Engine Knock/Tick

[Projectpat115]

I am looking at a 97 gst with basic mods. it has a 16g, manual boost cont, turbo timer, clutch and flywheel. the car has 155000 miles but has been rebuilt. the owner is a mechanic and worked on it at his garage after hours. He wants 3500 for it. it comes with the stock turbo and a fmic. the only problem is that it has a loud tick or maybe even a knock on the pully/belt side of the engine. it sounds top end but it could possiblly be botom end. i was just wondering if you thought it was a good price and second if anyone knows what that knock/tick could be.
thanks

 

[onekyoung]

Could be as simple as a failing tensioner pulley... simple, but potentially disasterous. Hard to say w/o hearing it. The 4G63 makes plenty of noise in older forms... you just have to find out which of the dozens of things that it could be.

Have you tried an automotive stethiscope? Does the tick follow with RPM (I assume so).

Just because the guy is a mech does not make him know what he is doing. Always add 600 - 800 onto the price for a good 120K maintanence and do it right away! Unless he has records, better to spend a little under a grand to get it done right then have to get a set of new valves...

 

[GTM]

I am looking at a 97 gst with basic mods.
...
the only problem is that it has a loud tick or maybe even a knock on the pully/belt side of the engine. it sounds top end but it could possiblly be botom end. i was just wondering if you thought it was a good price and second if anyone knows what that knock/tick could be.
thanks

Shoe makers children go without shoes. I know nothing about price and it's difficult to say what the noise is. I wouldn't consider it without him fixing the problem. I would have another mechanic look the car over, it could need brakes, transmission, cooling system, valve job, rewire, etc. Pay the $50-$75 to get a written report from a reputable firm that knows something about the car.

If he tells you it's an easy fix then why doesn't he do it.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[Projectpat115]

He claims that everything is new and rebuilt. New piston rings and gaskets and seals and waterpump, new brakes and clutch. new timing belt. new turbo. He told me that he did all of this after hours at his shop which is kinda sketchy. you can tell that the car has been maintained well, the engine is very clean for having 155k. At first he told me that he think he spun a rod bearing but it sounds more top end. he was driving down the road normally and the engine started knocking or ticking so he pulled over and had it towed home. i releize it could be alot of things but he has it parked in front of his house and i cant really work on it or do anything. the engine has a hard time starting and when i had it idling the car died completly. One of my friends told me to drop the oil pan and take a look but i cant really do that where is sitting. There is no blowby at all so that leads me to beleive that he had to do some kind of rebuild since the car has 155K. any hints? i know i would figure it out for sure if i bought it but i'd like to get an idea of how envolved it will be before i buy it. he would fix it himself but he is tryin to get out of his house and he has a lean on the title, he needs money more than a gst i guess. i was planning on buying a 2g and replacing the 7bolt with a 6 anyways but this was alittle more than i was going to spend for a car that doesnt run
thanks

 

[GTM]

...
i'd like to get an idea of how envolved it will be before i buy it. he would fix it himself but he is tryin to get out of his house and he has a lean on the title, he needs money more than a gst i guess. i was planning on buying a 2g and replacing the 7bolt with a 6 anyways but this was alittle more than i was going to spend for a car that doesnt run
thanks

Well you might be able to fix it for $1000 so you need to take than into consideration when you wave #2500 in front of him.

What's this lean... on the car or the house? I would be careful, have you run the vin number on the internet to see if it's stolen. I'm not there and can't evaluate the situation, got any cop friends willing to go look at it with you, they may be able to read between the lines a lot better. Don't bite off more than you can afford to loose if things are not what they seem.

Hope that helps, don't be afraid to walk away and wait for the right deal.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[Projectpat115]

I was told that he has a lean on the title and he would have to runm to the bank after i gave him the money to get the title. It does sound alittle scetchy and i should probley just find another one but a 97 gst for around 3000-4000 is hard to find in wisconsin.

thanks

 

[csholm87]

Are you sure it's coming from the engine? My car started to tick/knock w/e and it turned out to be the tranny. fyi

 

[Projectpat115]

It sounds like its coming from the engine. it sound belt side, maybe lower down or in the middle of the engine. i am just trying to get some input on if the car is worth the money with all the stuff on it and the stuff that comes with it. it has new tires, stock rims, new exhaust, new gaskets/seals and waterpump. New clutch and flywheel. everything was chemical washed when rebuilt. a manual boost controller and a turbo timer. it has a big 16g and it comes with the stock turbo with no shaft play and a fmic and a BOV. the body is perfect and the interior is nice. it has no radio. i think that it is worth the money but id like to get some feedback from you guys.
thanks

 

[gsxtreme1987]

u saying it got Big 16G AND the stock turbo??????????

and the problem ur saying might be a spun rod bearing? check for that...

 

[huafist]

I'd be VERY leery of this deal. I'd do it under ONE stipluation:
He doesn't get the money directly. He and I would go to said bank to resolve the lien on the title. That way you don't get screwed over.

