question on a '85 purchase
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Pro
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From: Honolulu Hawaii
question on a '85 purchase
Hi everyone, I am usually here in the c3 section but I have a question I hope that someone could help me on.. I have a chance to pick up a '85 with 110,000 miles on it, He said it ran well, but has been parked in a garage and he hasn't started it for a couple of years now, top end was rebuilt and has 30,000 miles on it, I checked all fluids and all looks good and clean, car is in good conditon in and out and all stock and he is the same owner since '89. Now my question is the owner doesn't want to start the car not knowing if the gas in the tanks has gummed up and will clog the injectors. He is asking $3000.00 for it. Is this something worth it not knowing if the motor is good or not?
Team Owner
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From: Sussex,Wi
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Originally Posted by c3 in hawaii
Hi everyone, I am usually here in the c3 section but I have a question I hope that someone could help me on.. I have a chance to pick up a '85 with 110,000 miles on it, He said it ran well, but has been parked in a garage and he hasn't started it for a couple of years now, top end was rebuilt and has 30,000 miles on it, I checked all fluids and all looks good and clean, car is in good conditon in and out and all stock and he is the same owner since '89. Now my question is the owner doesn't want to start the car not knowing if the gas in the tanks has gummed up and will clog the injectors. He is asking $3000.00 for it. Is this something worth it not knowing if the motor is good or not?
Do this, if the owner will agree. Go to any parts store and buy a bottle of "Sta-Bil" dump it in the tank, and add about 5 gallons of new gas in it. Let it sit for an hour or two, then start it up. Two to three years shouldn't be a big problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: WAY UPSTATE NY
I agree with putting in fresh fuel. Before adding the fuel take off the cap and see if it smells like gas in the tank.Bad fuel has a pretty different odor than good fuel.As Touring Mike said adding a stabilizer may help but a dose of dry gas or a small shot of octane booster may be a better bet.Price does not sound too bad if the car is in sastifactory shape.If the gas in the tank is gummed up then the rest of the fuel system is probably gummed up also unless stabilizer was added when stored and the car then run to get the stabilizer thru out the fuel system.
Last edited by nutz4c4; May 22, 2006 at 05:49 PM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 430
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From: Minnesota
Rather hard to say if it is worth it without actually seeing the vehicle and its current state of condition.
$3000 sounds good. Maybe too good. A person such as me who has not even seen the vehicle has to believe there must be something wrong with it. Perhaps something very costly.
If it is a neglected vehicle which needs interior work, a new paint job, and a freshening up/rebuild of the engine, new tires, etc you may be better off purchasing a vehicle which would not need those things even if the cost was higher.
$3000 sounds good. Maybe too good. A person such as me who has not even seen the vehicle has to believe there must be something wrong with it. Perhaps something very costly.
If it is a neglected vehicle which needs interior work, a new paint job, and a freshening up/rebuild of the engine, new tires, etc you may be better off purchasing a vehicle which would not need those things even if the cost was higher.
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From: Honolulu Hawaii
Originally Posted by montivette
Rather hard to say if it is worth it without actually seeing the vehicle and its current state of condition.
$3000 sounds good. Maybe too good. A person such as me who has not even seen the vehicle has to believe there must be something wrong with it. Perhaps something very costly.
If it is a neglected vehicle which needs interior work, a new paint job, and a freshening up/rebuild of the engine, new tires, etc you may be better off purchasing a vehicle which would not need those things even if the cost was higher.
$3000 sounds good. Maybe too good. A person such as me who has not even seen the vehicle has to believe there must be something wrong with it. Perhaps something very costly.
If it is a neglected vehicle which needs interior work, a new paint job, and a freshening up/rebuild of the engine, new tires, etc you may be better off purchasing a vehicle which would not need those things even if the cost was higher.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Albany New York
I just saw a car that was in storage for the winter. When he put it away, it ran like a charm. When he started it up, he blew a rod through the block. The headgasket blew itself apart and leaked coolant on top of the cylinders. When he started it, it completely blew apart the engine. From now on, if I'm going to start a car that has been sitting for more than 2 months, I think its a good idea to pull the plugs and just make sure. By the way this was on a 1983 Mercedes Benz 380 SL.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Merritt Ils Fl
A suggestion or two. Drain out whatever fuel is in the tank. Siphon will work. Remove the fuel inlet on the fuel rail and with a low pressure pump,blow the fuel in the line back into the tank. Add five galleons of fresh gas with a can of Dry Gas or the equivalent. Remove all spark plugs and squirt some oil (WD-40) into each cylinder. Turn the engine over by hand for several rotations then turn over with the starter. If all seems in good order put in fresh plugs and fire her up. This assumes the oil is satisfactory as well as coolant. Sounds like a lot of work but is the safest way to go. Is the car worth $3000? Hard to say. If it runs and the tranny is sound, most likely yes but it could become a major money pit.
Advanced
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Is the tranny a 4+3 or auto - my lesson when I bought my 85 was I didnt check the transmission - assuming a 4 speed was bullet proof - This car had also sat for the last year - and OD unit and transmission had not been maintained So after replacing the overdrive unit and rebuilding the transmission my 85 that I purchased for $4000 is know a $7000 vehicle - which I might add - now runs excellent...
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Team Owner
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
You don't need to blow old fuel out of the lines. After you put new gas in, just prime the fuel pump a few times to pump the old stuff back into the tank.
Team Owner
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Some very good and cautious advice here, for any car, including one for $3K. Tell us how it turns out. And no matter what or how you go about it, it does have to be started and driven, or I wouldn't buy it either. Even then, it could need lotsa "things" down the road, or very soon after you buy it.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Merritt Ils Fl
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
You don't need to blow old fuel out of the lines. After you put new gas in, just prime the fuel pump a few times to pump the old stuff back into the tank.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
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From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
Personally I'd pass. Getting it started is just the tip of the iceberg.
The owner didn't think enough about the car to start it once in a while.
Now they just want to get rid of it.
For another $2,000 you can buy a driver. These cars are not like C-3's.
I passed on a 72 coupe that was not running for $5,000.
If it doesn't run you can see all of the problems. The airs not going to work, the brakes will need work, if its a 4+3 run away.
If its a auto the front seal will be leaking. You don't need the headache.
The owner didn't think enough about the car to start it once in a while.
Now they just want to get rid of it.
For another $2,000 you can buy a driver. These cars are not like C-3's.
I passed on a 72 coupe that was not running for $5,000.
If it doesn't run you can see all of the problems. The airs not going to work, the brakes will need work, if its a 4+3 run away.
If its a auto the front seal will be leaking. You don't need the headache.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 663
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From: Honolulu Hawaii
Originally Posted by redwing76
Personally I'd pass. Getting it started is just the tip of the iceberg.
The owner didn't think enough about the car to start it once in a while.
Now they just want to get rid of it.
For another $2,000 you can buy a driver. These cars are not like C-3's.
I passed on a 72 coupe that was not running for $5,000.
If it doesn't run you can see all of the problems. The airs not going to work, the brakes will need work, if its a 4+3 run away.
If its a auto the front seal will be leaking. You don't need the headache.
The owner didn't think enough about the car to start it once in a while.
Now they just want to get rid of it.
For another $2,000 you can buy a driver. These cars are not like C-3's.
I passed on a 72 coupe that was not running for $5,000.
If it doesn't run you can see all of the problems. The airs not going to work, the brakes will need work, if its a 4+3 run away.
If its a auto the front seal will be leaking. You don't need the headache.
