buying a 2g gsx, owner says it skipped timing. help me determine if its worth it?

[sbailey11]

I'm looking into buying a 97 eclipse gsx from craigslist (I know its not recommended) and he says he heard the belt make a noise, and he turned off the car. When he restarted it he said it "skipped timing" and now it doesn't run.

This is the ad:
blue 1995 eagle talon w a 1999 motor and eclipse gsx body. Everything is new. Lowering springs, camber kit, control arms, half shafts, struts, low pro racing tires, rims (19inch) front mt inter cooler, EVO turbo! boost controler , fuel pump, full custom exhaust,leather seats, extra parts, have many reciepts , gretty blow off valve, you name it! - the works
It was running super strong until something got caught in the timing belt and i jumped the timing, it needs a valve job now or new top end
Ive got over 12 grand into the car.


He is asking 4500, and I plan to do the work with my father as a project to fix and learn as I go. I am asking the nice people of the forums to tell me what could be the problem (all possible problems) so I'm ready to make sure I'm not buying a car that needs an entire new engine rather than just a valve job. And if there are tests I could run when I look at it.

And if you could give a rough estimate on the price of just parts assuming I can do the work myself

 

[clipto]

He is asking to much for it also you need see if you can turn the motor by hand. Hard to say you might need pull the head off see if there any damage with bent valves or what not.

 

[Jesse2012]

Put a link up. I don't see anything on craigslist right now (live in Rochester too), but if its the one I'm thinking of it's been sold at least 5 times in the past year. I wouldn't pay more than a thousand for it. Figure on replacing the head

 

[1995 brian]

For that price you can get a good running gsx. Its going to add up with a new head and you might find other problems along the way.

 

[matta]

definitely not worth the 4500. I would stay way away from that

 

[JusMX141]

$2000-$2500 tops; hell there are often running 2G's in my area for $2000-$2500, so maybe less.

One thing's for sure- he'll be sitting on a non-running 1995 for a while at that price.

 

[sbailey11]

1999 EAGLE TALON TSI ECLIPSE GSX

that is the ad.

Even though he has all that work done to it, its not worth it? if i could find a cheap head and do the work myself would it be worth it then?

 

[ed1380]

I wouldn't pay more than 2500 for it. Its a 95. Doesn't matter if it has a 99 motor.

 

[Tiki2777]

$2000-$2500 tops; hell there are often running 2G's in my area for $2000-$2500, so maybe less.

One thing's for sure- he'll be sitting on a non-running 1995 for a while at that price.

Even though I MOST of the time do NOT agree with you in anyway when it comes to prices with these cars, I agree with this. It's not running, and valve/head components are never cheap, plus all the time and effort you have to put into it. $2500 MAX and that's being generous. (I would move on and look at something else, the ad poster probably a lost cause honestly)

 

[PrimerPLus]

If you cant drive away in it then it aint worth the price talk him down. If he wants to part it out then that's his choice. You can do the same amount of work and find a running gsx put money into it and have almost the same amount into it.

Tell him $2k and you wont go over 2500 $ if he says no. Look elsewhere.

 

[sbailey11]

I'm going to try to talk him down, i appreciate all of your help!

ps: i found a reliable head for 100$ so hopefully its just a matter of swapping them!

 

[mchustle]

I'm going to try to talk him down, i appreciate all of your help!

ps: i found a reliable head for 100$ so hopefully its just a matter of swapping them!

I would maybe give $1500. Engine shot wasn't very good but right off I don't really see much besides the non recirc bov. You may get a head for a $100 but by the time you add a head bolts/studs, head gasket, intake/exhaust gasket, timing belt, timing components, water pump that would be dumb not to change while its ripped apart, oil, antifreeze, and the time it's going to take it adds up fast.

To me it's really hard to pay over $500 for someone else's problem. You have to fix all the problems they tell you about and the ones they don't. It could also possibly have piston damage from the valve contact.