 

[GTM]

I'd be VERY leery of this deal. I'd do it under ONE stipluation:
He doesn't get the money directly. He and I would go to said bank to resolve the lien on the title. That way you don't get screwed over.

Exactly so, if he doesn't want that then do it at the police station, if he doesn't want that then walk away. People have hard times and get embarassed but that doesn't mean they are dishonest.

You make good points about all the equipment and the labor to install. You need to find out what real world prices are for a '97. I'm always leery of any car that has been modified for it tells the mindset is for speed / power, this means it will be driven hard and could be trashed. If you were going to do these things yourself then this is a good start and short cuts a lot of work and materials selection. BUT you have to buy right so you don't spend more money than it's worth _to_ the right person in the right market should you want to sell. Cars like this can be VERY high maintenance, my basic philosophy is a car is meant to serve me and not me it. I was young once and understand the interest.

This could be a weekend fix or it could turn into 2 weeks or more. It's hard to reconcile buying a car for that sum that you can't use without making repairs. You will need a full gasket set, rods and mains, if a bearing has spun maybe repair to the block and maybe a crank, maybe a rod. That's pretty much real world worst case from what you have told us. The radio is no real biggie but still $75+.

Let us know

Cheers,
GTM

 

[slovins]

Not that this will help with figuring out the problem, but just to show you price wise. I bought my 97 GST with 114k miles for 6600. This was in Oct. '05. The car was stock, but in great condition. Again this won't really help with what you are asking about the problem, but to give you an idea of price. Also, before I bout my car I was looking at a 97 GS with I think 112k and a blown head gasket for 3500.

 

[GTM]

Not that this will help with figuring out the problem, but just to show you price wise. I bought my 97 GST with 114k miles for 6600. This was in Oct. '05. The car was stock, but in great condition. Again this won't really help with what you are asking about the problem, but to give you an idea of price. Also, before I bout my car I was looking at a 97 GS with I think 112k and a blown head gasket for 3500.

A quick search of recycler.com found 12 listings within the US, price ranges from $7,000-11,900. So even with 25% over inflated prices this might be something to consider. Do remember that the name Mitsu~ holds a better value and name recognition. An Eagle whaaaat, who makes that...

I found no parts cars and no turbo engines much to my dissapointment. A 1990 Talon TSi smogged (means it's running?) in Sacremento for $1000 The Recycler is a good resource just have to be patient, been buying things through them for over 25 years.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[Projectpat115]

thanks for all the help. ill just have to sit down and weigh some things out. I thought at first that the car was beat to shit but after the 16g and rebuild he only drove it about 1000 miles before the knock started. But alot can go wrong in 1000 miles. ya dsms are alot of work, i have had 2 before this and im always working on them with friends. heres the link take a look at tell me what u think. its ebay item #4527262404.
thanks

 

[GTM]

thanks for all the help. ill just have to sit down and weigh some things out. I thought at first that the car was beat to shit but after the 16g and rebuild he only drove it about 1000 miles before the knock started. But alot can go wrong in 1000 miles.
...
thanks

Gee, you down played how it looked, it's clean, no dents, leather is good. Still spinning a rod bearing scared enough people away. But when you look at the bidder list the highest number of feedbacks was 22 which tells you something. People don't like reserves for they fear it's overpriced. You have had 2 before so you have some sort of idea what you are up against. How bad is the knock, can you drive it home if you put a glass of water on the dash? (baby it)

Or maybe he delivers it, that way if it breaks before he gets there you aren't out X$. Otherwise rent a tow dolly if there is ANY doubt for you don't want it coming apart for then it does get serious and the engine MUST come out. Does he know which rod is involved?? Are the bearings standard size?

If you decide to spring for it, have a replacement bearing, pull the pan, inspect the bearing and see if you could just slap another bearing in there. Might have to polish the crank with crocrus cloth and slap the pan back one. This won't make it _any_ worse and might make it better. You would get some more miles while you look for the parts you know you would need because you now have a real idea rather than just all the guessing we have been doing. Hey, you are young, it's only money and how much can you get hurt if you don't buy right... $1000?? It might be worth the gamble, do you have a wife that will make you sleep in the car and deny bedtime activities because you fell out of bed on this?

Tough decision, someone is going to buy it at some price. It's not my money and I don't have to kick myself for missing a good deal. If I had all the nice cars I've owned in years past I'd be a multi millionaire, just no place to keep them.

Let us know what you decide, might be able to give some advice you can use.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[Projectpat115]

I think im going through with it. i am goin to pick up the car with a flatbed for 3400. i will probley just fix it and do some cosmetic work and then flip it to make some money. let me know if u think this is a good decison.

 

[GTM]

I think im going through with it. i am goin to pick up the car with a flatbed for 3400. i will probley just fix it and do some cosmetic work and then flip it to make some money. let me know if u think this is a good decison.

Just make sure you know your market if you are going to resell after you fix. Consider how pressed the seller was and yet it didn't sell. You will be working in a narrow market and not something which parents aren't going to send their kids off to college in. Who knows, if you down play the mods because they are not obvious you could expand your market as long as the reliability factor is there.

Cheers,
GTM