opinions on 92 lumina Z34 value

[randy78]

i am looking at a 1992 lumina Z34, it is bright red and really clean body but dirty interior than needs cleaned, but nice shape otherwise,
it needs a head gasket replaced but runs,
what would be a fair value on something like this ?
especially in a regioin where cars this age are not very common as others are- especially better ones such as the Z34 ?

thanks for anything
R

[wafrederick]

I have some advice:do not buy it!The 3.4 dohc is a big POS and expensive to repair

[gw84]

Is the car you're looking at an automatic or the hard-to-find manual? If it's the manual I'd go for it, because they are so rare in these cars. How many miles?

[john51md]

Originally Posted by randy78

i am looking at a 1992 lumina Z34, it is bright red and really clean body but dirty interior than needs cleaned, but nice shape otherwise,
it needs a head gasket replaced but runs,
what would be a fair value on something like this ?
especially in a regioin where cars this age are not very common as others are- especially better ones such as the Z34 ?

thanks for anything
R

Saw a 93 Z34 the other day, excellent outside and isnide condition, top to bottom, card in window said it ran great, didnt say what engine, but it was a automatic, disnt state mileage either, it was 750.00
Also, a 90 Euro 4 dr for sale, 200k. 3.1 engine, automatic, really nice shape, one owner well maintained, it was 800.00 ( a price to high in my opinion)
I paid 100.00 2 years ago for a base 4dr with a 2.5 auto, with 100k on it

[gw84]

Originally Posted by john51md

Also, a 90 Euro 4 dr for sale, 200k. 3.1 engine, automatic, really nice shape, one owner well maintained, it was 800.00 ( a price to high in my opinion)

I wouldn't necessarily say that the price is too high on this one. You said it's one owner, well maintained. My car is a little newer ('93) with just under 200K and I'm the third owner, I wouldn't ever let the car go. But if I had to, I wouldn't take less than $2,000 for it. It may be old and not perfect shape, but I know what it's worth. Runs like a champ and it's never left me stranded. Great Car

[wafrederick]

The Z34 has that 3.4 dohc and it is very expensive to repair.Basically you will shake your wallet out to pay for repairs.To change the timing belt,you have to have the special tool to hold the cams in place.

[richtazz]

Most likely that head gasket will turn into a complete head, as those DOHC motors are notorious for bending valves if the timing belt isn't changed regularly. I agree with wafrederick that you should pass on this car, as they are a money pit and very tempermental, unless you love to continually tinker with your car. As a daily driver, I'd definitely pass.

[john51md]

Originally Posted by gw84

I wouldn't necessarily say that the price is too high on this one. You said it's one owner, well maintained. My car is a little newer ('93) with just under 200K and I'm the third owner, I wouldn't ever let the car go. But if I had to, I wouldn't take less than $2,000 for it. It may be old and not perfect shape, but I know what it's worth. Runs like a champ and it's never left me stranded. Great Car

Only reason i think its to high is because after 200K, no matter how well mantained, every moving part has "200k" on it, and you cannot expect much life left till you are replacing all kinds of things.
I know form experience. My 100.00 lumina wasnt bad cause it cost me 100.00. so didnt mind replacing things, but 2,000.00 for a car that maybe in about another 30,40 50,000 miles it starts eating money up. So i say even 800.00 is to much for such high mileage. Sure it may be worth 2k to you 'now' and maybe the 800.00 car is worth that much 'right now' but not for long.
And i try to go by how long a car is going to be ok, how much life is left in it, and how long before the moneypit sets in. yes its just my opinion.
2k for maybe 40k miles to come?, not great, 800 for 40k miles not as bad.
My family passed around a 1985 toyota Corolla, that is still running, and engine and transmission is still original, all but matainance items, and it now has 300k on it, but now is smoking some, leaking some, and about to bite the dust, and in my experience, trouble free running on Lumina's, ends about 175 to 200k. Not dissing your car, hope it goes forever for ya, but just stating my experiences.

[Eurosport94]

they're honestly not AS bad as everybody makes them out to be. If you neglect the motor, sure it'll cause problems. But what motor doesn't? there are many 3.4's as DD's with well over 200k on the original engine.

[LMP]

My son got one ('92) at C$450 last spring, including full set of snow tires with rims..160000km, added muffler, front strut and master cylinder..and it runs. Will change timing belt (preventive maintenance) as soon as spring returns. Hi idle problem (cold) to be fixed soon.
...previous owner had refilled master cylinder with TRANSMISSION fluid..did not reach the brake lines!!!!

By the way, only the '96 3.4DOHC is labelled as an interference engine.
http://www.aa1car.com/library/2004/us90410.htm

[richtazz]

LMP, your cold high idle problem is an intake vacuum leak, pretty common on the 3.4 DOHC. As far as being an interference engine, here's the scope. GM used a short skirted piston with a relatively high ring groove on these engines to reduce internal friction. As they age, the pistons can (and normally will) start to rock a little in there bore causing the infamous piston slap/rattle high mileage GM 60 degree V-6's are known for. This eats up the marginal valve clearance, and turns it into an interference engine. I work at a parts store that used to have a machine shop, and we saw many smacked valves in 95-older DOHC's due to this issue. The thing I hate the most about these engines is they are very difficult to work on and maintain. An alternator change requires you to raise the engine out of the cradle, a tune-up requires removal of the upper plenum, the timing belt (with a 60k mile recommended change interval) is beyond the scope and talent of most DIY's, and the list goes on.

[LMP]

Thanks rich'. I'm grateful for the details. Notice I had deliberately said "labelled as". . Indeed opening the hood the first time induces a nightmare at first sight. Can one change the T-belt with engine in place? And yeah, I was somewhat reluctant about the son enthousiasm...but... dad is made to accomodate, isn't he...

[richtazz]

I understand LMP, and what you said is true according to the engineers. However, reality is many times different than engineers "facts". My favorite analogy to that point is that engineers say it is aerodynamically impossible for bees to fly, but the still do. I like to clarify that point so people don't make the mistake of letting the timing belt go thinking it's no big deal, or get suprized when they do the aggrivating, time consuming work involved in changing one only to find out they have no compression. Finally, to answer your question, yes the timing belt can be changed without removing the engine.

[LMP]

...rich, again, I wanted to stress that things "labelled " to be one thing are not necessarily that...so all along I agreed with you....and thank for the conforting advise the TB job can be done "in house".

[mjtr21]

ha i just took my 92 Z34 off the road because it needed a new timing belt. My mechanic said to either get another engine or different car because he is fed up with working on this engine. Everything is too close together and he changed the alternator for me too. I was shocked when I first looked under the hood of the car too. Well I'm glad I got rid of that nightmare.