To buy or not to buy?

[Shaggy_357]

I've been helping re-assemble a '93 N/T 2.0 Eclipse 5-spd. that I plan to buy. the guy Im getting it from said the previous owner had a "small" fire under the hood, burnt up a few vacuum lines and part of the cam-adjuster cover (at least thats what I think it is)...anyway, the car was sitting for three years, cause the last owner was scared to drive a car that was overheating (no blame there)... there is a constant cloud of white smoke, doesnt smell sweet to me, but I kept asking if the HG was blown. He said when he first brought it home it smoked like a train then suddenly stopped. It hasnt stopped since I've been working on it, but he says the old-ass gas and oil is causing it and that it should go away with a tank fo fresh gas and a good oil change. Im getting it for 800 bucks, but Im a broke-ass and cant afford to rip the thing apart if its a head gasket or rings. I took a plug out after we'd been running it for a while (after we replaced the radiator and made sure it wasnt getting too hot) and as soon as I had the plug out, steam/smoke started coming from the hole like some someone was smoking a cigarette inside the engine. The tip of the plug wasnt white, and there wasnt any coolant or bubbles on the dipstick. My step-dad is convinced its the HG, but Ive had others tell me its just "breaking itself back in"

Any ideas on which it is? More importantly, can I expect to buy it and at least build a few paychecks before something goes horribly wrong? Any help you guys can give would kick ass....sorry for the UBER-long post.

 

[SrKegler]

It's at least a blown headgasket. You said the car had overheated before, could even have warped the head.

Plan on spending some money on it. Being a NT, if the rest of the car isn't immaculate, I wouldn't spend that much money on it. ($800), especially if the fire damage repairs haven't been made.

 

[anomalyinva]

Honestly, with all the work/money going in to the car, there will be better cars available for less, unless this specific car has some meaning to you, look elsewhere.