A step in the beater hunt - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

Savage_Messiah · 01-23-2007, 04:01 PM

2 days ago:

Quote:

In my searching for a winter beater I've come across somthing: a 92 GP LE, 3 spd auto, with 175,108 mils on it, with a DEALER only asking $377. Now I'm weary as hell that a dealer would have an asking price so low, so I'll go check out the normal things, but what kinda specific weak points should I check out.

today:

Quote:

Checked it out and test droe it today.... it's a 3.1, and it's cheap for the reasons I hoped. Huge dent ont eh fender, rough paint all around, nicks and dings here and there, drivers mirror adjuster doesnt work, the in-dash gear indicator (P R N D) only works from N down, etc... it's listed as a 3 speed but said selector has OD D 2 1 so idk. Check gauges light is on for no reason, and some big stupid sticker in the rear window.

The possibly serious stuff... coolant leak and oil leak. Coolant leak was a medium sized leak but the car's been sitting a while, oil leak appeared to be coming from the front valve cover.

Charged the battery a little and started it up... DAMN it runs smooth & quiet. 175010 miles. In park at idle, if i just tap the gas it stutters a little but anything else and it revs fine. Test drive... no hesitation noticed. and GOD DAMN the tranny feels like it's in excellent shape. Brakes are good, tires are good... and if I buy it, come with a 1 month warranty for anything major with the engine or tranny. So it's under serious consideration for being a real good car for $377, but I'll go back tomorrow to check on things like the heat and pull the dipsticks and check that.

enRo · 01-23-2007, 04:02 PM

[QUOTE=Savage_Messiah;306798]2 days ago:

today:

Quote:

Checked it out and test droe it today.... it's a 3.1, and it's cheap for the reasons I hoped. Huge dent ont eh fender, rough paint all around, nicks and dings here and there, drivers mirror adjuster doesnt work, the in-dash gear indicator (P R N D) only works from N down, etc... it's listed as a 3 speed but said selector has OD D 2 1 so idk. Check gauges light is on for no reason, and some big stupid sticker in the rear window.

The possibly serious stuff... coolant leak and oil leak. Coolant leak was a medium sized leak but the car's been sitting a while, oil leak appeared to be coming from the front valve cover.

Charged the battery a little and started it up... DAMN it runs smooth & quiet. 175010 miles. In park at idle, if i just tap the gas it stutters a little but anything else and it revs fine. Test drive... no hesitation noticed. and GOD DAMN the tranny feels like it's in excellent shape. Brakes are good, tires are good... and if I buy it, come with a 1 month warranty for anything major with the engine or tranny. So it's under serious consideration for being a real good car for $377, but I'll go back tomorrow to check on things like the heat and pull the dipsticks and check that.[/qupte]

You hitting the right key on the keyboard FTL

98tadriver · 01-23-2007, 04:03 PM

any car, when compared to your camaro, would feel like its in excellent running shape lol

ar0ck · 01-23-2007, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98tadriver

any car, when compared to your camaro, would feel like its in excellent running shape lol

Ouch...

Savage_Messiah · 01-23-2007, 04:29 PM

lol. driving 20+ OTHER cars per day keeps my perspective level.

NJSPEEDER · 01-23-2007, 04:48 PM

he coolant leak is a common thing in those cars. it is the long cross over tube, happened to justins car, NBD.
leaky valve cover, who cares. easy fix or leave it alone and add a quart evry few weeks. lol
the 60degree motors go forever. i would suggest throwing in a new O2 sensor and cleaning the TB really good along with the normal maintenance stuff and you shoudl get a few years out of it easily.

88BluBird · 01-23-2007, 04:49 PM

when you are done looking around..ive got a car for you..if you dont find one.

V · 01-23-2007, 04:56 PM

i want a 3rd gen firebird as a beater, but i dont feel like spending the money, so ill just fix up my Iroc after i move.

Teds89IROC · 01-23-2007, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokingSS

i want a 3rd gen firebird as a beater, but i dont feel like spending the money, so ill just steal wayfast's after i move.

fixed

j0n · 01-23-2007, 06:38 PM

sounds good kasey...jump on dat ****!

Anti_Rice_Guy · 01-23-2007, 07:02 PM

3.1 is an amazingly reliable engine. Just make sure the throttle body is good, that's probably what the stutter is. Had that problem in my car...the choke would stay on and cause the stutter at low speeds soon after starting.

Ian · 01-23-2007, 08:07 PM

the coolant leak is probably fron the intake gasket. If you dont get the dealer to fix that for you, I'd be willing to do it. Bill and I did the ones on his buick...it wasnt too bad, just very time consuming.

Tru2Chevy · 01-24-2007, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

the coolant leak is probably fron the intake gasket. If you dont get the dealer to fix that for you, I'd be willing to do it. Bill and I did the ones on his buick...it wasnt too bad, just very time consuming.

Could be, but it's more likely that it's the metal line leading to the heater core. The gen II 3.1s didn't have nearly as many intake manifold gasket issues as the gen III 3100 and 3400s.

- Justin

maroman88 · 01-24-2007, 02:29 AM

sounds like a good deal! my friends got a 3.3 in a 92 cutlass ciera with 191k and the motor is perfect! old GM's FTW!

Tru2Chevy · 01-24-2007, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maroman88

sounds like a good deal! my friends got a 3.3 in a 92 cutlass ciera with 191k and the motor is perfect! old GM's FTW!

3.3L is a mini-3.8L....shares nothing with the 2.8/3.1/3.4 except the number of cylinders.

60* beaters FTW!

- Justin

Savage_Messiah · 01-24-2007, 03:59 PM

Annnnnnnnd I own it

Knipps · 01-24-2007, 04:09 PM

Savage_Messiah · 01-24-2007, 04:46 PM

dont have any yet... picking it up soon. Maybe I'll bring it to the trucks tonight...

Savage_Messiah · 01-25-2007, 12:25 AM

bah highway driving revealed that it doesn't like coolant and spits it out at its own will. gotta figger it out

Knipps · 01-25-2007, 01:50 AM

where's it coming from?
cap is easy, cross block line is almost as easy

JSPERFORMANCE · 01-25-2007, 10:10 AM

arent beaters suopposed to be somewhat relaible?

trashman01 · 01-27-2007, 02:39 PM

92 Acclaim - 200$ 2 years later i sold it 4 200$ shoulda gotten a clean K-car. woulda been cheaper

maroman88 · 01-27-2007, 07:22 PM

so wheres hte pics?

Savage_Messiah · 01-28-2007, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSPERFORMANCE

arent beaters suopposed to be somewhat relaible?

What water pump lasts forever?

Savage_Messiah · 01-28-2007, 10:30 PM

did the water pump, thermostat and tensioner today. didnt refill the coolant tho cuz im debating if i should flush or just say screw it and fill it up.

next up: find oil leak (good chance it's the oil pump drive seal o-ring), change oil (need to replace the drain plug washer/gasket anyway since its dripping), remove retardish sticker from rear window, get a CD player in there (on its way), and get some cup holders in there.

Oh and there's so much ****ing road grime on the k-member and such it's disgusting. The bottom and sides of the radiator actually have grime caked on that I need to clean off somehow.