Well, its painfully obvious to me that my car is finally starting to crap out on me. I'm surprised she held out this long. My current problems consist of a bad oil leaking (from intake manifold and possibly rear main seal), front brakes suck, engine has 150k miles and is really struggling to keep up w/ imports, suspension (all stock might I add) is making a ride in the car like a roller coaster ride. I've only had the car for about 3 years max and I've already invested over 1500k to keep everything running. I've always used synthetic oil and changed it regurlarly. But now it seems as if the car is letting me know its time to put her to sleep. Now I have thought of the alternatives to the problems at hand. Of course that entails me getting a brand spanking new 350. BUT, w/ a new engine comes other problems. I'll have to rebuild the trans cause i just know w/ my luck the trans will crap out under new power. There is also all the suspension mods I'll have to do to bring the car back up to "code". If you think about it, this all adds up to quite a large sum of money ( I also have to have hood painted, rear bumper replaced and or repainted and front end fixed (cracked)). Now...I really really do not want to sell my car because i trully :hail: it and always enjoy getting the looks from schmucks in civics who quiver in fear from my four inch cowl hood . What should I do in everyones opinion? Should I just be humble and rebuild the engine so I can put off other things? Or should I sell it and try to look for another 3rd gen? I've considered a 4th gen, but jesus insurance rapes you So...I'm at my witts end...please help me out here...

 

Don't buy a crate engine just because it's easy. You could just need to fix a couple oil leaks and it may be fine. Suspension is a snap, and parts are relatively cheap. Go buy a new bushing set and some shocks and struts and you'll be amazed how much better it handles. Brakes? Just replace them, that's cheap.

What it mostly comes down to is your budget, and your mechanical skill to do repairs yourself.


Oh, and 1500k should pay for quite a nice car.

 

I agree with rezinn. If you love the car that much, spend the money to keep it in shape. As long as it's just a couple of oil leaks, suspension, and brakes, I would just rebuild whatever needs it. Sounds like your car is in better shape than my ride was when I got it, and I never thought of selling it. Just look at any breakage or or worn-out stuff as a chance to upgrade, and it won't seem as bad.

 

91,

Instead of the planned 3.42 gears, spend a couple hundred bucks for new front rotors and pads. Another twenty bucks will get you a pair of intake gaskets.

Get under the front of the car (on stands of course) and start looking for loose components and bushings. Looking isn't going to cost you anything. I'll bet you have at least some play in the idler arm, and possibly your upper strut bushings. For $45 you can get the improved Moog idler arm and another $50 will get you a pair of strut bushings.

After all that, you should have a tighter front end with decent brakes, fewer oil leaks, and will be ready for that engine or paint for less than $300 and some of your time. That's less than car payments on a used Honda for sure.

 

If I was having that many problems, with that much already invested and that many miles, i'd probably sell it or part it out... And go looking for another 3rd gen... You can always swap your cowl hood onto the new car...etc.
It gets to a point where it just doesn't make financial sense. With $1500 into it, + purchase price + repairs to bring her up to speed now, + all the repairs you'll have to do down the road, I'd bet you'd make out better financially to trade up.

 

Thanx for all the positive support guys. I'm gonna take everyones advice and keep the car and fix he up starting w/ my oil leak then working to breaks. Probably around May I'll work on some of the suspension parts and hopefully by summer she'll be back to running good, hopefully. Thanx again

 

sounds like you already decided, but I thought I'd throw my two pennies at you too (don't worry, my aim isn't that good ).

If you buy another thirdgen in 'better shape' it's still gonna be what...1 year newer than what you've got at best. Then you'll have to do all the stuff you've already done to your car to the "new" one. As long as your car is structurally ok (not wrecked or rusty) and it's the baseline for what you'd like to have. Keep it and go crazy.

and $1500, $1,500 (I think that's what you meant) is not that much to spend on keeping a 10 year old car on the road over a three year period. That's about $500 per year. that's pretty cheap, I'd say

hth,
Clem