Today my friend wants to sell me a 1988 Camaro Sport Coupe that has been sitting for 10 years. no body rot ANYWHERE, everything origional down the the radio. Car is Maroon with silver GFX. Red Interior T-Tops, Tachometer style gauges, and has the origional 5 Spoke Rims. this car has 44k Origional miles on it. he is selling it to me for 500 dollars. Now since the car has been sitting so long should i replace the engine with a rebuilt one? because i have a rebuilt 2.8 i can throw in. the car runs, drives, stops, and shifts perfectly. is this car worth the restoration or not?
the only thing wrong with it is the paint is sunfaded, otherwise interior looks brand new

 

The car has low miles but you're replacing the engine so does the miles really matter now? If the body is in good shape then restore it.

 

$500 = buy it.

 

didn't even see the $500 price tag. buy it without thinking.

 

Yay! 500 dollar car!

 

If it runs and drives ok, leave it alone. Don't fix stuff that's not broken.

 

just about any car that runs & drives is worth 500 bucks

 

$500 for that nice of a car?! BUY IT!!! NOW!! lol.

When I had my 87 Firebird a few years ago, I bought it with about 67K on it, old-man-driven, a lil surface rust above the rear tire driver side, and the usual worn seat-edge. Everything else was great.

Y'know what I paid... happily?? $700!!! I got rid of it - very, very, very, very, very, very stupidly - after a year (and after dropping $1100 on a new diff/axle, rim, LCA, and I think brake lines - long story) with only 69K. Granted, it was 2.8 Auto, hardtop, and needed AC recharge, and it somehow managed to only get 11.5MPG avg despite my very light foot (best I got was 13.5), but I was stupid for getting rid of it. Two weeks after I traded it for a Pathfinder of the same year, I started regretting the trade and have ever since. Esp since the trans in the Pathfinder crapped out after 2 months - the auto didn't like 70ish MPH hwy driving I guess??

Now go to your friend, hand him $500 (hell, give him $600 so ya don't feel bad lol), and take that baby home!!

 

Sitting 10 years where?

Outside or in a garage?

 

maybe you can take some pictures of it and post them...i also have a maroon 88 sc camaro...I'd like to see this one

 

Post some pics. My first ride was an 85 sport coupe with NO options except a radio and power steering, if you call those options.

 

the car was sitting outside on pavement, after 10 years those tires still hold air and are not dry-rotted im going to get pics

 

Don't replace any engine that has only 44k and runs great. Change all the fluids, replace the plugs, service the distributor, get a paint job, and keep the car as original as possible. There are still some low mileage f-cars from the 80's out there, but they're becoming increasingly scarce.

 

Check all the seals... weatherstripping, engine, etc. Check the gas/brake lines for rust. Don't trust the tires (they have flat spots if they really did sit that long). Change all the fluids. Check EVERYWHERE for rodents too!!

 

- 4 new tires
- new oil and filter
- new trans fluid
- new rear diff fluid
- new coolant
- new brake fluid
- new thermostat
- new battery
- front end inspection & lube
- careful inspection of "entire" brake system
- do a "complete" tune up
- and all mechanical repairs that are needed

That is just to get you started, I'm sure it will need more.

 

and spark plugs!! I purchased my car from my neighbor for 450$ its an 84 firebird 305 v8 it wasnt the best deal ever needs new paint but yeh ****** that thing right up!

 

- do a "complete" tune up

spark plugs normally considered

but ya great list FieroGTA...thats exactly what i did when i got my car