searched, no results. i am going to go look at a 1988 GTA TPI 350 5.7L on sundy. i was just wondering what problems i should look for that would make a "great find" turn into an "i got screwed"

i allready own a thirdgen, so i know all the general stuff. (rust spots etc...) but what i am looking for is 5.7 TPI specifics and automatic specifics. i have never owned an automatic, or a v8 (any car) and only owned/worked on 2.8 fbodeys before.

thanks for the help guys. looking forward to making the switch to the big stuff.

 

Check the rear of the block near where the transmission bellhousing bolts on & down from the oil pressure sender to make sure it has 5.7 cast into the block.

Make sure the fan/fans come on at the right temp. Look for signs of overheating and/or lots of blowby.

Check oil and color of transmission fluid.

Grab another very experienced person to go with you for a test drive. Make sure the shifting & converter lock up works as it should, and notice any alignment problems or vibrations.

 

If it has a digital instrument panel and wheel mounted radio controls, make sure EVERYTHING works. Test the parking brake. Test the hatch release and pull down. Check for cracks around the rear upper corners of the door frames. Eyeball the front wheel camber compared to the rear wheels. Check the VIN, especially the 8th digit. Look for the RPO label. Don't evaluate the transmission until it is fully warmed, and the oil is at its thinnest. Then check the color and aroma of the trans oil. Eyeball the underside from the timing cover to the rear axle for leakage. See if the fuel filter looks original or if it's been replaced. That should be a hint about overall maintenance.

 

unfortunatly bringang an "experianced person" is not an option. i am driving 200+ miles to look at this car and my little sister is driving me (she used to own an87 2.8, that I had to do all the work on)

it has an aftermarket wheel in it. he does have the original wheel. it does have digital guages, i will be sure and examine carefully. and i will look for cracks (evidence of one hell of a colision)

"Check the rear of the block near where the transmission bellhousing bolts on & down from the oil pressure sender to make sure it has 5.7 cast into the block."

i will need to be on the ground to see this right? he allready gave me the vin, i carfaxed it, but i will be making sure the vin plate matches what he gave me. the pulldown does not work, it has been replaced with the pre86 slammer style (which i will be changing back with some $$ to TDS if i buy)

about tranny==> what color should it be? we use red kind right? i should be smelling for burnt smell, and looking for inconsistancies in the "oilyness" and things like metal bits in it and burnt flakes. stuff like that right?

thanks for the segustions so far guys.

EDIT* fans come on when?

 

You probably wont find the "5.7" cast into the block. They used a load of different places to cast that into and some didnt even have it. If you want to be sure about displacement print off the list of block casting numbers and bring it with you to check it.

Primary fan comes on at 190*F and secondary comes on at 220*F

 

where is this block casting list? thanks

 

You can find a list at www.mortec.com

You can find the casting numbers on the left rear ledge of the block.

 

Pull up the carpet behind the rear seat and check if a fuel pump access port has been hacked in.

As Vader mentioned, the large 5.7L or 5.0L is on the top ledge of the bell housing flange, left side. Can be seen from the top with a flashlight/droplight.

RBob.

 

Check out as much of the wiring harness and underdash wiring as you can see.

I find lots and lots of them that are hacked very poorly. this will come back to haunt you, especially if you are not good with wiring.

later
Jeremy

 

well, by the time i got up there it was dark. i gave it a good once over in the lighted garage. CAR IS AWSOME.
new paint, engine bay looks new. car has 126K on a DIGITAL DASH so it would be difficult to tamper with, also consistent with carfax reports. VIN maches the one he gave me, so it checks out as a 5.7. i could not look at the casting.

Problems with car:
not original seats. he replaced them with 2002 cavalier seats.
carpet is worn under the floormat from somone not having floormats.
rear end has been replaced with one with to high of gearing. and drum brakes. he did however give me the contact info for a guy he knows who was going to sell him a replacement with correct gearing (3.42 iirc) and disc brakes. so because of that the parking brake is not hooked up. other then that EVERYTHING works. and for 3K i can deal with the few small problems it does have.
i test drove it and all was well. pulls hard, but the gearing is realy limiting it, i can feel it wanting to go faster. the exhaust is LOW and nice sounding. all in all the car is a great find. i take possesion on satarday. i would have driven it home last weekend when i looked at it, but he is waiting on a replacement title in the mail.