Oil Pump

[Shaunathan]

Hey guys, i did search but didn't really find anything that really helped so..

I've been waiting nearly a year to get my first dsm i was really hoping for an AWD.

but then a very clean 1990 Plymouth Laser came up, so me and my dad went and checked it, i hold his opinion highly consider he was a mechanic for close to 20 years.

When we get to his house, he greats us and some of his first questions are "have you owned a dsm before?" he claimed he has owned 5 or 6 dsms and had a broken down 3kgtvr4 in his drive way along with his dd/weekend warrior, which was a heavy modded newer laser. Right when he started it, both myself and my dad noticed a ticking noise but it honestly didn't sound like the engine, then he claim that the oil pump has a rod that comes out and it can go only one way, when he rebuilt the head put it in backwards and that's why there was a ticking come from the oil pump area and all i'd have to do is just flip it around.

my dad says "most cars aren't like that and besides it was priming so it wouldn't really matter anyways"

but get this, i was texting him the next day and he said he would help me replace the oil pump if i wanted and it would only cost $100 or it needs the timing redo.

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it has turbo timer, exhaust, alittle bit bigger than stock turbo (forget size), and slightly bigger valves.


it has 170k and is asking for $1500 obo


so do you guys think he is trying to dump it on me? can anyone verify his story?

because my dad might be getting a 96 gsx with a blown motor in a few months and i might be able to buy it from him, but its not a guarantee.

so what do you guys think i should do?

 

[TurkF26]

I would start with the ticking coming from the 3 missing turbo bolts. Your picture shows that he is missing 3 bolts that holds the turbo to the manifold. Are you sure you were not hearing the exhaust leak that would definitely be coming from there?

Also why is the upper timing cover missing? The BOV looks to be vented and the recirc. pipe is "capped" on the intake pipe. I would ask him about that as well. With the BOV will cause the car to run rich.

 

[bryanwheat]

There is no rod in the oil pump, he doesn't know what he is talking about. I agree that the noise could be coming from a blown turbo gasket because of the lack of bolts. I personally would pay around 1000 bucks at the most for that car with the current condition.

 

[NHerron]

I would definitely do a compression test + leakdown test if he's cool with that. The ticking sound is probably a combo of the early generation HLA's (due to smaller oiling hole) and the exhaust leak which had to be quite a leak with only one bolt. Come to think of it, hopefully the other three bolts didn't snap off and still seized in there...

Other than that it looks like a nice car, pretty clean for the age, and even has original battery terminals. That's a fugly BOV though, especially not being recirculated. Ask him about the turbo, it's probably a 14b from it's M/T variant or a 16g. It better not be an eBay turbo if he knows better. These are easy to spot, just look for an adjustable wastegate actuator arm, pictured below. Or it will say "TURBOCHARGER" on the compressor cover. If it is in fact an eBay special, I would then honestly be worried about the rest of the work done, and at that point it definitely wouldn't be worth $1500 with the possible future headaches.

 

[Shaunathan]

thank you guys, i've been patient for awhile now, i guess the best thing to is wait for another to come around.

btw, he claimed he did a comp test and came back with 150 all the way across... and he said i could come with a compression tester if i'd like. i might call him on his bluff.

also i'm pretty sure he said somethingb, he said it was slightly smaller than a 16g if that's any help.

so... im torn, more opinions?

btw, he is pretty young maybe alittle older than myself and i'm 18 but honestly sounded like he knew what he was talking about, very well educated on dsm's

when me and my dad asked to take it around the block

he said he put only a few miles on it, he bought it not running and rebuilt the head and then it started ticking and he parked because "he doesn't want to ruin the fresh head" he said we could take it down the street if we really wanted, we just passed.

also it has a turbo timer and when he started it he pulled the key and got back out.. it ran then it turned off after around 30 seconds and he said it was the turbo timer and my dad asked him to do it again he did and got back out and i don't know if it was a coincidence but like right when my dad started playing with the throttle, it seemed to turn off.

it seems like he didnt want to leave the key in it and on, not sure why..

guy seemed shady but then really nice.

 

[DSM1G90]

Flash a grand in front of his face and see if he'll take it or leave it. It's a pretty clean looking vehicle, but $1500 with 170k is a bit steep with the problems

I paid $1300 with 161K on mine 4 yrs ago. Came with a JDM Galant VR4 4G63 with the B16G turbo. It was missing on one cylinder, but the spark plug well was full of water causing the miss. Got that one cleaned up in a jiffy, did a full belt job, replaced ECU, and a power steering pressure line.

28K miles later, still screams on the freeway ... in stock form.

Still, good lookin' Laser RS .. love the Blue - both the wife's and my favorite color ... Good luck - DSM

 

[Shaunathan]

Flash a grand in front of his face and see if he'll take it or leave it. It's a pretty clean looking vehicle, but $1500 with 170k is a bit steep with the problems

I paid $1300 with 161K on mine 4 yrs ago. Came with a JDM Galant VR4 4G63 with the B16G turbo. It was missing on one cylinder, but the spark plug well was full of water causing the miss. Got that one cleaned up in a jiffy, did a full belt job, replaced ECU, and a power steering pressure line.

28K miles later, still screams on the freeway ... in stock form.

Still, good lookin' Laser RS .. love the Blue - both the wife's and my favorite color ... Good luck - DSM

thanks man... i wish i could find a deal like that, for whatever reason they seem to come up less from where i from (Utah) and people want alot more than their actually worth... so it's tough.

 

[xtotek]

I think he's full of it. Have him do a compression test with you and your dad there. It's easy enough to do right on the spot. See what happens.....