Buying a 1g eagle talon tsi

[JohnRicey]

Okay guys I am currently owning an eclipse gst 1997 and going to switch to a 1g style dsm i have my eyes on this car but was curious how hard can rebuilding an engine be (broken timing belt on engine) check out this site n tell me what you guys think. Should i get it or not?

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/1611703271.html

Thanks

John

 

[90EagleFTW]

I'd do it!! Im picking up mine for $1600 this Friday. Runs good but needs a new clutch. If it was me id pick it up and rebuild her. My friend rebuilt his 4g63t and he said it wasn't too bad...but he is a certified mechanic.

 

[cookmeup272]

Are you selling your car for that? If so, DONT DO IT! I learned from experience.

 

[Locke]

Without knowing the market in California, I can't say that's a lot, but know that in the Midwest, you can find them for much cheaper. I bought a 1ga TSi in well enough shape to be driven home and immediately placed in service as a DD, for $1000.

 

[Achelea]

It's a bit high IMO, but I say get it. Rebuilding a motor isn't hard. Just remember, do NOT believe the seller when you ask if they raced it.

A buddy of mine picked up a car that they said they didn't do anything with, and we've been fixing things from their abuse for the last few months.

 

[seattleshawn]

I have to agree, that seems a little high to me as well but I'm not sure of the Cali market. In Seattle you can usually find one with a blown engine for under a grand. Something is worth as much as you are willing to pay for it though. I got mine for 400 with a few more mods than the one you are looking at but I got a steal. I would say 800 to 1000 wouldn't be bad. Make an offer, worst he can say is no. As for how hard can it be to rebuild..... that's a loaded question. You could possibly get away with just replacing the head and timing components and you would be in it for an additional 500 or less (assuming you plan on doing the work yourself) or its possible the pistons will need replaced and the $$ is just going to continue to add up, so your 1100 dollar car just turned into a to 2500 dollar car, or more depending on how crazy you want to get with your rebuild. I always go in to something like that expecting the worst!

 

[haswesley]

From personal experience, I'd say purchase it. I lived in CA and know the prices are higher in CA. I also had a timing belt break a couple years ago while on the highway going 80mph. Bent all 16 valves (most broke off). But, minimal damage to the pistons. I used a dremel to smooth out the top of the pistons (without removing the pistons). Also, the rocker arms bounced around in the top of the head, so make sure the cam lobes aren't scratched. Get a price from a machine shop for rebuilding the head. It may be cheaper to find a good turbo head at a junk yard instead of rebuilding yours. Hope this helps.

 

[seattleshawn]

Get a price from a machine shop for rebuilding the head. It may be cheaper to find a good turbo head at a junk yard instead of rebuilding yours. Hope this helps.

+1 One of the few good things you can actually find on e-bay is a rebuilt head for 250-350 which is probably cheaper than you can rebuild yours for. 1G heads are all the same for turbo/non turbo only the cams are slightly diff so just reuse your cam's if they check out ok. I know of quite a few people running rebuilt heads off e-bay without issue.

 

[manny correa]

thats not a bad deal!! id be all over it. try and get him down to 900, or a grand if he needs the cash.. and like stated above, go get yourself a good junk yard head. they can be had all over, and switch your cams over and happy boosting!

 

[JohnRicey]

yup i was thinking about it too and was gonna sell my eclipse and get money and drop it in the talon but i have never rebuild an engine before so i dont know how hard it is going to be i also bought the haynes manual book and my god this is like a bible has everything in it.

Thanks guys for all the comments and tips this really helps

 

[seattleshawn]

Get yourself the service manual too, there are links around the forum where you can download them for free just do a search. Service manuals go more in-deepth than the haynes

 

[13b Bro]

Go for it! I was thinking about this car also since it's only a few miles away but I already have a '92 tsi. You can also rebuild a head fairly cheap.

 

[9tsi0]

if you can talk the guy down id do it. i picked mine up for 800 running and it came with some mods. and like they said ive also seen rebuilt heads on ebay for around that price. just try and talk him down if he doesnt wanna go down walk away and keep lookin. theres deals out there all day. calis not that bad. its just everyone thinks there cars worth gold. so just tell the guy that the heads done might need a whole new motor. good luck hope it works out for you man. p.s building a motors really not that hard. it just takes time.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

I'd try to talk the guy down too. Thats seems high for a broken timing belt, although it is AWD.

As far as the work involved, you will have to pull the head and take it to a machine shop, should cost $250-$300.

Replace all the timing components (timing belt, tensioner, tensioner pulley, idler pulley, bs pulley, bs belt) with OEM, that will cost around $400 just in parts.

Its a lot of work but its very doable. Just take your time and go step by step, don't rush it!

 

[GSXSixteenG]

It'd pay that much, but not without at least trying to hassle him down. Best thing to do is go and look at it then pick out every last flaw, and then tell him its pretty high price for a lawn ornament.