Revson

iTrader: (60)

I really don't need another project, but I have a chance to buy a 95 Z/28 very cheap, because it seems to have a blown head gasket. That's what all the symptoms point to,but if I buy it I would buy a kit from Napa to check it out. Anyway my questions are these, the car,(although super clean) has 135,000K on it, but it sits and idles and runs good, since the heads have to come off anyway, would you just pull the whole motor and rebuild it? Or if everything looks good would you just pull the heads and fix the gasket? Next is it hard to change the heads with the motor still in the car? And if I do decide to swap the motor, is it hard to get it out from the top? Or would I have to find a hoist?

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

The real question is how much is the seller asking? If you're a competent mechanic willing to put in the work yourself it could be a steal.

3pnt4maro

iTrader: (2)

I built mine and it was not terribly hard, I figure you might as well freshen everything up while youre in their

as for the engine swap youre gonna need a hoist either way you go to get it out the top...not a bad project, easier than going out the bottom and for the folks that say it cant be done here ya go

Revson

iTrader: (60)

Sorry I meant get a lift, like in a garage when I said hoist. As for the price of the car, it's shows 135,000 miles, but is spotless, including the interior, completely stock except for Flowmaster exhaust, t-tops, I think I can get it for about 2200-2300.

Speed Density

iTrader: (38)

That's a good deal if you can wrench. You could probably make $1,000 of it in this market if not more.

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

Definitely a good idea if you don't mind (and are capable) of doing the work yourself. You could probably offer $2000 and he'd bite.

creepingdeath94

iTrader: (1)

I picked up a running driving one for $2K...needed paint (not terrible though) and the headliner re-hung...speed density/PROM car as well, so I would say that price is right to make out no matter what you do with it. I agree he would probably bite on $2K as well anyway. Don't be too afraid of the 135K miles...especially if the car is clean. How did it overheat? How bad? Did it sink valve guides in the heads...get REALLY hot or what. I overheated my '94 back in the day a few times pretty bad and never blew a head gasket, so I imagine it takes a bit of heat to actually blow the gasket. Just some stuff be aware of.

Trick450r

iTrader: (7)

I had my temp gauge buried at 260+ probably 3 times last year (battling sporadic cooling issues) never lost a head gasket, im not even sure what sort of abuse it takes to blow one on a stock config.

Revson

iTrader: (60)

He said he was racing when it happened, as far as the condition of the motor, he hasn't torn it down. He started the car for me and sitting in his driveway idling it ran fine, no knocks or anything. You could smell antifreeze coming out of the exhaust. I will do the wrenching myself. It seems like a good deal price wise. I'm just wondering should go through the whole motor or just do the heads. The only strange thing is that there was this sucking sound coming from the right rear of the motor.

creepingdeath94

iTrader: (1)

Well, not sure about the sucking sound, but I would pull the heads only in car first and disassemble them and examine the valve guides and crack check it before thinking about going any deeper into the motor. If it gets hot and guides have sunk and it has cracks, you'll be in it for more than just a gasket set then and you won't want the whole motor in pieces then. If the heads check out ok, then you may want to go ahead and drop the rest of the motor and freshen it up.

formula vincent

iTrader: (1)

if your going to wrench on it yourself its a good deal. back in 06 i picked up a 94 6
speed formula from a local pontiac dealer for 2 k .with 111 000 miles on it at the time
through a mechanic lean sale. the owner never paid the bill for a new water pump
and radiator . his loss my gain.

Revson

iTrader: (60)

I bought it 2 days ago $2000. So I'm back to messing around with LT1's Had a 94 TA I sold a few years ago, so I know a little bit about them. Have to dust off my LT1 edit skills.
Other things about the car I just bought, has brand new rims/tires. (Cooper Cobras/Ultra rims) New fuel pump (stock), New opti (GM).
This morning I went and picked up a motor out of a wrecked 96 TA with 60K on it. Got motor for $500, So I"m going to take the motor I just bought, freshen it up. maybe clean up the heads, throw a cam, springs, headers and 1.6 rr's on it.
I'll drive it awhile that way, and it the meantime, take the motor that is in the car now and build a 383.
I knew I kept those 3:73's around for a reason!

higgsfbody

iTrader: (1)

should be a good project if you dont mind the wrenching

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

Yea..these things are nice when you put the time into them.