hey guys, i've been looking to get into a third gen for a while now. i have a guy who wants to sell me a 1987 trans am that blew a head gasket. he said he's willing to take 200 bucks if i pick it up soon. My question is that if it blew a gasket, is the fix as simple as slapping new gaskets on and driving ?

 

What kind of condition is the rest of the car in? I would think $200 is worth it. Worst case, you part it out and make more than $200 out of it. What does it have in it? (ie 350, auto, any mods)

 

HI, it has a 350eng with an auto trans. everything else is in good condition. My primary goal for getting the TA is to have a backup car when my supercharged tbird takes a crap. Im not sure if fixing the head gaskets are as simple as just installinng new ones. The owner said it overheated, then he blew a head gasket. Im sure i'll have to buy some other cooling system components to get it right, but geesus, an 87TA for 200 bucks is hard to beat...

 

For $200 it sounds like it is worth it.

 

Okay, so if it blew a head gasket, and there is no cracking or warpage of the head, and i just slap a new gasket on and go ? (providing i find the cause of the overheating in the first place)

 

WOW, $200!!! I would buy it and put a new engine in it.

Pull the heads and take them to a good machinist to have them inspected for cracks and warpage. You may as well have a valve job done. Use Fel Pro head gaskets, I like them. That guy must be desperate to sell a T/A for only 200.

BTW, will it start? You should check on that first. If it does not run at all, you may have more problems than head gaskets.

 

It doesnt start because the guy was having a mechanic replace the gaskets when he decided he wanted to sell the car.

 

So is the engine already taken apart? It still could be a good deal as long as you are prepared to take over where someone left off.

 

Well, im not quite sure. i will be taking a look at it today. I would imagine some parts of the engine are apart. It would be a nice project.. if anything im buying it because its hard to find a late model fbody for such a cheap price

 

hows the body? interior? it is carbed or fuel injected? for $200 if it's not beat up too bad, and no rust i'd get it.

 

Folks! i just saw the car. heres the deal. the body is in okay condition. only problem is that the drivers fender is slightly dented. but not major. the inteiror is great, with the headliner coming aloose as the only problem.

 

just a fender, that's nothing. doesn't seem to bad... i'd get.

 

Yea im pretty much sold. did all 88 TA's come with 700r4's ?

 

yeah, unless it was swapped out.

 

sweet!, im sure it probably still has the r4

 

WHats the deal with the engine? Is it already taken apart? Are all of the necessary bits there? Just curious...

 

hey.. all the front accessories are off, the block is still together.