Another thing I do when talking to someone about a car that is like this is assume all performance parts are Chinese junk, chances are when they say evo turbo in the add it is a eBay evo turbo and not a true mhi. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[TurboLaserRS]

Take off the valve cover and look to see if the rockers are scattered about. That's a pretty good indication whether your valves got smashed or not. But honestly, that is not in any way a good deal.

 

[BogusSVO]

I'm going to try to talk him down, i appreciate all of your help!

ps: i found a reliable head for 100$ so hopefully its just a matter of swapping them!

That head is still going to need checked out.

Make sure it has 6t valves, that it is not warped, that the HG surface is proper.

A good reman head, form a supporting vendor is around $400
Add in a gasket kit, a good timing belt set up, oil change and anti-freeze you will be around $700 or so.

 

[Boost_Junkie301]

If it skipped timing your gonna have a bad timmmeee. Not worth all the problems for that price.

 

[v-manracing]

it can be fixed liked said before wouldnt pay more than 2500 for it. my car did the same thing.. i ended up with six bent valves.. cost me around 400 to fix myself with used head and new timimg belt set and head gasket. about 4 hour job. i had head studs.. you need new headbolts if it dont have studs..

 

[Outdorsman]

im selling MY running car with a new rebuilt head for 2500. Asking 4500 is way too damn much.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

I wouldn't pay more than 2500 for it. Its a 95. Doesn't matter if it has a 99 motor.

If it even did! I've never seen a redtop, 1g CAS '99 motor before.

While the combination is possible, I suppose, it's not going to be very likely.

 

[tin_tin13]

I'm with these guys, for that price you could find a stock running dsm. That car already sounds like a hassle. Be like me and wait for a completely stock, unhack running dsm you'll regret it in the long run .

 

[ed1380]

If it even did! I've never seen a redtop, 1g CAS '99 motor before.

While the combination is possible, I suppose, it's not going to be very likely.

I have a 1g cas on a 2g head. I prefer it over the 2ga and 2gb cas.

 

[zachwilliams02]

ive seen this add on craigslist. i live in syracuse and i just blew up my talon. if i remember right the car is a light bluish green. a really nice and clean looking car with a bunch of aftermarkets. now i think this guy is lieing bout the mods. he says that it has almost all of the parts that you could possiably put into it but it still has stock headers???? they are 100 bucks on ebay and your telling me that he did a full engine build instead... things dont add up

 

[Cdc1221]

ive seen this add on craigslist. i live in syracuse and i just blew up my talon. if i remember right the car is a light bluish green. a really nice and clean looking car with a bunch of aftermarkets. now i think this guy is lieing bout the mods. he says that it has almost all of the parts that you could possiably put into it but it still has stock headers???? they are 100 bucks on ebay and your telling me that he did a full engine build instead... things dont add up

Because ebay headers are a joke, and the stock mani is better? Meaning maybe he does know

 

[sbailey11]

ive seen this add on craigslist. i live in syracuse and i just blew up my talon. if i remember right the car is a light bluish green. a really nice and clean looking car with a bunch of aftermarkets. now i think this guy is lieing bout the mods. he says that it has almost all of the parts that you could possiably put into it but it still has stock headers???? they are 100 bucks on ebay and your telling me that he did a full engine build instead... things dont add up

He has told me through text messages that he has full custom exhaust from headers back. I asked him to get the brand names of all his after market parts so I can determine their quality.

You guys have really been a help, thank you all. I am new to this site and you've really given me a great introduction with some great helpful information.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

I have a 1g cas on a 2g head. I prefer it over the 2ga and 2gb cas.

JDM/whatever valve cover, too?
Something tells me this guy wouldn't know what he prefers.

I'll happily admit, however, that I've often wondered about what it would be like to actually adjust base timing.

 

[zachwilliams02]

yes ebay headers are bad quality, but i am sure that they probably could provide better flow and even so, he would have performance headers installed. even if he has it why wouldnt he put it on the car? which lads me to believe that he is lieing with a lot of things..