I want to buy a 85 trans am with a broken motor for $650 is it possible for someone with no experience working on cars at all to remove the bad motor and install a new one without screwing it up? and what tools are needed? Im only 16 so im really on a budget and my parents dont help at all(they think this is just a phase im going through and im trying to prove them wrong but they dont support me at all in this)so any info or advice would be greatly appreciated. Also I havent bought the car yet but I want to be sure I can afford to buy it and get it running again and not have it just sitting in front of my house rusting.

UPDATE: thanks a lot for the advice and encouragement but after looking more into this it looks like I currently dont have enough money to do this right now. If i ever do get the money I will be sure to be back here with questions.

 

It's possible, but you're taking on a big project as your first one. Like all automotive projects, it will take much longer and cost much more money than you expect.

 

uh yeah budget more than you think. My opinion is get it if it's clean (that's a good price) then find someone with a RUNNING engine you can grab. Hear it run. Listen for knocking and make sure it's cold before you buy it. You don't want someone else's trash. Expect to spend a few hundred for a runner here. Do you know why the engine is "bad" as well? Depending on what it is it may be something repairable. I've seen it before. Proper diagnosis is a huge deal with something like this.

ED:In regards to tools I consider the following BARE minimal
-Hoist to pull engine or a tree/chain/winch if you're ******* like that. Seen it done before not my preferred means
-Full set of SAE and metric wrenches
-Full set of sockets. I prefer to have both 3/8 and 1/2 drive You'll find for things like cylinder head bolts 3/8 is a toy
-jacks, STANDS and CHOCKS. I can not highlight the last 2 enough. We don't want your mom or dad or friend coming on here and saying that you dropped your car on yourself. Not cool.
-Electrical diagnosis tools. A test lamp minimally, make one if you have to
-Fuel pressure gauge is a good thing to have not essential though
-Timing light. Get one
-PS pump puller and installer
-single edge razor scraper for gaskets etc
-stuff I'm missing there always is.
-a 4.5" angle grinder is nice for a lot of things but not an absolute requirement IMO

The other thing is that if you get a car like this talk to your auto shop teacher. They may let you work on it for class credit and let you use their tools to do it too. That makes it a totally awesome score IMO. Some of the specialty stuff is available through Auto Zone too as rentals for a deposit or another parts store. Also keep in mind this is just to R&R the engine not a rebuild. If you wanna rebuild an engine that's another set of tools entirely.

Another thing that you may try is seeing if you can find a shop that will let you work for them in return for facilities time. It's a long shot but you NEVER know till you try. You'll probably end up sweeping floors a lot or something like that but you have to earn your way one way or another. They may even teach you something in return too. :> I have gone to a lot of shops and talked with the mechanics just so I could pick a few nuggets of wisdom up.

 

@305iroc88
Uhh... i thought you said it was the tranny that needed to be replaced. Now its the motor??

 

What engine is it? That can make a big difference in the complexity of the swap... TPI for example can be more complicated than a basic 4bbl carbureted engine swap. Are you just planning to pull the old motor out, and put a new one in?

The tools I would keep on-hand, having done this on my own Camaro a dozen times, is:

- SAE/metric socket set
- SAE/metric wrench set
- Needle nose pliers
- Wire cutters
- Breaker bar
- Jack stands/wheel blocks
- At least one hydraulic jack
- Torque wrench (if available)
- Vehicle-specific repair manual

Should be able to do a pretty straightforward engine swap with that set of tools. The torque wrench is not absolutely required, but since you are new to this, its nice to have just so you don't overdo it and start breaking bolts when you are reassembling. Intake and exhaust manifold bolts are really bad for breaking when reused, because EVERYONE overtightens them.

 

@89rs305-DP theres two cars im looking at. One has a bad motor the other bad tranny.

 

Air_Adam Im pretty sure its tpi(dont have much info on car yet). and yes all i want to do is take out the old motor and put in a new one

 

Just a word of advice for ya. If the engine is not running and you can't drive it the tranny could be shot as well. If they ran the engine that hard the tranny will not be far behind if it is good.

Who knows what else could be wrong...AC, electrical, rear-end, brakes..ect

 

@FUNIROC would you say the same for a car that has a great running motor but blown tranny? there two cars im looking and I havent decided which one would be easier to get going. The tranny sounds easier for me to replace my self

 

How bad is the tranny, can it move at all? If the engine runs you should be able to test the A/C and most everything other than the drive-train. Check the oil level and color, check all other fluids as well. Look for any rust under and over on the body, around T-Tops. How does the engine sound? The Trans could have gone due to neglect never changing fluid. Some people think it never needs to be changed.

