1G Craigslist 1992 Eagle Talon TSi AWD

[TK9er]

Hi everyone. Been looking around this site for years. I had a 1997 TSi about 8 years ago, and have always been sad
I got rid of it. A couple days ago I came across this Talon, and I am pretty interested in it.

What I would like to know is if this is a good idea, the owner said it has a blown head gasket. They said it had been sitting for about a year after the head gasket went bad. The car is said to only have 72,000 original miles on it. I'm not afraid of doing a head gasket. I have a friend who is a mechanic, and I am not a complete idiot in the garage.

As it is a craigslist sell, I am really wary. Could I get any advice on what to ask and or look for that could ease my nerves? I don't want this to be a huge project car. My hope is to get the gasket knocked out in a weekend (hopefully) and use it to drive to work and eventually do some light modding.

Also, is the price good?

here is the link.
https://lincoln.craigslist.org/cto/4860736134.html

 

[Calan]

Interior looks fairly clean, and the fact he has a second motor and trans helps. Check it for rust.

 

[92AWDHX40]

id give him 2000 grand a head gasket is fairly easy to do, if that's it 2000 considering it needs a head gasket job.

 

[TK9er]

I haven't seen it in person yet, but the person said it had no rust. So, do you have an idea of what in parts a head gasket would cost me to do?

 

[ErikTande]

No way is that car worth $2000. The passenger door and fender have damage, it's missing a lot of trim pieces AND it has a blown head gasket. Don't pay more than $1000 for that, tops.

 

[hotrodssnova]

If the head gasket blew out some time ago, I would think there would be fluids in the cylinder.
Something to consider.

 

[92AWDHX40]

I guess I didn't see the fender damage.

 

[TK9er]

The water in the cylinders is something I'm pretty scared of. Especially since it has been sitting for a year. I just don't want to to a complete over haul on it.

 

[Calan]

I didn't either.

But, considering how much more difficult it is becoming to find rust free and fairly clean 1G AWD's... I wouldn't be too quick to write it off completely.

 

[TK9er]

I know! and it looks like there have been no mods. Which is a good thing for me. I don't want to inherit a basket case.

 

[Calan]

That's the other thing I saw that would make me consider it if he will come down a bit. An unmodded 1G AWD with 70k on it is usually worth a little more than what most people realize.

Another big factor in how much it is worth is how capable you are of doing work on it. If you are handy with tools and can do the maintenance, t-belt, etc... you'll be out a lot less in the long run than if you paid less for one that needed a lot of work, that you pay someone else to do.

When I consider a car and it's price, I think about the end result I want and what it will take to get there, and then work backwards to a price I'm willing to pay.

 

[TK9er]

So, lets say I get this thing. Knowing I would have to do a head gasket already, I would plan on doing timing belt, water pump, top end gasket kit, and send the head into a machine shop to get checked out. Is there anything else i should plan on other than fluids and filters? Trying to figure our a budget to get it on the road.

 

[Calan]

May need rings and a hone, depending on what the failed HG let happen. If coolant got in the cylinders and it's been sitting a year, the rings are probably toast and the cylinder walls may need some TLC.

You should also plan on new plugs and wires, hoses, belts, and vac lines.

I would be looking at the condition of that second motor, and maybe plan on building it to be the primary motor. Then you could just do the minimum to get the one that's in it running, if you need it on the road ASAP. If you are looking at this car to be a primary mode of transportation, look elsewhere.

Something else to check... find out the build date. Being a 92 AWD, you could get lucky and have the 6-bolt block and 4-bolt rear if it's an early one.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Just check everything out.

 

[TheGameTG]

That's the other thing I saw that would make me consider it if he will come down a bit. An unmodded 1G AWD with 70k on it is usually worth a little more than what most people realize.

Another big factor in how much it is worth is how capable you are of doing work on it. If you are handy with tools and can do the maintenance, t-belt, etc... you'll be out a lot less in the long run than if you paid less for one that needed a lot of work, that you pay someone else to do.

When I consider a car and it's price, I think about the end result I want and what it will take to get there, and then work backwards to a price I'm willing to pay.

People always try to low ball dsm until it's time to sell there's then they want top dollar.