Thor's DSM... finally

[Thor06]

Ok, so I am about this close --> | | from my own DSM! Its a 90 TSI AWD, like 120k miles, manual, and dark cherry. The compression is fairly good, but it overheats because of the blown head gasket. I called him yesterday to ask about it, he said there was one other guy looking at it, and if he didnt want it, it was mine. Well, I check the thread about it today and they guy that was looking at it (dsmstyle admin) decided not to get it. So, guess what that means? As long as the guy doesnt sell it out from under me, ITS MINE! Its all stock except hacked air can and the only problem (I hope) is the blown head gasket. Hes only asking $950 for it, I am going to call him later and offer him $800, but if I have to, I will shell out $950 for it.

Its about 230 miles away. If I can find anyone to help me change the head gasket down there, I'll do that, but otherwise it has to get driven back with the head gasket blown. As long as the coolant isnt getting into the oil I should be ok right? He said it overheats, but I dont care, I'll pull over and let it cool if I have to. Should I refill the coolant as it gets low? It is fairly cold up here, would anything bad happen (as long as I dont let it overheat) if I just drained the coolant so I wasnt burning any?

EDIT: Holy 1500! What a day eh? To bad I am home sick...

[EDMUND65]

holy fuk man dont drive it with blown head gasket! You'll warp the head! could anyway.. just come down to my house and buy this awd 90 tsi for 300$ lol

[DragonofBC]

I don't know where you are going to pick it up but why don't you look for a shop nearby you can take it to? Get yourself a replacement head gasket, bring it with you, and have a shop install it. When I had to replace mine (leaking) it cost $115 for parts and labor. Make sure you set up an appointment beforehand so you can be in and out.

Congrats man. It's about time

[EDMUND65]

Head gaskets cost way more than that to replace dont they?

[Thor06]

Yeah dude, I know two people that have gotten shafted for a grand on a 420a head gasket.

I dont know, I'll worry about it later. I just got off the phone with him. He confirmed that guy didnt want it and that I am next in line. Since this is going to go down under the radar, I have to wait until I'm alone to call him back, get some specifics, discuss payment, and that kinda thing. Would the only reason for the head to warp be overheating? I sure as hell dont want that to happen, but I also dont want to get fucked for a bunch of money for a shop to replace the head gasket. Damn guys, its finally happening. I get my own money pit, I mean DSM.

Anyway, if I do replace the head gasket while I am down there, which one should I get? Later I was thinking one of those cometic ones, but you need really machined gasket surfaces right? All I need is a crutch to get me home. Any suggestions?

[nova1313]

if you pay to have it done. but they are like 200ish maybe 300 for a new one.

[DragonofBC]

I'm probably wrong but isn't this the gasket in question?

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/cata...&parttype=5412

[Thor06]

Yeah, thats the one. I didnt realize they were so cheap. I am going to still check with any area DSMers, hell, they seller might have a garage/parking lot for me to do it in. If we cant, I will have to find a deserted parking lot. If we can have a shop do the labor for ~$100, we'll do it. One of my friends can do it in 2 hours, so I'm hopeing I can do it in about 4. Any ideas how heavy the head, intake, and exhaust mani will be?

[ez1286]

Where is the car? Cause if it's 270 miles from you it might be near me, i could help if you need it. The head might be warped but it's not that big of a deal you just need to get it resurfaced (It cost $30 for mine). Don't forget head bolts, and i'd just get the whole head gasket replacement set (comes with a ton of gaskets, basically everything you'd take off to do a hg)

[hellah fresh]

Hey thor if your looking for a car... one of my friend over here in Wichita Kansas is selling his 94 GSX. All black with black rims and he qouted me $3500 with 145k miles... new tranny. If your interested let me know!

[crunchymilk55]

I'm not trying to ruin your parade thor, but a head gasket is not an easy task. You have to at the very minumum buy a new headgasket, headbolts, and get the head resurfaced. A good head gasket isn't cheap either. The labor is rather difficult, you would have a VERY hard time doing it in a parking lot, not ot mentino the machine shop will take time to resurface. I'd still hold out if I were you. I've seen 1g AWD's go for about 1k that could make a decent drive. You definitely can't drive an overheating car 250 miles.

[Thor06]

I see what you mean crunchy, but this is a deal I cant really afford to miss. Mike's Talon was almost twice as much with over twice as many problems and that is a pretty common thing to see up here. I missed three cars in the past month that went for $1800 with 50-80k more miles and barely any driveable than this one. This is the best option in my area.

All we need to do is get it a big enough crutch to get home. Either A) drive it or B) fix it.

If we fix it, I will get the $30 head gasket from rockauto and head bolts if absolutely needed, then we will find someone down there that will let us use their garage. I've got friends, and my friends have friends, I dont think it will be a problem. Once we get it home and I get money, I will get the ARP and cometic gasket.

He did say that its a minor leak and theres barely any white smoke coming out of the tail pipe. Also, he said that it takes about 20 minutes before it starts to over heat. Is there any stop leak fluid that might help it hold up a little better? Will any damage be caused taking it to a safe temperature, letting it cool off, taking it back up, letting it cool off, and so on? I dont think anything will warp or anything if its not brought up to a dangerous temp will it?

[l_eclipse_l]

I don't think it would be physically possible for me to drive it home like that. I would be too tempted to drop the accelerator...just to feel her pull.

Anyway, sounds like a good enough deal to me. It does run atleast, and once the head gasket it done it should be a decent ride.

[Thor06]

Yeah, I just got off the phone with him. As soon as he gets a deposit tonight, it will be mine. Man I am fucking excited. It started to overheat a couple days ago and before it did, the compression was all within a few PSI and around 150. Pics will be up within two weeks!

[blk_srt]

If you take the thermostat out it wont over heat. It over heats because all the compression that leaks out from the head gasket goes into the coolant and causes a pocket of air to build up behind the thermostat and it wont open then. Thats a possibilty at least, to check it start it up and if the rad hoses get hard right away thats your best bet