Should I risk it?

[SkinnyBAM]

Ok, so i bought a 95 GS-T from a charity where it was donated. The car didn't come with the head and had signs on the top of the pistons showing that the timing belt snapped. So what i did was tested the pistons to see if they were ok. They all moved fine but the first one made a kind of squeaking sound. Since the car was donated i have no information on it, as far as i know the transmission could be shot, or could be in perfect condition.

My question is should i risk buying a head and seeing how everything works or should i sell it before this costs me thousands of dollars?

A few things to keep in mind:
I do not have a lot of money to spend, as of now about 1k
The car has 147k on it
This will be my daily driver

 

[twitch1447]

Sounds like there is a chance you will have to sink a lot of money into it...if you are going to use it as a daily driver i would say sell it for a decent price and buy a more reliable car...not knowing anything about it makes the possibilities endless. Just my opinion....car could need minor work and good to go but is hard to say. If you can get more for it then you paid i would sell it.

 

[SkinnyBAM]

I paid 1825 for it....the paints faded on the roof and the spoiler, needs a driver side window, but its got a pretty nice interior.

 

[gurmanator]

myself...I would find a used head and get it running and go from there.9 times out of 10 the timing belt broke and the piston kissed a valve but at any rate a running car has more value than a non running car if you have to sell it. you could get lucky but I do all my own work so labor is cheap for me.

 

[SkinnyBAM]

I was just messing with the car and noticed that the first two cylinders have a little it of corrosion at the very top of the cylinders. Its not a lot but you can feel the tiny bumps with your fingers. How bad is this?

 

[Quasimondo]

Although you didn't pay too much for this car, and it looks like it doesn't need a whole lot to get it working, your budget of $1000 is too low, especially if you're considering making it a daily driver.

With no head, you'll need the head (of course) turbo, manifolds, injectors, gaskets, etc. But what about other future problems that may pop up? How long has this car been sitting with no head? What about other parts that may break just because the car sat for so long?

It's a fine project to get this car back to life, but I think you need to budget around $2K just for unforseen problems.

 

[SkinnyBAM]

Although you didn't pay too much for this car, and it looks like it doesn't need a whole lot to get it working, your budget of $1000 is too low, especially if you're considering making it a daily driver.

With no head, you'll need the head (of course) turbo, manifolds, injectors, gaskets, etc. But what about other future problems that may pop up? How long has this car been sitting with no head? What about other parts that may break just because the car sat for so long?

It's a fine project to get this car back to life, but I think you need to budget around $2K just for unforseen problems.

I have the turbo, both manifolds, injectors, throttle body...basically just need a head and maybe a couple replacement hoses. But as you said future problems could be costly. My over all budget isnt 1k its just what i have until next paycheck.

 

[Quasimondo]

Well if you have all of those items, then I guess its worth doing since a replacement head can be had for as low as $200 or even lower. I didn't know you had all of the other parts beforehand.

However, once you get it running, I recommend what I call the 'thousand mile rule' Don't trust it for daily driving until you can go 1000 miles without breaking something. Car's been sitting for a while, you might have more than a few kinks to work out.

Corrosion on the pistons isn't a problem. You need to be more worried about corrosion on the cylinder walls as well as heavy gouges. Deep scratches means that it'll have to be bored out or you'll have shitty compression.

Do you have any better pictures of the cylinder walls?

 

[eclipseturbogst]

Go to your local car parts dealer and rent out a cylinder leak down tester and test each cylinder, remember always test on the compression stroke.

 

[SkinnyBAM]

Well if you have all of those items, then I guess its worth doing since a replacement head can be had for as low as $200 or even lower. I didn't know you had all of the other parts beforehand.

However, once you get it running, I recommend what I call the 'thousand mile rule' Don't trust it for daily driving until you can go 1000 miles without breaking something. Car's been sitting for a while, you might have more than a few kinks to work out.

Corrosion on the pistons isn't a problem. You need to be more worried about corrosion on the cylinder walls as well as heavy gouges. Deep scratches means that it'll have to be bored out or you'll have shitty compression.

Do you have any better pictures of the cylinder walls?

I hope these are good enough

 

[eclipseturbogst]

Looks like you should either get some sleeves and or hone the cyliner walls and clean up the pistons while your at it.

 

[SkinnyBAM]

what are sleeves?