Take someone that knows autos with you. Dont do it by yourself you will get something that will be way over your head if you do.

 

I know how you feel kid, as for myself I had a bear of a father, an unreasonable grumpy man who would always put me down if I had an idea for a hobby. I don't get why your parents think it's just a phase, after all it's a rite of passage for a man to build cars and engines. I would think it would be a cool bonding trip betwixt you and your dad or mom to go out to the junkyard and hunt for parts. Well this post got my attention and I say go for it!!! You have to build something, do it, do all the research and don't let anyone stand in your way, show us the look on their faces after you finish the project!!!

Anyway, I love third gen f-bodys. They are like the Johnny Bravo of sports cars, they have the unwarranted stigma of being the over muscled unintelligent brute, but just kick all kinds of *** when they get on the road. I am starting from the bottom with my project. I am looking for an lq9 bare block that I am slowly going to build and transform into an awesome torque monster. I am starting at the bottom like you are kid, but I have taken a few autoshop classes and I am planning to enroll in community college this winter to complete a certificate of engine performance and design. Has anyone on this board worked on a car in a classroom???

Well good luck kid!!!!

 

as stated before... really if the car looks great or is solid, then for $650 thats a good price. i bought my 88 for $300 almost 7 yrs ago running but with a shot tranny. really parts can be had from any where. if you really like it and are serious about getting into cars and stuff then the tgo crew is here for ya! i started learning how to change oil and learned about minor repairs when i was 7. didn't really get into full blown technicals til i bought my very first car. but if you get this car don't let it sit there. while you're waiting for money you can do other things like checking on everything. take off rusted over parts and sand and spray them. prove to your parents that this is something you are gonna be good at no matter what. they will come around. really look at both entire cars see which is in better shape and make sure to look at underside for rusting and all that. definately take someone with you that knows something about cars. you can get it running enough to drive then have yourself some fun making money to make it nicer. good luck and welcome to tgo. keep us informed on your decision.

 

well id have to agree with every one here. i havent ever had to be in ur place since my dad is a pro mechanic and has all the tools i need but im in a lil bit of a spot myself. my brother gave me his 91 rs camaro that i have to try and figure out what im going to do. it has a 87 iroc motor dash and rear. i think the tranny is still out of a 91 rs but who knows. now i gotta rip the car apart and find out what i have to do to replace what he did besides the motor.

as far as you not knowing how to work on cars. im not really good at it either. im only 17 but ill be 18 at the end of the month. i have to weld a big A$$ hole in the floor that my brother cut to try and turn the car into a manual. but the best thing is you still have your friends. have some of the guys come over and help you with it when u get it. i dont mean let them do it but its very wise to have atleast one person with u when doin this just incase the car falls or something happens and you cant move and need help. The motor swap is a big job for your first but if you really want the car then no 1 can stop u from getting it. just make sure its something you want and something you are ready to try and fix. if you have any questions im sure this site can give you alot of advice on everything you do.

 

@theimpaler68 yea i was also looking at another car with a shot tranny for $700 and according to the sellers ad, the 305tpi it has is in "perfect" condition. Im trying to decide which will be cheaper and easier to get running. Would you say a tranny is easier to replace than an engine? and also if i decide on that car would you recomend the 305 as a motor to really build up for racing or just fun transportation till I can afford to swap for a high performance motor?

 

i would say easier to swap a transmission than an engine. i did tranny first then the engine locked up put in a roller 305 much nicer than a flat tappet lifter motor. then i started hearing lower end knock which meant the main bearings were shot. i found a 350 police motor out of a caprice for $100 and only 65k miles on it. i have the tpi intake still and i love it this motor. i plan on building it more. you can find 350 motors everywhere. i am gonna do one of my cars as a 355 and the other either a second 355 or a 383. if the car is great looking go for it. swap trannys and start having fun. you can build as you go. you are gonna always come across something that needs fixed modified or customed up. that is part of the fun of it being yours.

 

dont get discouraged man, changing a motor aint rocket science. I self tought myself everything over the last 15 years of my life and its never to late to start. thats why its called a "project" its not supposed to just magicaly do itself. id say go for it, sites like this are good if you have questions or problems, i use it all the time when i get stumped. people talk it up like only NASA space people can do it but im pretty sure you can handle it.