So Im probably buying an 87 Formula from a friend in New Jersey. I live in Michigan. The car is an LG4 w/ 700-R4. The guy drives it everyday, and says he fully trusts the car to make it back to Detroit, but Id like to get it in as good of running shape possible before I leave.

So far i thought of:

-plugs and wires
-cap and rotor
-fuel filter
-new belts
-oil change and new filter
-flush coolant
-air filter
-new PVC valve

Anything else thats pretty quick and cheap to do for good insurance? Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance

 

the faster you go. the longer the car will roll =)
if the owner knows the car then id take his word for it..after of course you do a tune up =)


ive drivin my GTA to and from MI to NY 12 times....

of the 30,000 miles ive put on it.. 8,000 were goin back and forth to NY

 

Check the tires for adequate pressure and amount of wear. You might also check to be sure that the spare tire and jack are where they're supposed to be. Replace the upper and lower radiator hoses and the heater hoses, maybe even the thermostat while you're at it. Ask your friend when the last time he replaced the oxygen sensor was, it's suggested that they be replaced every 30,000 miles.

One of the things I wish I had done when I first bought my car was adjust the TV cable, it was way out of whack and I didn't even know it. The only other thing I can think of is to check for bad vacuum hoses.

 

NJ to MI isn't a very long road trip.... that's what, 10-12 hours? If you can drive the car to work and back 10 days in a row without something breaking, it should make that distance without failure.

But as far as things to check: belts, hoses, tire pressure, wheel bearings, fluids (oil, trans fluid, rear end), charging system, fix leaks. I would not fool around with ignition stuff for a short trip like that; if it's in any kind of reasonable shape, it won't leave you sitting by the side of the road with a car that doesn't work, like a toasted wheel bearing or a burst hose or a motor that runs dry of oil. I'd concentrate on stuff that will suddenly fatally kill your car first.

 

Where at in Detroit are you??

 

from WESTLAND MI to BROOKLYN NY is 636 miles

i can make it in 8 hours.. thats at 80 the whole way no stops other then for go-go juice...i gotta do 110 for a couple mins to make up the time though lol..

like RB said look for major things...wheel bearings, oil level, hoses
**** like that

 

yo,
Do the air filter, pcv and oil&filter change. Leave everything else till you get home. Don't open up too many cans of worms before you leave!

 

I'd just check all the fluids before leaving and take a credit card. Make sure the wipers are good in case you need 'em.

like someone already said, don't open a can of worms.

 

Thanks for the help guys!

BTW-Im in Livonia,MI right now, so Im actually right near f-crazy.

 

Let's see. An '87 Formy probably has the factory auto-reverse cassette player instead of a CD or disc changer. So you'll want to remember a tape of the chorus of 4-8 year olds constantly begging "Are we there, yet?" That should shorten the trip considerably....

 

Ahh, obviously you are not familiar with the "I feel sick" remix, featuring "I need the toilet!!" :lala:

While you're on your knees checking the tyre wear and pressure, you may as well check the lug nuts are tight enough to hold your wheels on. And stick your head underneath to have a nose at the brake lines and hoses, for signs of leakage. Any considerable oil/water/fuel leaks should become blatantly obvious at this point.

And the most important thing of all, if you decide to take on one or all of the suggestions listed here before you leave....don't do them infront of the guy, or he'll think you don't trust him ! ;-)

Si