oddball
Dedicated LVC Member
Just bought an '02 LS v8 w/ Sport package. Got a decent deal (I think?), thankfully saw this site and several others before purchasing. So it's an "informed" decision. This is supposed to be the daily driver while I'm restoring my true dream car - '72 Cutlass Supreme. This thing reminds me so much of my old ride that I may not switch back!
LS already has 147k miles. Went straight from the seller to the shop where it's getting tires, lower ball joints and a brake flush. I'll flush the rest of the fluids and do a tune up when I get it back. Pretty sure it needs the sway bar bushings. Will also take a close look at the valve covers and all the plastic bits in the cooling. Shop manuals should be in the mail from an eBay seller. Someone put a standard "maintenance free" battery in the trunk and wedged the vent hose onto a small protrusion. Idiots. Shocks seem OK, power is pretty good. I expect the KKN intake and maybe a cat back system in my near future.
Anyone have a list of all the plastic cooling parts? Would like to get that done in one fell swoop.
What is ya'lls thoughts on the timing chain? Is it worthwhile to get a new chain and metal tensioners as advertised on eBay as a preventative measure? I've built Olds 350's and rebuilt a TH350 myself, so no stranger to motors. This would be my first big chain job, though. Sounds like a weekend of pain and fun. The thought of losing this thing soon due to a tensioner break makes me sick.
Any thoughts on the tranny? Seller didn't have any records, so I don't know if it's been rebuilt. Pretty sure the last 100k was mostly highway. I definitely want to do a flush, highly tempted to get the TransGo shift kit. Love their TH350 kit.
Any other thoughts of things I should watch out for are greatly appreciated. I've dug through the forums here quite a bit and have the "owner's manual" thread memorized, but I know there's always more to learn. For instance, I saw a brief note about problems with the stock power steering pump pulleys that's resolved with replacement parts, but can't find that reference or any other mention of it now.
Thanks!
LS already has 147k miles. Went straight from the seller to the shop where it's getting tires, lower ball joints and a brake flush. I'll flush the rest of the fluids and do a tune up when I get it back. Pretty sure it needs the sway bar bushings. Will also take a close look at the valve covers and all the plastic bits in the cooling. Shop manuals should be in the mail from an eBay seller. Someone put a standard "maintenance free" battery in the trunk and wedged the vent hose onto a small protrusion. Idiots. Shocks seem OK, power is pretty good. I expect the KKN intake and maybe a cat back system in my near future.
Anyone have a list of all the plastic cooling parts? Would like to get that done in one fell swoop.
What is ya'lls thoughts on the timing chain? Is it worthwhile to get a new chain and metal tensioners as advertised on eBay as a preventative measure? I've built Olds 350's and rebuilt a TH350 myself, so no stranger to motors. This would be my first big chain job, though. Sounds like a weekend of pain and fun. The thought of losing this thing soon due to a tensioner break makes me sick.
Any thoughts on the tranny? Seller didn't have any records, so I don't know if it's been rebuilt. Pretty sure the last 100k was mostly highway. I definitely want to do a flush, highly tempted to get the TransGo shift kit. Love their TH350 kit.
Any other thoughts of things I should watch out for are greatly appreciated. I've dug through the forums here quite a bit and have the "owner's manual" thread memorized, but I know there's always more to learn. For instance, I saw a brief note about problems with the stock power steering pump pulleys that's resolved with replacement parts, but can't find that reference or any other mention of it now.
Thanks!