Need Help With 91 Chevy Cavalier RS

[fontenotmt2003]

My 91 Chevy Cavalier RS, 4 cylinder, is really pissing me off!! My friend recently replaced the oil filter, air filter, did an oil change, replaced the radiator fan motor, replaced the spark plugs and the spark plug wires. It turns out though I have a cracked head. When my friend put in one of the new spark plugs he said he could see a sizeable crack where you put the spark plug in. The car is somewhat driveable it just runs a lot like a VW Bug, has hardly any get up and go, and gives you a massage because it is shaking so badly. Besides that the radiator resevoir is spewing out coolant, the fan motor is not coming on when it used to and the fuel pump keeps blowing it's fuse. I am on a small, limited income and I guess I am wondering if it is worth it to fix this. I can't do the repairs for at least another couple of months. Is it okay to keep driving it a little and will it last until then. Any advice or repair tips would be really appreciated.

Needs help because I know nothing about cars,

Matt

[poetrydiva]

I just got the head replaced on mine. I also have a 91 Chevy Cavalier RS. My grandfather installed it for me. All of the parts (head, gasket, etc.) cost around $525. Find a good mechanic that will let you pay it down. Within two months a newer car will end up costing you more than it would cost to get the head replaced.

[muff34]

Originally Posted by poetrydiva

I just got the head replaced on mine. I also have a 91 Chevy Cavalier RS. My grandfather installed it for me. All of the parts (head, gasket, etc.) cost around $525. Find a good mechanic that will let you pay it down. Within two months a newer car will end up costing you more than it would cost to get the head replaced.

This is true ,however an old car can nickel and dime a person to death, not to mention the aggravation it causes because you know that it is not reliable. Just my

[poetrydiva]

It might seem that an old car will nickel and dime you to death, but looking at the breakdown it's not that bad.

My 91 Cav has 138,000+ miles. In three years, we've spent approx. $2500 on repairs. I'm not figuring general maintenance (tires, oil, brakes, battery, etc.) because a newer car has that too. That $2500 breaks down to $208.33/year. A new car would be around $200/month car payments and approx. $70/mo. insurance. Already, that's $3240. Plus, newer cars don't get as good of gas mileage as older ones. (I checked into a newer car recently). So, in just my experience, in a new car we would be out $740 more in one year than in the entire 3 years of repairs to our car.

It kind of puts things in perspective.

[muff34]

Originally Posted by poetrydiva

It might seem that an old car will nickel and dime you to death, but looking at the breakdown it's not that bad.

My 91 Cav has 138,000+ miles. In three years, we've spent approx. $2500 on repairs. I'm not figuring general maintenance (tires, oil, brakes, battery, etc.) because a newer car has that too. That $2500 breaks down to $208.33/year. A new car would be around $200/month car payments and approx. $70/mo. insurance. Already, that's $3240. Plus, newer cars don't get as good of gas mileage as older ones. (I checked into a newer car recently). So, in just my experience, in a new car we would be out $740 more in one year than in the entire 3 years of repairs to our car.

It kind of puts things in perspective.

Ya I guess If that works for you. But I see you live in Texas and so would I guess cold wintery weather does not affect you as much. Winter takes a toll on things up here ,Rust .I had a `91 also and yes it was a good car but..... When you start changing rusty brake lines from the master cylinder to the calipers and wheel cylinders ,and fuel lines front to back and the fuel tank twice. not ot mention other problems that crop up . You had better be mechanically inclined or have a real good friend. I think I would rather run something a little newer pay a bit more and know that I won`t be dropping more money into something that is not going to last forever. But that`s just me Good luck with your car

[poetrydiva]

The original poster is from Las Vegas. Their weather is a lot like where I'm at. In fact, possibly drier, but, yeah, it would make a difference if the car was constantly buried to the hilt in snow.

My sister-in-law used to live in Kansas City and would get at least 2 major blizzards a winter. They always kept their car in the garage and he would drive their truck whenever he had to go in to work.

If having enough money at the end of the month is a major problem, then it's easier to fix a problem as it arrises and not have $10 left at the end of every month.