She is retired! Slightly from being a d.d.

[JHarris1385]

I finally was able to retire the VX from daily driving. Its been a great 50,000 miles but I want to baby it more and not drive it ALL of the time. I deliver pizza for my families pizza joint and was putting senseless miles on it this last year. But talk about advertisement for restaurant with a VX delivering pizza. I plan to slowly take it more towards off road only, and purchase another one or an 04 Axiom or both.

I finally gave up on saying I was going to have time to fix my other car so I sent my Firebird to a mechanic and its done and back into the shape I left it 4 years ago. Other than the fact that 4 year old gas is still cycling through. It has a rough start here or there but they are becoming fewer and further between.

[JHarris1385]

At almost 50 looks and zero comments...this slowly fuels my thoughts of discontinuing my posting here.

[RamAirZ]

Hi J!!!!!!

[RamAirZ]

Seriously though, glad to see you got her semi-retired. That pizza delivery thing had to be hell, but your right about it being good for business. Just make sure you tell people if the pizza gets cold because your outside talking to me about my truck, it's not our fault! What year is your firebird? I'm wanting to buy another Camaro soon for my project toy and thinking about using it for a DD for a bit until the VX gets some "updates" and then start tearing into the Camaro. I wouldn't worry too much about the looks/comments thing around here. I've noticed sometimes you'll get a TON of replies and then nothing for awhile. This site isn't as "active" as some of the other ones I am on.

[VXorado]

Good call, keep the Ironmans fresh for world domination!!! I currently have a 350z as my "summer car" but decided recently that i'm selling it for something I can happily drive everyday. If I don't have to depend on the VX as the daily driver thoughout the winter, I can build it more for offroading and not worry about putting it through the harsh winter driving.

[Luna X]

Good call, keep the Ironmans fresh for world domination!!! I currently have a 350z as my "summer car" but decided recently that i'm selling it for something I can happily drive everyday. If I don't have to depend on the VX as the daily driver thoughout the winter, I can build it more for offroading and not worry about putting it through the harsh winter driving.

VX & 350Z... good combo!... :bwgy:

[nfpgasmask]

It feels good to retire your VX, eh? Mine has been a garage queen for over a year now and all I have to do is work on all the little issues that need fixing. I'm gonna shine her up and make her look brand new and drive her once or twice a month from here on out.

Bart

PS - J, don't discontinue posting on here because no one replied right away, its just the way she goes sometimes!! :_beer:

[Ascinder]

I wouldn't worry too much about the looks/comments thing around here. I've noticed sometimes you'll get a TON of replies and then nothing for awhile. This site isn't as "active" as some of the other ones I am on.

Yeah, it seems like unless it's a birthday thread or another "what wheels fit" thread, then no one wants to talk about stuff. But why not drive the VX? As long as you aren't damaging the body or the interior, it's pretty easy to fix or replace any of the wear parts.

[WormGod]

Nice huh? Now put it in the garage for Sunday driving and run that DD into the ground. Sadly, my paid off VX is in the garage but my DD still runs me a $500 a month payment. ;)

But Sundays are lovely.... free-spirited.

[tom4bren]

What is this 'garage' thing Y'all speak of?

I do have a storage room in the basement of the house with a large door that opens to the driveway ... never been able to fit a car in there though!

[vxDAKINECHICvx]

A vx and a z. Wow. A man after my own heart. Oops, didn't mean to be a thread jacker.

[handeeman]

Hey J., Good to see ya ease the Ironman off pizza delivery, that's tough duty. My VX has been on a lift now for several months (in a buddies bldg. where he stores collector cars). Good thing is, obviously no miles being put on her and I got to see how really clean she is underneath, not one fluid leak.
I will admit though I need to get her down and take her out and let her stretch a little. I may even take her up to 65mph in the left lane on I-4 for a few miles. Doing that always saddens me a little because of seeing all the Veterans driving these days, two or three always pass me and wave and only have one finger on their hand.....sad really sad.
Oh, and don't feel bad about all the looks and no post, sometimes I have to read things several times before I come up with anything important to say.

[VRox]

Yep, good for you. I put about 10k a year on my VX and am trying to keep the mileage down as much as possible. Cannot afford another vehcle just yet. In a car accident on 8/31 and I just found out on Friday that she IS repairable. I was so sad to think that this young rare VX would be off the streets well before her time. That would be a tragedy!

[Scott Larson]

At almost 50 looks and zero comments...this slowly fuels my thoughts of discontinuing my posting here.

