need some advice on buying dsm

[turbo_laserbrno]

im looking at a 1991 plymouth laser rs that had the motor swapped from a talon tsi so it is now turbo.

1991 Plymouth Laser
10k on the 4g63 motor
173,xxx on the odometer
5 Speed with new clutch
Originally an N/A car
power windows
power steering
power locks
flip up roof
rear wiper/defroster

MODS:
Evo3 Big 16g Turbo
2g pistons
1g big rod
Balance shaft eleminator kit
Cometic MLS head gasket
Unknown brand after market intake manifold
FMIC 24W x 12H x 3D
Dejon Tools UICP
GM blow through MAF
MAF Translator
Hard wired walbro 255LPH fuel pump
custom bend 2 1/2" turbo back exhaust
Apex'i SAFC II
Faze boost & temp gauge
Manual boost controller
Injen cold air Intake
K&N Air filter
Prothane Motor Mounts
Genuine Tial 44mm BOV
Slow boy J-pipe

The car does have problems. It has the usual rust. Not that bad though. The biggest thing is the headgasket is leaking a little. It DID NOT overheat. It started getting warm so i stopped running it. So you don't have to worry about resurfacing the head because it did not get hot enough to warp. If i fix the headgasket before sale, im gonna want closer to 2500.

as you can see it has a blown head gasket. the guy is now selling it for 1250 and im considering buying it this week. i have read alot of the forums and im thinking of doing arp head studs and the oem composite head gasket. i have never done it before but i know a few people that have and have dsms hopefully they will help. i want to know if you guys think it is worth the work? and if you have anymore suggestions that could maybe make this a little easier? am i going to have to do anything with the timing? im just hoping the head isnt cracked or anything more major than the head gasket is wrong. any ideas on how i could maybe check it out better when i go to see it soon?

sorry if this is already on here ive looked at alot of threads already but couldnt find what i needed i might just suck at researching. thanks alot.

-hopefully soon to be dsm owner

 

[derekgst]

Sounds like a good deal to me. It would be better to go ahead and get a MLS headgasket instead of a composite one.

 

[MichaelSuch]

Does it have a turbo F5M33 trans? The NA transmissions have a shorter gear ratio and with that power an NA transmission will not hold up long. Who did the swap? Make sure it wasn't half assed, there are a lot of different parts between the turbo and NA car. Be sure that it is a real 16g turbo and not ebay junk or a 14b because you can see no difference on the outside of a 14b and 16g turbo. Check the serial numbers on the turbo, that's the only way to tell. Does he have any receipts from the parts on the motor rebuild or who built it or anything of that nature? What size injectors and was he running to a logger to tune with it so he can see if it's knocking?

It is a good price, but be prepared for more expenses other than a head gasket. I'm willing to bet there is more wrong with the car than just that. Make sure you have another car to get you from place to place before buying this one...

 

[RayBan GST]

if i am at your place i will pass on this dsm for now, wait for a while and get your self an original Turbo Dsm , it much less headaches for you down the road. for 2500 USD you can get a better deal and an original turbo DSM

good luck

 

[TastyTalon]

Sounds like a headache to me. If you are starting to find problems then mostly there are many more coming.

 

[hubz91talontsi]

Im gonna go with no, and ill explain why. =) Its front wheel drive. Now i know i have a front wheel drive. I have had a awd though, and i loved it. I didn't like the 95-96 talon look, and i wanted a first gen. So, i was stuck with this for the fact that it was the only 1g locally at the time for sale. Get awd you won't reget it =D

 

[needsy]

I would be very leery of a car where the current owner "knows what is wrong with it" but doesn't fix it. If it truly is just a head gasket this guy is throwing away money by not doing the work himself and selling the car for $2500 instead of $1250. If he fixed it he would get $1200 for a $200 investment, so why doesn't he do that?

 

[DSM1G90]

If he fixed it he would get $1200 for a $200 investment, so why doesn't he do that?

Prob more wrong with it, or just gave up on the thing...

 

[Spoolin18]

I would never buy a modded dsm or any modded car for that matter, unless it was a highly respected and well known member. Your just opening a can of worms with that one.