Hose leak?

[BOX88]

I dont know what happend to my old account, guess it got deletes.

But anyways

So I was checking out a Caprice today.... 1988 LS

Anyways everthings looked good, but I had the guy turn the car off, turned it back on to see how it started. No smoke coming out the pipes real bad like the last one I looked at .....

But I had him hit the gas, and as I was looking at the engine I see a hose. The one I boxed in the pic and it seemed to be leaking some like water/ or antifreeze?




Is that a serious problem or should I have that replace. I though maybe the clamps werent tight enough so I thought nothing of it really.

I offerd in $1,250 so if he doesnt get an higher offer by 4 tomorrow its mines.

So yeah, Its been smogged and registerd. He said it does need a tune up. It was a young guy didnt seem like he knew much about cars. Asked if he had any tranny problems or if the heads were okay and he seemed a lil confused.

I already got an Daily car so this will be a lil project. I might just sell the engine and tranny cause my boy can hook me up with a nice turn key crate engine for less then 3,000 and an new tranny for lil over 1,000 so I might go that route


Thanks for any help people.

[silicon212]

That's one of the heater hoses. Replace it and all will be well.

[BOX88]

Originally Posted by silicon212

That's one of the heater hoses. Replace it and all will be well.

Okay cool, thanks.

O BTW Are there any books specifically on a caprice I can read up on? I dont want to be in here asking question all the time. I like to learn on my own.

Thanks again.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by BOX88

Okay cool, thanks.

O BTW Are there any books specifically on a caprice I can read up on? I dont want to be in here asking question all the time. I like to learn on my own.

Thanks again.

That's fine. You can get tech manuals such as a Haynes or Chilton manual - these go far (at least in my case they did).

[bobss396]

Look at the heater control valve while you're checking the hose. I've seen more of them leaking than hoses. Real easy to get at, less than a 20 minute job, famous last words!

Bob

[BOX88]

So I was busy yesterday and had my dad take a mechanic to look at it again. And he said the Heads looked bad or something along those lines.

So I called around and I been getting quote for like $1800 to replace and do the heads. Does that sound baout right for a 350??

[BOX88]

Also you guys got any tips for anything else I should look for? like a check list to go buy....Engine wise and etc before buying??



Body and inteiror I'm not worried about.....Performance first

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by BOX88

Also you guys got any tips for anything else I should look for? like a check list to go buy....Engine wise and etc before buying??



Body and inteiror I'm not worried about.....Performance first

You can't tell a head's bad by looking at it. You have to consider things such as "Does it burn oil on startup?", and "Does it leak coolant into the engine? Does it misfire on adjacent cylinders, or on any cylinder?". You need to run a compression test to check for burned or leaky valves.

Also, there were no factory 2-door '87s with 350s in them. The V8s were all 305s. Look at your VIN - if you have a 350 the 8th digit will be a '6', if it's a 305 (it should be), it will be "H". Also, that label under the deck lid will have the code LM1 for a 350 or LG4 for a 305.

How many miles are on the car?

[BOX88]

He said it had like a thick layer of whatever on it. He said he took a paper towel and wiped it and it was REALLY thick and seemed to be Oil

Its not a two door, Its an 1988 4door LS.... I was told these came stocked with w 350. I guess I was misinformed

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by BOX88

He said it had like a thick layer of whatever on it. He said he took a paper towel and wiped it and it was REALLY thick and seemed to be Oil

Its not a two door, Its an 1988 4door LS.... I was told these came stocked with w 350. I guess I was misinformed

Sorry about that, I had you confused with someone else.

Yeah, the 350 was an option on 9C1 cars only - due to CAFE requirements, GM didn't offer a Caprice to the public with a 350 between 1981 and 1993 (although there were some '93 LTZ models that had the L05 350).

As to the above, simply have the engine steam cleaned and then look for leaks.

[BOX88]

Originally Posted by silicon212

Sorry about that, I had you confused with someone else.

Yeah, the 350 was an option on 9C1 cars only - due to CAFE requirements, GM didn't offer a Caprice to the public with a 350 between 1981 and 1993 (although there were some '93 LTZ models that had the L05 350).

As to the above, simply have the engine steam cleaned and then look for leaks.

O. Okay. So its most likely a 305? I wrote down the vin number on a peice of paper. I need to find it.


But either way, how much you think I be paying for new heads on a 305 or new valve gaskets, parts and install price?


I just called the guy and I asked him if we could meet up at a shop I was going to pay to have a diagnostic check and now he is giving me the run around. I'm guessing maybe there is something reall wrong with it.

[bobss396]

It sounds like the car might need some expen$ive work. If you can't get a straight answer on the car, you either need to pass it up or be willing to take the car to a shop that you trust for an honest diagnosis. It still might cost you a few hours of whatever the shop charges.

I always think worst case scenario when I'm doing some "horse trading". I feel that the owner KNOWS the scoop with the car and is trying to pull a fast one on you.

I'd keep him hanging for a few days and come back with an embarrasingly rock bottom offer like $150 to start. I do it all the time and my success rate is pretty good.

Bob

[BOX88]

Originally Posted by bobss396

It sounds like the car might need some expen$ive work. If you can't get a straight answer on the car, you either need to pass it up or be willing to take the car to a shop that you trust for an honest diagnosis. It still might cost you a few hours of whatever the shop charges.

I always think worst case scenario when I'm doing some "horse trading". I feel that the owner KNOWS the scoop with the car and is trying to pull a fast one on you.

I'd keep him hanging for a few days and come back with an embarrasingly rock bottom offer like $150 to start. I do it all the time and my success rate is pretty good.

Bob

Yeah I mean I'm not to car savvy when it come to engine and what not but I'am leanring. I feel he tryna pull something too.

But yeah I know a good shop I can take it to to get it checked out.

As for the price of the car. My offer at 1250 has gone waaay down. He keeps sayint he got so many people looking at it but no one has offered him anything or eve bought the car.

I tried hard not to laugh when he said Blue book was at $1,700

I think I'd give him no more then $700 for the car

[bobss396]

Now you're on the right track. I'll even give you a couple things from my bag of dirty tricks.

If the car is on someone's property with no plates, and you have a local ordinance against that, turn him into the town or city. I used to tow junk cars for a living and we made up this "official" looking letter from the town. We took an old letterhead from something else from the town, my friend's wife doctored it up to look like people would be fined so much per day for having unregistered cars on their property. We would go around putting them in mail boxes where they had a junk car, come back a few days later and ask if they wanted to junk the car for cash. It worked often.

The next is to have a few of your buddies look at the car without them letting on that they know you. One will offer to take the car is the owner PAYS him. Another will say he wants it for a demo derby car and will give him $50 cash right now. Have another ask if he wants to part it out. You get the idea.