anyone have any experence/background knowledge on them? things to look for etc etc?

I had one. 2.8 is a little problematic, otherwise they are pretty slow stock. Some parts are very expensive, BUT, they are fun with a engine swap.

I've heard that with a S2 L67 swap mated up to the 5 speed they run high 13s stock.

I've worked on a few over the years. Drive trains were pretty dependable. They did have water leak problems, though.

Oh yea don't get a 4cyl one. They had a tendancy to start on fire.

Nope, biggest rumor that scares off people. It was only the '84 models that had a problem with pushrods, if taken to redline too many times, the pushrods would break and bust open the side cover to get to the lifters and spill oil on the exhaust manifold and start a fire.

If you haven't been on here yet check it out. There are some very interesting 30+ page threads in there of crazy conversions.

Honestly...I doubt the 2.8 was a problem. Maybe Pinky has bad luck with cars..

Fiero
Bonne
Bimmer

No my 2.8 didn't have any problems, mine only had 60k on it. That generation in general had exhaust manifolds that cracked much worse than the 3800s, and for some reason, they loved to spin rod bearings, and other various little annoying things.

I will have to say i don't have bad luck with cars, I just tend to trade them off stupidly.

I drove my former brother in laws and it didn't handle so well when I hit a patch of gravel.