Okay, I've just bought an 89 Trans Am. I think I got a good deal for $500, considering the exterior and interior look in pretty good shape.

But, (and of course I knew this buying it). It does need some engine work.

So, two questions here:

1. I need a new fuel pump, engine seal (rear main), and oil pan & valve cover gaskets, and of course a tune up (plugs, wires, etc...). What's a reasonable, ballpark price for all of that (parts and labor)?

2. My second question..since I'm already going to have the above work being done, are there any better than original parts I should be substituting, or anything I could do (within an extra $750 price range), that would be a better option than just stock?

Oh, and here's a picture (this is how it was pulled out of storage, I haven't cleaned it yet).
I imagine with a good wash and wax it'll look better. The outside looks pretty good (to me anyway)
other than needing a new rear spoiler (cracks), and new weatherstripping around the windows.

 

There is tons of stuff you can do and parts are cheap for these cars. What is your goal and what exactly are you trying to achieve. Daily driver, toy, restoration, hot rod, autocross, drag, etc. Post more pics and we are all here to help.

 

Daily driver, as far as performance goes...anything just a little better than stock would be perfectly fine with me. I'm not
looking to hot rod it or anything.

This car was in a storage locker for the last 9-years. It ran (with just a small oil leak) when it was put in storage, but sitting for so long,
has taken it's toll...which is why I need the work listed in Question #1 of my first post to get it running.

Thanks.

 

Well, this isn't much of an inside shot...but it's pretty clean
throughout. Clean and not too worn. Only thing it really needs
is a center console lid (current lid has a tear in it)


Storage unit it had been sitting in since 2003!
Luckily it was off the ground, so the tires seem to be
fine. They've even got some of the new tire "nibs",
can't be many miles on them. Although just being that old,
I may want to replace anyway....

 

First of all those are some GIGANTIC repair jobs. Can you try and do some yourself to cut costs?


fuel pump 300-550 They may also want to clean the tank and install a fuel filter.

engine seal (rear main) 300-600 This requires removal of the trans to get access to the seal. (its possible that a trans shop may charge you cheaper than an actual auto repair shop.

oil pan This is gonna be a bad one because the motor needs to be lifted a few inches. 450 Minimum.

valve cover gaskets 125 Min Fairly easy. You can do yourself.

tune up 350 roughly. You can do yourself for ALOT cheaper just time consuming.

All estimates from memory recollection.

Can you live with the Rear main seal?
How bad is the oil leak from the pan? A drip or sweat here and there can add up over time, but may be ok from oil change to oil change.
Why do you need a new fuel pump?
Why valve cover gaskets?

Also remember when you do a tune up, change the oxygen sensor. The type used on this car is only good for about 30 k mile. (if it has a single wire, previous owner may have upgraded to a 3 wire which is better but not stock).

 

Oh BTW, welcome to the boards.

 

Thanks for the info, much appreciated.
I was hoping to get what I needed done for no more than $1,000..and
it looks like if I can find someone to do the tuneup for me, with myself
supplying the plugs...I may be able to get somewhat close to that mark....
so that's okay, not too bad.

I think most of the leaking is from the rear main seal...and it was coming out pretty fast...so no, can't live with the current seal. If you look at the first picture I posted, you can see a dark line on the street in front of the car....that's from oil leaking as the car was taken off the trailer. I think from sitting so long it was just too dry. Because there wasn't much oil on the floor of the storage...but once we tried to start it and kept moving it, it got a lot worse.
It wasn't nearly that bad when it was put into storage, because it was driven to the storage.

I need a new fuel pump because the current is not working...The engine would turn over and start, but just for a few seconds, until the gas we poured directly into it was gone...couldn't hear the fuel pump turn on, so it must be all gummed up.

FYI: Health condition keeps me from working on cars...so I am NOT even close to a "weekend mechanic"... I can't do the work myself.
If some of my answers don't make sense, i apologize.

 

I just had a fuel tank replaced by a shop(87 IROC). Costs (parts including shipping)-

New fuel tank & straps $220 (Rockauto)
Sending unit $100 (rockauto)
Fuel pump $100 (I think, mine was supplied with the car when I got it )

Labor & fuel filter change $300

 

Put your location in your profile maybe a member here can help you out or point you in the right direction.