My, but some people are soooo sensitive! That's right, I forgot, we live in an "It's all about me" age don't we? Pardon me whilst I go stare in the mirror and tell myself how IMPORTANT I am...

Damn, that was supposed to be the "In my head" post...sorry!!

[Bob Barker]

Ha

I was driving down the interstate the other day and on lifting the throttle and coasting for a while the front end made a terrible vibrating/rubbing/grinding noise. I have no idea what it was though. That made me think a little of finding something else to drive daily incase this breaks down, since the other car I own is not worthy of daily duties... having a DD would be nice. What year/trim firebird you got?

[RamAirZ]

Alot of us have experienced a similar sound after lifting. I installed the manual hubs on mine and it went away. Not sure what it is either, I'm thinking it's something to do with the front CV's because the driveshaft angle doesn't change on the front with a lift.

[JHarris1385]

Concerning the vibrating/grinding noise. I have that and is WAY louder when I put my heaviest set of wheels on...chrome 20's with 265/50's as compared to my 265/75-16. It bothers me...its only when coasting at about 40mph or so. But it has ALWAYS been there!

It feels great to finally get it off the road full time. I still drive it, just not deliver in it as much now or actually at all so far. That is until the winter. With a car topper promoting my cousin's pizza place it sure did spark alot of attention locally. Before this I lived about 50 minutes away from work...then on the ride home it was about 1.5 hours due to bridge traffic. Its been a tough last couple of years for it. I do believe it is burning less oil now as compared to the past. I switched to regular 5/30.

[RamAirZ]

Still didn't answer my original question, what year firebird do you have? And Formula/TA etc? lol

[JHarris1385]

My, but some people are soooo sensitive! That's right, I forgot, we live in an "It's all about me" age don't we? Pardon me whilst I go stare in the mirror and tell myself how IMPORTANT I am...

Damn, that was supposed to be the "In my head" post...sorry!!

You are correct, keep it in your head next time. Its not needed here. You have been here just over a year, grow up peter pan; you gained zilch from that post.

[JHarris1385]

Still didn't answer my original question, what year firebird do you have? And Formula/TA etc? lol

I was getting there! It is a 98 just a V6 I purchased it right when the gas prices were high so I looked for the 6. I upgraded the exhaust, from suggestions on the f-body forums. Very impressed from the output. I almost bought a firehawk, but almost doesn't count. I did make sure I got the T-Tops. What I like is the VX gets about 14 the bird gets about 23. A good mix if you ask me. Do you have one? I really want to get a TA or Firehawk now...I have to have a 98-02. NEVER LIKED THE CAMAROs...until now but they are still and already to frequent.

[RamAirZ]

I've had an 86' Firebird SE, an 89' Trans AM, 87' Iroc, 88' Z, 92' RS. 1970 SS, and think that's it for F-bodies to this point lol. I've swapped the LS1 into my old 87' previously and worked on alot of 4th gens. In all honesty, your gas mileage would be pretty close to the same even with the V8, the LS1 is crazy efficient. My buddy averaged about 28mpg with his 6spd 02' SS on the highway and about 22 around town, the auto's seem to get around 19-20 around town and 24-25 on highway. I love t-tops, 3 of mine had them, the 89' TA and the 92' RS were hard-tops and of course the 70' only came in hardtop. I want to build a 92' Camaro soon, run the SS style hood like I had on my 87', 5in 3pc spoiler on the rear, arctic white paint with color matched headlight "buckets", gold GTA wheels, widened in the rear with drah radials, under the hood have a turbocharged 6.0 liter. I haven't decided if I'd go a 4L80E automatic or a 6spd. If you can't tell I'm a big f-body guy lol. I have a 68' stang in the garage now but it's the wife's new project, people point out that I have a Camaro Country sign hanging up in the garage with a stang parked in it.

[Bob Barker]

At least ur wife has her head on straight.

