Needs some info/opinions on buying an 84 gp

[rwilhelms]

Newb here. Ive been looking for a g body car for awhile and came across this 84 gp in my area. He wants $2200 for it. Engine is a rebuilt 350 small block. Block, heads, valves and seals done by a local shop. Every other part in the engine is supposedly new. Bored .30 over, roller rockers, hydraulic lifters, holley street dominator intake, holley 650 double pumper carb, H.E.I. distributer, and holley cam shaft. New plugs, wires, alternator, battery, hoses, fuel pump and tires. He says the rear brakes are bad though. He broke 2 bolts trying to change them. Now he says the rear end has to be torn apart for it to be fixed. This worries me cause I dont know if Id trust myself doing a rear end. Would It be easier to swap a diffrent rear axle than tear one apart and put it back together correctly. The body looks like its in pretty good condition but I havent seen it in person yet. I think this is a good price but I dont know to much about these cars. Any help/info/opinions would be helpful thanks.

 

[dogsht]

Seems reasonable. You can swap a whole rear end drum to drum with common tools and its pretty much idiot proof compared to a rear gear fix/swap. Sometimes salvage yards can locate them from a MCSS for $250ish. They would have 3.42s or 3.73s but are best with an overdrive. Sometimes they can find a g-body with 3.08s that would be good.

 

[rwilhelms]

now what exactly do you mean drum to drum swap like the whole rear end? Sorry im new to cars Ive been driving a truck for the last 4 years. But Is the rear end anything like a truck. Just the leaf spring, shocks and drive shaft holding it in. If so I can handle that cause thats the same thing I had to do when putting the lift in my truck.

 

[Bonnewagon]

I'm confused. Broke 2 bolts? Lug bolts? Easy fix. Knock them through and pull new ones into the holes with the nuts. I can't think of 2 brake bolts that requiring the rear to be opened up. Car looks clean, go for it. Find out exactly what he means and ask here. If it's only lug bolts, knock the price down and fix em' yourself.

 

[rwilhelms]

I'm confused. Broke 2 bolts? Lug bolts? Easy fix. Knock them through and pull new ones into the holes with the nuts. I can't think of 2 brake bolts that requiring the rear to be opened up. Car looks clean, go for it. Find out exactly what he means and ask here. If it's only lug bolts, knock the price down and fix em' yourself.

yeah thats what im trying to figure out. What he means. I figured Id ask here first cause you guys have alot more experience than I do with these cars. and i couldnt understand why the rear end would have to be pulled apart either for the brakes it just doesnt make sense

 

[DONBENNY1915]

if your not sure craigslist has mobile mechanics that could check it out tell you how much it would be to fix it then you could work on price from there if it has everything he says it is more than worth even with a rear end swap now that pontiac is out of business the value is going to go up

 

[pontiacgp]

if you're local and the car can't be driven cause of the brake issue bring a jack and a couple of axle stands with you...get the rear tires of the ground and fire her up and go though the gears. That'll give you an idea if rear end is bad and if the transmission is working ok.

 

[rwilhelms]

yeah thanks for the idea about the jack stands. Im going to look at the car tonight and my friends a mechanic so hes coming with me to check it out and time the motor to see how good its running. Im gonna try to use the fact that I cant test drive the car so Im kinda leary about buying it and see if I can get some $$$ off to if I decide to buy it

 

[86 regal]

good luck! hopefully it turns out well!

 

[rwilhelms]

So I got an email from this guy saying that i should call him so I did and got no answer. But in this email he said that the heater core and blower fan dont work which isnt a big deal cause I dont plan on driving it during the winter. But im guessing those are both pretty hard jobs if I was gonna fix it. Also he said that all the switches for the power windows and locks arent there. Im pretty good with wiring stuff but does anyone know how hard this is? And he said the interior color is Burgandy and marron. So what seats will fit in this car? Can you buy buckets for these cars? And he said hes not sure if the rear end is stock. Whats the easiest way of finding out if its a 7.5 or been replaced with an 8.5. Any markings on the axle itself? And is there any way of telling if its posi?