2003...tires hard as a rock and not safe would replace when you can

Will make a great driver though TBI super reliable

 

 

All good dude. Sorry to hear about the bad health condition whatever it may be. Hope you get better.

One thing i would do it if u take it to a shop to do the FP, ask them to take a look at the oil leak. Sometimes it could just be a bad oil filter that rotted away, or even the oil pan itslef. Maybe the rear main might be ok.

Definately post where you are, maybe someone might chime in with a good shop. They maybe even to make you a deal since your doing so much work at once. Get somone repetuable to do the plugs and tune up. I've seen people get ****ed with shady *** people "trying to help them out".

 

Yeah pretty much every problem you listed is what I would consider "not a big deal" for a weekend mechanic, but it does take a good bit of time to do it. The worst is the rear main, just because it's such a pain to get to. Really a pretty cheap part, but when the transmission is in the way... kind of a pain to get to. Is it a manual or an automatic?

Try to get one person to do all 3, because a good time to lift the engine up a few inches to get to the pan is when the trans is disconnected, a good time to disconnect the trans is gonna be when the rear end is practically out of the car to do the fuel pump, and a good time to do the rear main seal is with the trans out. Half the work for any single project there is done by doing another one of them... so if possible I'd try to get a local board member with a good rep to do it or at least have one shop do all of it if they're willing to cut you some slack on a package deal. If I were anywhere near you I'd probably do it for a few hundred or so at most... all of it. But I worry a shop will just add up the hours to do each job from scratch individually.

The other angle is that all of those are common problems and none are terminal. They're most all "easy" fixes that dont signal any long term reliability issues. Once you get all that taken care of, hopefully most of the sensors are still okay despite not being used and you can have a solid car out of it after all. The TBI cars are very simple and reliable, and although they're slow they still sound nice with a decent catback.

 

Thanks, much appreciated!

 

Thanks man! (Oh, and it's an automatic).

 

delete

 

I've got two estimates so far from shops in my area that seem to be reputable with good reviews from others.

The quotes were both just about exactly the same...within a couple dollars of each other, so I'll just list one of them here.

Fuel pump: 382 for the pump and labor (tax included in that price)

Real main seal, oil pan and valve cover gaskets: 885 (tax included)

Tune up: Depends on exactly what I want...if I want just plugs, $60 labor plus the cost of whatever plugs I use.

 

Thats a good package deal on the rear main, oil pan, and VCG.

Fuel pump price is about average. Does it also include cleaning the tank and a new fuel filter?

How reputuable is the shop thats giving that price? if its goood i would do it. I know its alot of money.

Tune up should be plugs wires cap rotor MINIMUM . also pcv valve, and a oxygen sensor. They should also reset your base timing for you. And the air filters are usualy, called as we see it, if its dirty change it, if its clean dont.

Like i said, did you ask them, if they could CHECK it first. You would be supprised how many things turn out to not be what they seem, espeically with noises and leaks.

Word of advice, just don't ask for things like that. I used to work for a shop that the managers and owners were scumbags. People would come in with self diagonosed problems, we would do the job, as per the customer request, and it wouldnt fix their problems.

Case being, some guy came in, asked to have his power steering pump changed because it was making noise, i told the manager it wasnt the PS pump but the alternator, he said he doesnt care, 2 hours later we have a customer screaming that we didnt change a part, until i showed him the old PS pump, then told him it was the alternator.

If the shop looks into it, and they eff up, its on their head to make it right.
If you tell them, do this this and this, they will. and itll be on you.

Just giving you the worst case scenario, dont want you to get burned when a few words could help you out.

 

Reply in red.

 

Ok, well just a suggestion on the FP, usually when these cars sit for some time, the fuel gums up and the inner lining of the tank tends to wear up a bit. Regardless of what method getting rid of the old fuel, and cleaning the tank will keep your new pump alive. It may cost a bit extra, but its worth it. At the most make sure they dump the old fuel.

A new fuel filter is a must also. Normally they tell you they will have to do one, but just incase bring it up. It should cost no more than 50-75 bucks as they are dirt cheap.

Sounds like your on the right track. Just make sure your planning ahead. Dumping 1k in repairs, then running into more repairs down the road gets old fast. Good luck, and if you need any more advice let us know.

 

Got it back from the shop today ($1,300 total, including an $89 tow from my house to the shop which is about 20 miles away).

There's still lots of things I would like to do...but hey, it runs!