABS. Could be anything from a simple sensor to a bad distribution block, get it checked out.

    As for the oil leaks, put it on a lift to check those out. Could be anything from an oil pan gasket to a rear main seal, all depends on where its coming from.

    If all those things turn out to be minor, it looks like a nice car overall for the money.

  6. #6
    tattoo artist,esquire sic2001's Avatar
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    navy blue metallic
    2001 trans am

    I just fixed my abs problem same as yours by buying a EBCM off Ebay for 35.00 shipped and took 15min in driveway to remove/replace. Looks like a good deal though.

  7. #7
    Member camarolvr69's Avatar
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    Silver
    1997 camaro z28

    Looks like a good deal man. Just remember that you get what you pay for, unless this guy doesn't know what hes got. I just wonder why he would sell it to you for 5k...Maybe salvage title???

  8. #8
    Junior Member
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    red
    1998 Z28

    Thanx for the replies, been driving the car for about 150 miles and no fluids leaking. All underside must have been 9 years of never cleaning. I cleaned engine, and found oil was from loose pcv connection, now engine clean and no leaks. I think it will need a belt tensioner, and I know ac clutch is starting its way out the door, but for now still blows Ice Cold. Raer end makes more noise than Im used too, and I think gasket is bad, whole rear end was covered in thick old grease. Its clean now, and will be replaceing the gasket soon to be safe. Oil is clean and very clear, not at all dirty. So far driven 150 miles, started at full tank (15.5 Gallons) and right now still more than half a tank left(5/8th). Titled it yesterday, and not salvaged, he has owned it since 2003, bought it in Texas with 37k miles. He was 2nd owner, only wreck car has been involved in is a woman backed up into his door, and left a scratch, had body shop fix it, and repaint over the keyed section of the door. This happened a few weeks ago.

    I am getting more used to the 6 speed, dont think its bad, just wierd and stick is waaaay to long, gonna buy a short shifter, but cant afford an expensive one now, so will be going with an Ebay 50.00 job, and add a set of shifter gaskets to help reduce noise.

    Magnaflow exhause sounds like may have a slight leak, but very very minor. Sounds very loud and aggressive. LOVE It. Sounds way better than my 95 LT1 Z28.


    Can Sic2001 explain the EBCM install? What did you do to figure out that was your problem? How hard was it to fix?


    Will be posting pics this weekend.

  9. #9
    tattoo artist,esquire sic2001's Avatar
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    navy blue metallic
    2001 trans am

    made sure all the connections at the hubs were pushed all the way in, lights came on, checked and cleaned all the grounds around the radiator support,lights came on, bought used one on Ebay for 35.00 shipped, got correct size torque screw head and 6 screws latyer pulled out EBCM and put new one in with 6 screws and no lights. the part is like 800.00 from the dealer but Enay is cheap.Just make sure you get the right one with traction control ot WITHOUT traction contol.

  10. #10
    Veteran 0rion's Avatar
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    98 Formula
    06 duramax

    I would try cleaning the wheel sensors first. Actually, I would get the code read first and see what it says.
    The leaky rear is probably the pinion seal. Very common on these rears.

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