Need advice with this car

[5280DSM]

Alright guys im not new to cars but i am new to DSMs. Anyway, im looking at buying my first DSM. Its a 1991 Talon TSi AWD. I have the opportunity to pick it up for a fairly good price (2k), but she is running a bit rough. The engine is rebuilt with only 50k on it and he is running what looks like a "bigger is better" ebay turbo on it while running 5psi of boost..ok umm doesnt make much sense but anyway here we go. The guy told me the headgasket is going out because its smoking white. His friend told me its off timing. But here is what i found out: The car smokes very little if at all at idle. The exhaust smells like, well, exhaust. Nothing out of the ordinary there. It is misfiring pretty decent and the idle does not stay put. It fluctuates but not severe..maybe fluctuates 1000rpm if that. The timing belt might be a bit streched and the guys friend told me it may have jumped a tooth...ok well he also told me he messed around with the CAS but didnt really go into detail about it. The oil wasnt new but it looked as if it has 1500 miles on it and it didnt really feel like oil. I will do a comp. test on it before i buy but what i want to know is if i buy it, should i replace the headgasket? Or try a few other things first so i dont have to tear the head off. Im prepared to put money into the car to get it to run right. I just want to know what all can be wrong with it and if its worth my time. Thanks guys and any help will be greatlyappreciated.

 

[Boostinsideways]

2k seems A bit steep for a car that needs a headgasket and may be out of time.

It sounds like the ICS is probably shot. (idle surge) I would definently try and haggle him down to 1500.

 

[g4ebguy90]

2000. I wouldn't pay over 800 for it. Unless the body is like in perfect rediculous condition.
I learned a lesson. No matter what the buyer says. Rebuilt, FULLY BUILT. Don't believe it. Treat the car as stock and such. Unless you can actually see some nice mods. Like a front mount, big olde stupid turbo, nice pipes, etc.

I only paid 800 for my GST, Told it was fully built.

Spun a bearing 5th day of ownership, tore her apart, to find practially all stock components.

http://rockford.craigslist.org/cto/2481578722.html

Car had no STUDS, didn't appear rebuilt or bored. All stock. I have yet to confirm 272's but I doubt it.

But I did find a nice ALuminum Flywheel

Id like to add the car, was said to be a GS Converted to a GST. But yeh I think it's just a GST. It has a turbo trans, turbo harness, nothing has been cut or anything. It's to nice to be a non-turbo convert.

 

[minimoose]

who painted the tires blue also 4gebguy? talking about the link for craigslist u posted

 

[Boma]

That car is shot, jumping idle, white smoke, jumped a tooth, bad timing, stretched belts. I'd skip the whole ICS/TPS issue. Not to sound mean but I don't think a rebuilt engine should have any of those issues at all and even if it was rebuilt (quite possibly by them), chances are, the head gasket is out of torque or the head is warped already or even worse, both. Look at the coolant if there's oil in it and check the oil dipstick if its milky with bubbles after the engine has warmed up. If it does, you can either haggle it down to 1k or do some more tests on it and see how far the issues are. You're new to DSM's but if you're quite knowledgeable enough with cars, I'd say get it, but not for 2k and build it yourself, the AWD platform should be enough to make you decide if its worth it. Good luck.

 

[5280DSM]

Ok well even though it has alot of mysterious problems, sometimes it can only be one or two things. Thats why im staying optimistic. The car runs and drives fine and doesnt ever stall out either. Just has something going on with it somewhere. Headgasket, CAS, timing, ICS, turbo, etc. But i will try to talk him down. That price is nothing compared to what my cousin paid for his gsx thoguh...4000 and a hole in piston 4 when he bought it

 

[g4ebguy90]

who painted the tires blue also 4gebguy? talking about the link for craigslist u posted

What?

 

[ChiTownHussla]

Dam man,lay off the retard juice. 4k ? with a blown motor? yall smoking rocks or ###

 

[g4ebguy90]

Dam man,lay off the retard juice. 4k ? with a blown motor? yall smoking rocks or ###

What are you talking about?

The OP wants to pay lower then 2k, and I only paid 800 for mine.

 

[Bud92gsx]

The op said his bro paid 4k for a gsx with a hole in the block..That's what hes talking about..

OP..The turbo is going to have to be replaced if you think it's an ebay turbo..

2k is waay too much for this car unless it has like 100k on the clock, which I'm doubting it does..And I has problems which need to be worked out..So if your good with vehicles and plan on tearing the engine apart and rebuilding it again, and replacing alot of stuff in the process..Then i'd say jump on it..

 

[g4ebguy90]

O ok, I missed that. Yea 4k with a hole in a piston .

 

[robtheturbopric]

id say find a better gsx dude sounds like one big headache. for first your dsm i would get something runs good without these random issues.

 

[5280DSM]

So far thanks for all the advice guys. I found a 90 gsx with 144k on the clock, clean as a whistle, and all stock other than a manifold. I'm going check out that car tonight and let you know what I find.