Hey guys, Happy Monday ! Spring starts tomorrow

So I'm looking at an 89 Formula, clean body but a blown head,the car has been parked up for 7 years. The owner has the parts, started removing the head,and never got to finish the job,so they're selling the car as is. The car is currently in VA, so I'm looking for someone who can fix it for me.I can have it towed to you,preferably in VA or further up north towards me since I live in NYC.I was hoping to have someone check the car out for in VA me well,but no luck. Also any particular risks buying this vehicle ?
Any help and advise would be greatly appreciated, you can text me as well. 646-235-5791

 

Main risks would be, is it ALL THERE; do you believe that ... whatever ... diarrhea of the mouth ... from the PO; plus all the normal old car that hasn't run for a long time type of stuff such as the gasoline in the tank lines injectors etc. having all turned to tar.

Might make a great parts car, or a roller you could put a known good motor into. I don't believe I'd buy it thinking I'm going to pay somebody to put it back together and have a running working car out of it anytime soon though; probably end up spending twice what a similar unmolested working running one would cost, by the time that's all sorted out. I'd think REAL HARD about buying it even if I was planning on doing all the work myself, unless it's a real cream puff, and I could get it REEEEEEL CHEEEEEEEEP (like, $250 or something). Hard to say much more than that, given how little we know about it. Don't even know what motor it is/was.

 

That’s what I was thinking.. you can get a decent driver for the price some shops charge for re-doing the heads.. This car sounds like a money pit that you won’t get to drive any time soon if ever.. you’ll end up fed up and selling it after dumping thousands into it..

 

If this is a "three strikes and yer OUT !" kinda thread , I'll throw in the third strike , both Sofakingdom and 88IROCvertZ have said the same thing I'd have said had I been the thread's first respondent , you don't need or want THAT car .

 

Hey guys ! Thanks a lot, I was thinking it was a quick fix,but after reading your comments I'm thinking otherwise. Its at a good price of 1800 and a one owner car with no accidents and no rust. So I wanted to capitalize on it. The engine is a 350 tune port.Great looking car,hoping to find one just like that.Black,T-tops if you call come across anything, please let me know

 

7 years and a blown head though.. you can find a 350 TPI car you can drive right now that maybe has 2 or 3 owners, but might be light years better maintained.. sitting 7 years you’re gonna have to do more than fix up the motor and get it running.. $1800 isn’t a deal for that.. guy should have fixed it years ago and not let it sit..

3 good owners is better than 1 neglectful one..

 

You couldn't have said it any better. They might attempt to try and get it fixed,but I'm sure I'll find something by then. Any recommendations on where to look ?

 

Heads don't "blow". In other words, whatever the PO has told you about why he tore it down, is BULLSPIT. Pure, unvarnished, unadulterated, and feculent. Which then means, you'll pay somebody out the ya-ya to put it all back together, and then the REAL fun will begin: discovering and fixing whatever is REALLY wrong with it.

I wouldn't pay $1800 for that unless it's been garage kept. Which one look at that says, {insert obnoxious buzzer noise here}. Doesn't look like a wise purchase to me.

If it's REEEEEEEEELLLLLY NICE inside, might be worth $1000. I'm just not feeling it though.

 

We were just talking in another forum Craigslist and Facebook seem to be the best deals when something good pops up.. seems hopeless sometimes, but if you check every day you’ll find a handful of good cars at good prices in a year’s time but they sell quick..

Just found a blue original 89 5.7L with low miles and pretty mint around $10-12k range and it sold within two days..

I look at Craigslist every day and change the area to a few nearby that I’d be willing to drive to.. the harder you look, the better the car and deal..

EBay is all dealers and flippers and way overpriced..

I look in Albany, NY all the time.. if I see anything I’ll let you know

Good luck!

 

You can get something nice in the $5-8k range if you’re patient and you would have put more into that car..

 

I'll definitely take up the advise and pass on the car, they're being a little fishy now with responses to my questionsas well

 

Here’s some decent ones.. at decent prices that you could probably negotiate down

5-Speed for $14k 68k miles
https://longisland.craigslist.org/ct...474754972.html

350 with paint issues 100k miles $6500
https://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/d/198...523708871.html

305 30k miles $7995
https://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/ct...480605907.html

350 $7500 99k miles
https://southjersey.craigslist.org/c...515770566.html

There are some mint ones and IROCs for more money..

 

This one too.. another TPI 5speed.. looks clean:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...86429684742900