So, I'll start off by saying I honestly do not know that much about what I want to get into, but I'm a quick learner and pretty handy. I'm looking to start upgrading/repairing my 91 Formula 5.7L w/ ws6 package. I also apologize in advance if this thread isn't in the right forum, but there is no "general" forum.

The car is in fairly decent shape, but needs a bunch of small things to make her nice. I picked up the car as my first vehicle when I was 18, but started school and the commute was 120miles a day 5 days a week. Now done with school she's alive again, but needs help. Currently I've got about a $4000 budget to work with, maybed ~$7000 if I can find a buyer for my quad. I know it's not enough to get her pefect, but I want to get started.

Things I know need to be done:
Paint - It's starting to chip and peal, and has some scratches. I don't want it to rust.
Tires - Has the same tires that were on it 5 years ago when I parked it. It's only a matter of time until I need them.
~Window Motors - Drivers side is dead. Passenger side goes up really slow. ~[Found a youtube video. Will do on thursday when I'm off of work!]
Rear Hatch - Motor seems to be dead. I unhooked it and just use it manually w/ key atm.
Gauges - After she sat I filled the tank and now the needle goes past the full mark. Still moves when I use gas, but I don't trust it. Also the Oil Pressure isn't reading correctly. It's tacked all the way until after I drive for a decent distance, then it seems to work.
Small Interior Stuff - Front seats have rips. Currently have covers on them. Center console lid is busted. Need sunvisors. Mine kept falling down infront of my face. Replaced them with ones from an 89 Iroc Parts car I have sitting around, but they don't look right.
Motor - The car is sitting at 160k right now and I know it's been beaten. Runs great right now, but again it's only a matter of time. The guy I purchased it from told me he destroyed 3 transmissions before finally having one built so.....
Wheels - Has stock ws6 rims which are REALLY dirty/slightly oxidized.
AC - Was ice cold when I parked it. After sitting for 5 years it just blows warm air. Probly needs a recharge??
Other Problems - It was hit in the front when I purchased it. I replaced the passenger fender and front bumper cover. I don't know if it's all done correct. It looks decent but I had some issue getting things to line up. I found a brand new factory cover on ebay and replaced the old one, but what leads me to think it's not lined up perfect is the corners kinda flexed and the paint on the cover cracked. Also, perhaps brakes, or alignment? Have no idea really, but when I'm going ~45-60mph and hit the brakes decently hard the front end shakes pretty bad.

Now the problem I'm having is where the hell do I start? I'm in no rush to get her done, so anything that I can do fairly easily myself to save $$ is okay. It is my daily driver atm however, and I don't have a garage, so I really can't have it out of commission for too long. If anyone is willing to help me out with getting started I'd appreciate it. Links to forum posts, etc are all welcomed. Can take pictures if needed/requested.

 

Start with the window motors. fairly easy job, not particularly expensive, and you will thank me when summer rolls around again.
I would get tires too, 5 years sitting can trash them, and I don't need to preach about how important good tires are.
oil pressure gauge is more than likely a bad sending unit, it's located near the oil filter, and not too terrible to replace. also fairly cheap.
I personally like the stock wheels, I would just get em cleaned up.
As far as the motor goes, if it's not making weird noises, isn't smoking or having any strange problems, I wouldn't even worry about it.

 

Yeah these are what I figured. I thought the window motors were hard? Also, any links to a diagram or any instructions etc? Like I said I don't know much (everyone has to start somewhere), but I can learn quickly and am pretty handy..soo shouldn't be too hard as long as I have something to look at. What price range am I looking at for tires? If the sending unit for the pressure gauge is cheap I'll just replace that too. As for cleaning the stock wheels...really funny question but WHERE IN GODS NAME does one place a jack on these cars? I'm assuming to fully clean the wheels it'd be much easier to take them off....There's also some curb rash that I'd like to file down and sand away to make them look fairly nice again.

Motor is fine, that's why it's near the bottom of the list. That's being left until it does go..or when I have everything else done and spare change to do something nice ;]

I really appreciate the help!

 

I think the first thing should be safety. You say that you may need brakes and/or alignment. Does the car drive straight if you let go of the wheel? Get yourself a GM shop manual. I got mine off EBay cheap. The shop manual will tell how to check stuff like idler arms, ball joints, etc. Also, I suggest that you get your rotors skim cut or replaced and new brake shoes. Replace those tires. I think safety items comes first, driveability items next, then interior stuff. The people on this forum know allot and can help you greatly. Good luck.

 

Also, I have a donor car, so window motors are free! Just need to know what I'm doing. I've got a 89iroc z28 w/ a 305tpi sitting in my driveway that has a bent frame ;x

 

It's not REALLY bad...only if I'm going fairly fast and need to hit the brakes hard. If I let go of the wheel it's straight. There's no clunking, winding etc. Aside from the shaking when I hit the brakes hard going over 45mph it's okay. I probly do need rotors. I replaced pads already. I know a decent amount, and my father knows a little bit about older cars. The mechanical parts that haven't changed much in the past ~40 years aren't much of an issue. When it starts getting to body work, or sensors, or ecu's etc, we're clueless tho! That's where the internet is going to help me.

 

Youtube. it has a great video that I found on how to replace the window motor without pulling out the regulator. may need to drill out rivets if it's never been done before, but that's the worst part. I got lucky, my car already had it done, and had little nuts and bolts that fit where the rivets were. Sorry, I'm tired and not in the mood to look for a link lol, but search for third gen window motor replacement and you should find some good stuff.
I paid $500-600 for my Falkens but I can't really recommend them as they come without a mileage warranty and really don't do all that great on wet/snowy roads. Search on the forums here, I'm sure you can find some good stuff on the best tires around.
Sending unit is dirt cheap. Got mine from a local parts store, it was one of the first things I replaced when I got the car, because my gauge pegged out pretty much all the time. It's also known to fail on these cars so I'd put money on that being all that's wrong with your gauge.
Jacking up these cars is a pain lol DO NOT do it on the pinch welds under the doors, it'll bend em up. learned that the hard way xD. I usually do it from the a-arms and put jack stands under the center link. Worst part is getting started because getting a rolling jack under these cars is a little tough. As far as cleaning the wheels up, I don't know how to go about that, mine were pretty nice when I got the car so I never needed to do it.

 

Yeah thanks man. I already found the window video. I'm pretty handy with the internet, so that was one of the first things I did after you suggested doing that first. I'll also pick up a sending unit. I'm really concerned about paint tho. I just dunno if I can afford a decent job with my current budget?

 

From what ive heard, maaco does a decent job for around 500. Ive heard some people say they didnt like the quality but the ones ive seen look pretty nice. Id check it out.

 

NO NO NO!!! I'm sure you didn't actually mean steering center link. Weight of the car would bend your alignment into some extra toe in.

Jack up the car by the unibody subframe rails on either side - place jack pad as far forward as possible. The best location I have found to place the axle stands is on the K frame, just inboard of the forward lower control arm pivot. There's a perfect spot right there that will safely nestle the cradle of the axle stand.

 

Holy **** im sorry your right. NOT the center link. I slap em under the k member after i jack it up. See this is what a lack of sleep does to a person. Hope that didnt cause any confusion i dont even know why i said center link.