 

[mgcook]

if you dont know what sleeves are you dont need to be doing motor work, and BTW since you have rust on the cylinder walls you are going to need to take it all apart and hone it or else you engine is going to #### up if you put it back together and try to run it like that

 

[Masochist]

If I was looking at that motor and had $1000 to get it going, I would walk away from it. Everybody has their opinions and mine would be that the engine needs pulled and a trip to the machine shop for at least a honing. Once you do that your looking at a full rebuild plus the cost of the head. And then it's still a guess as to the condition of the transmission.
Too much risk for a guy that needs a car as sole source of transportation with $1000 in his pocket. Until you have done any type of full/partial rebuild, you start out thinking a job can be done for say, $700 then you end up spending almost double. Walk man....

 

[SkinnyBAM]

If I was looking at that motor and had $1000 to get it going, I would walk away from it. Everybody has their opinions and mine would be that the engine needs pulled and a trip to the machine shop for at least a honing. Once you do that your looking at a full rebuild plus the cost of the head. And then it's still a guess as to the condition of the transmission.
Too much risk for a guy that needs a car as sole source of transportation with $1000 in his pocket. Until you have done any type of full/partial rebuild, you start out thinking a job can be done for say, $700 then you end up spending almost double. Walk man....

.....how much you think i can sell it for?

 

[Masochist]

.....how much you think i can sell it for?

Not sure on that one. I bought a 1991 complete AT GSX with pretty decent interior and pretty straight body for $600 with brand new tires on it and a bad motor (timing belt busted, 16 bent valves) as a chassis for my motor/MT a few months ago. That may or may not help you but that's all I have for personal reference.

 

[knighteclipse1]

I paid 1825 for it....the paints faded on the roof and the spoiler, needs a driver side window, but its got a pretty nice interior.

wow...check my gallery, I paid 800.00 for a Talon that needs a motor, The car is a one owner. I think you got ripped off...

 

[igopoopy]

i can sell you my long block for 300+shipping

pm me

 

[DROOPY209]

I got a 90 galant GS with the 4g63 non turbo engine for free.

my neighbors timing belt ripped and he was gunna junk the car. I asked him to give it to me.

In total, I spent 400 dollars to get that car running like a champ.

I bought a used 4g63 engine from a company that imports those jdm engines for 400 bucks.


It can be done. Honestly, I think you got ripped a new one.

In chicago, I bought my white 92 eagle talon tsi awd 5speed with a blown head, clean ass body for $400 dollars. 6/4 bolt combo.

Honestly, don't buy a car that doesn't run for more then 800 bucks. The only car I would buy for $1,000 not running would be a 99 GSX 5-speed.

 

[Syndicate13]

Looks like you should either get some sleeves and or hone the cyliner walls and clean up the pistons while your at it.

what are sleeves

if you dont know what sleeves are you dont need to be doing motor work, and BTW since you have rust on the cylinder walls you are going to need to take it all apart and hone it or else you engine is going to #### up if you put it back together and try to run it like that

If you all don't know that the 4g63 is a closed deck motor then you need to do some homework. The motor will at least need to be cleaned up before reassembly. If it were me I would have a machine shop check it out, they will be able to mic everything and check clearances as well as make sure the block is straight for proper head gasket sealing.

 

[paranoidTSi]

I wouldn't bother with one that already has motor problems...mine started with a bad alternator....

needless to say 12K later (mostly shop costs, cuz I'm retarded) the car still isn't running. So yeah, I'd pass on it. Unless you feel that everything else is in great working order.

 

[gurmanator]

do you know how to do engine work?If not then you are sol

 

[SkinnyBAM]

do you know how to do engine work?If not then you are sol

no, not really but luckily i have a mechanic buddy who will do it for cheap if not free
i also have a lift i could use

 

[impuresoul2k3]

If you all don't know that the 4g63 is a closed deck motor then you need to do some homework.

Ok, WTF is a closed deck motor?

 

[gurmanator]

no, not really but luckily i have a mechanic buddy who will do it for cheap if not free
i also have a lift i could use

Cool!!! hear is what you do...take some lacquer thinner and wipe down the cylinder walls,that rust can happen in 12 hours because its bare cast metal and that rust is from the anti-freeze so it will have oil to it.

steps
1. sand block surface(100 grit)
2.vacum out cylinders
3.wipe down cylinders
4.reassemble the motor
I did the samething to my talon and runs fine.you might be suprised with yourself.