newb... is this worth it?

[rhyno811]

hey guys I've owned a lot of monte carlo's and grand prix's, but im interested in dabbling in the t-type turbo realm. i found a local car, 83 t-type motor runs but has no battery or starter.. it needs a steering column, doors are rotted out and so is the trunk. the guy says the bumpers need replaced and a quarter window too. interior is gray and in need of a serious cleaning. its 2 tone silver and dark grey. they guy was asking 800 obo and when i offered him 600 he said 750 firm plus he will get it towed for me for 50 bucks.my local junkyard has a regal with all the parts i need and then some. is the 800 worth it? im really not looking to spend a lot i have my monte ss i drive daily just want to get a cool g body collection goin. its either this t-type or 86 grand prix le t-top car i can drive home for 900? what do you guys think?

 

[patmckinneyracing]

I guess if it has the motor and everything it could be worth it. I bought my 80 malibu for $600 and it was a complete car with everything and it wasn't rotted or anything major to the extent of what your explaining. I wouldn't think it would be worth it if the body is that rough. But thats just my two cents. You'd be better off just buying the motor out of that car and find a decent shell or body to put that motor in.

 

[IrvJr]

It sounds like a good deal. I have some doors and fenders and odds and ends lying around from my old GN and some spare parts. Let me know if you need anything.

 

[rhyno811]

ya the guy wont budge on 750.00. like i said i dont know if its worth getting this t-type or this 86 Grand Prix LE w/t-tops for 900? are these turbo regals fast? whats the stock hp?

 

[Blake442]

...im really not looking to spend a lot...

Well, then don't get it.

From the sound of it, it needs quite a bit of work.

Another important thing is that the '83 is a carb'd turbo 3.8 (190 hp), not the awesome SFI 3.8 that is in the '84-'87 turbo Buicks.

Is the Grand Prix rusty?

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

T Tops are nice...when it's not raining. If it's a beat car, they will leak. They always do. If they have had leakage issues for any amount of time, expect rust to be under the weatherstripping and T bar. Repairing it properly can easily cost you a few hundred dollars in new seals, etc. I will also echo a previous poster on the old GM blow through or (worse) draw through carburtated turbo setups. They are trouble without a rethink of the original design. If I were looking for a turbo car, I would get one of the later ones with EFI. Even if you end up ditching the GM engine management, turbo, etc. you are ahead of the game starting with an EFI intake and the later exhaust manifolds. IF all you want is a nice cruiser when it's done, I would consider dropping the old engine and going with an LS1 or LT1 swap instead of messing with the fidgety old early turbo crap. Either of those will give you a good mix of fuel efficiency and power with reliability.

 

[midwestls]

The Regal sounds like alot of work, and with the Carb'd 3.8 you really got to ask yourself is it worth it??? If the Grand Prix is solid you can almost probably stick a 455 Pontiac in it for less then what the rust will cost to fix on the regal. I say GP. Got pic's????

 

[rhyno811]

im waiting for more pictures of the grnad prix. its 900 firm. body is solid so they told me. i havent gone to see it yet because its about an hour away from me. my monte ss has t tops and i had an 84 grand prix le t-top car when i was 15 (im 27). so im familiar with t -top problems. the grand prix is all original and was a DUI inpound some old guy got popped. its black and looks good in the one picture they have. we will see. there is a lot of v8 regals for sale by me and seem to be going cheap... i was just interested in the turbo set up. im gonna look more into the GP. ill post some pics when i get them thanks guys.

 

[T-TOP TONY]

Just have 600 in hand and tell him this is all i can do take it or leave it.

 

[rhyno811]

ya i tried that and he told me he would pull the motor and sell me the roller for 600. he emailed me and said he's not in a rush to sell it? this guy is an idiot hahaha.