Ok i am really thinking about getting a 4th gen too and I looked over at camaroz28.com and they had a What have you replaced on your car on the LT1 board....OMG that opti looks like the biggest POS. What have you guys replaced on your cars....no performance stuff, things that have broken.

 

Rebuilt the tranny, when changed gears, the spider gear (or something like that broke) so I just went with a used posi unit. The old 305 quit on me, so I got this motor. I thought the alternator went bad so I bought a new one, it didn't. I thought my car was overheating cause of the stock radiator so I bought an aluminum, again the old one was fine. I had an exhaust leak with the stock y-pipe, so I just bought headers and y-pipe, good reason for the performance part. I've bought 4 sets of plug wires after 3 wires got burnt, finally bought some wire looms, plus heat sleeving and wire separators, I'm taking no chances. Let's see, what else, it looks like I'm driving a brand new 1986 IROC.

Oh yeah, new oil pressure gauge, temperature gauge. Heater core also, with new hosing. New brake line for rear brakes, new right wheel master cylinder I believe it's called.

 

Stuff that broke, huh? I bought my car with 89,000mi on it 4 years ago. It now has 150,000mi. Here is what broke in that time:water pump (twice), alternator, smog pump, ignition wires, fuel gauge, water gauge, T-Top weatherstripping, all 4 origonal speakers, MAF (twice), exhaust (duh!), front left caliper, upper console (where it connects to the dash), oil pan (I actually pushed the bottom in andbroke the seal!), and O2 sensor. Wow, looking at this list I guess I need some driving (and mechanic) lessons!

 

LOL

The only things that have broken on my car 85,000 miles,
Radiator, due to a defective 180* a-zone thermostat and heater hoses, the heater hoses just wore out. Thats all the things that have broken although everything else has been replaced for performance reasons.

 

Lets see, ive had the car for a year and so far this is what ive had to change/fix-
Catalytic converter, intake manifold (gasket was leaking), rebuilt the qjet, coolant temp sensors, windshield washer stuff (it wasnt working so i took it all out), t top weatherstripping, headliner, fuel pump, thermostat, 2 sets of plug wires and transmission mount. I still need to change my struts/shocks, align my front end, fix my oil gauge, fix the tranny leak and stop many annoying rattles.

 

I have probably broken everything on the top-end of my motor atleast twice. I have been trying to blow up something in the bottom end for over a year now with no luck. My 700R4 had a rebuild 2 years ago and is starting to slip slightly again from 2-3 so when that blows in goes a built TH350. I have enough faith in my bottom-end to spray (haven't yet though) and enough faith in my 9-bolt rear to launch with slicks on spray so I'd say those seem to be the strongest/more trusty parts on my car.

 

Stuff that broke?? Just the stock Quadrajet. The secondaries kept hanging at WOT at random moments (usually in traffic), couldn't have none of that so I opted for the Holley (cheaper option) and got an incredible discount on a vacuum advance distributor. That was really the only thing in need of dire replacement , oh and the tires too.

 

2 350s, 1 700R4, 1 9 bolt rear end, seats, carpet, numerous body panels, radiator, and just about every sensor on the car has been replaced.

 

How about what haven't I changed?

The T-tops, the taillight lenses, ..... not too much else.

 

heater control valve busted open going 65 MPH down the highway the second day i got the maro, put in new radiator, thermostat, shocks and struts, had steering column tightened, pipe between cat and muffler was only half there, so put on 3" pipes with a flowmaster (old muffler fell off), tranny mount replaced, 2 sets of crappy autozone brakes, and fuel filter was replaced.

 

Non performance replacements? Water pump, front speakers, front rotors. Definitely watch those rotors and the water pump.

 

most of the **** that breaks on 3rd gens is cheap and easily replced...The 4th gens see to break the opti all the time....that damn this is expensive isn't it? I better ask tha there....i dunno the I love the 3rd gens but they are just...well alot of plastic and are not that much of a pleasure to drive.....I need to go ride in a 4th gen....