[ZEUS]

Hey, got any left over F-body LS exhaust manifolds? Don't fault me; I'm just keeping up with the TJ! :p
I've had an 86' Firebird SE, an 89' Trans AM, 87' Iroc, 88' Z, 92' RS. 1970 SS, and think that's it for F-bodies to this point lol. I've swapped the LS1 into my old 87' previously and worked on alot of 4th gens. In all honesty, your gas mileage would be pretty close to the same even with the V8, the LS1 is crazy efficient. My buddy averaged about 28mpg with his 6spd 02' SS on the highway and about 22 around town, the auto's seem to get around 19-20 around town and 24-25 on highway. I love t-tops, 3 of mine had them, the 89' TA and the 92' RS were hard-tops and of course the 70' only came in hardtop. I want to build a 92' Camaro soon, run the SS style hood like I had on my 87', 5in 3pc spoiler on the rear, arctic white paint with color matched headlight "buckets", gold GTA wheels, widened in the rear with drah radials, under the hood have a turbocharged 6.0 liter. I haven't decided if I'd go a 4L80E automatic or a 6spd. If you can't tell I'm a big f-body guy lol. I have a 68' stang in the garage now but it's the wife's new project, people point out that I have a Camaro Country sign hanging up in the garage with a stang parked in it.

[WormGod]

The good thing is, mileage DOWN. Mine has been a weekender for 6 years now, and I am lucky to put 3k miles on it a year. If we get some crazy snows, I keep the STi at home and let the VX come out to play to get to work, but that's usually about it for any DD use. You will appreciate your VX so much more after doing this. Taking a break from it and driving it again even after a week makes it such an enjoyment.

[RamAirZ]

I get lucky that I don't get to drive mine everyday as is, and when I do it's for maybe an hour out of the day. It's nice having a day or 2 off and not driving her and then jump in her to go to work.


Hey, got any left over F-body LS exhaust manifolds? Don't fault me; I'm just keeping up with the TJ! :p

I'll have to poke around, I doubt it though. I know I have some truck ones but they are for my future turbo project lol. Sans egr too!

[Scott Larson]

You are correct, keep it in your head next time. Its not needed here. You have been here just over a year, grow up peter pan; you gained zilch from that post.

See, I was right about someone being soooo sensitive, must be "that time of month". Sorry Jane...

Come on now, take a joke... take it, take it.

Sincere apologies to Ms. Harris, I did really think you were a guy. Upon rereading your post I realized I was wrong. The Peter Pan reference gave it away. I was insensitive and I apologize. Your knowledge of motor vehicles threw me off. Hey, what do I know, VX Kat is pretty darn savvy too! No offense to Kat either, I knew she is a she. I hope you will accept this apology and that I can regain your respect. Sincerely, Scott D. Larson, USMC Retired.

[RickOKC]

I was getting there! It is a 98 just a V6 I purchased it right when the gas prices were high so I looked for the 6. I upgraded the exhaust, from suggestions on the f-body forums. Very impressed from the output. I almost bought a firehawk, but almost doesn't count. I did make sure I got the T-Tops. What I like is the VX gets about 14 the bird gets about 23. A good mix if you ask me. Do you have one? I really want to get a TA or Firehawk now...I have to have a 98-02. NEVER LIKED THE CAMAROs...until now but they are still and already to frequent.
NICE! I had a 99 Firebird V6 with T-Tops (Navy Blue Metallic). I was planning on replacing it with a Sunset Orange Metallic Firebird Formula, but instead had my heart broken when 2003 rolled around. I never cared much for the 98-02 Camaro either - too plain compared to the curvy 'Birds.

[JHarris1385]

Another factor was the scare of the increased insurance of the V8 compared to the V6, given I was about six years younger than I am now. Now with all of this talk I REALLY want the 8. I love the RamAir hoods. Which makes me know realize your name. The curves are what I like of the bird. Outside of a late 4th gen - I would take a late 70's firebird as well.

I was pretty worried about the T-tops leaking after sitting that long but not an issue at all.
The only issue I have with it so far is still a hard start at time. It just won't fire up every once in a while which I assume is due to the old gas and its deposits?

[JHarris1385]

I spoke too soon....its been a couple days now and it won't start again.

At first it was not cranking or turning over...Now its cranking but not firing up.
It did this off and on since I got it back the past couple of weeks but after a couple of tries it would. I figured it was due to old gas. So I have lucas gas treated it and and filled up the tank twice, this last time with super premium. Not sure where to start now as alot of things have been replaced or have very low miles on them.

[RamAirZ]

fuel pump? fuel pump relay? coil packs? MAF sensor? What all have you replaced or checked recently?

[JHarris1385]

Plugs fuel pump and relay should only have about 2,000 miles on them. Same for distributors one only about 300 miles on it. MAF sensor...hum. Could carb clearner messed that up? Or starter fluid. If shot strait down the intake hole? The MAF seems to be not a separate piece like on the VX if I remember without looking right? 3.8L?