1997 LT1 Trans Am
11-01-2011, 05:44 PM
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1997 LT1 Trans Am This guy is selling me his trans am for 2500.00 The car has been seating in his backyard for months without use. But here is the catch: The car has rust in the engine bay and below the rear end. Coolant, ABS and Service Engine lights are on. The TCS is not working. At +45 MPH the steering wheel vibrates heavily and there's mold on the door sills.
However, the car has only 68,000 miles and runs great. One owner only. The engine and tranny seems to be in great shape.
Btw there are lots of cosmetic details, the windows don't work, the a/c doesn't blow cold air and the dash is cracked beyond repair. The headliner is broken too.
Beyond cosmetic details, mechanically is this car is a good buy for the price? I'm I going to spend a fortune fixing it?
Ideas? Any feedback will be greatly appreciated!
However, the car has only 68,000 miles and runs great. One owner only. The engine and tranny seems to be in great shape.
Btw there are lots of cosmetic details, the windows don't work, the a/c doesn't blow cold air and the dash is cracked beyond repair. The headliner is broken too.
Beyond cosmetic details, mechanically is this car is a good buy for the price? I'm I going to spend a fortune fixing it?
Ideas? Any feedback will be greatly appreciated!
Last edited by acq; 11-01-2011 at 05:58 PM.
11-01-2011, 07:22 PM
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LOL That was my first thought. I did run it. The car ran great and I was amazed at how silky smooth the tranny changed gears. There weren't any weird sounds coming from the engine at all. Because I live 120 miles from the guy, we agreed to meet in a middle point, so the car at least the car can run long distances.
To think the owner was asking $4000 for the car orginally!
To think the owner was asking $4000 for the car orginally!
11-01-2011, 07:24 PM
#4
A lt1 and 4l60e isnt worth 2500$ alone
It depends on alot though, mold can be fixed. Headliners can be fixed, Dash pads (if its the top part) can be had for cheap. Seeing some pictures of the car might justify this case more. Some of those CEL's can be fixed easily too. ABS and TCS lights are probably related to a wheel/brake sensor that makes them both work.
It depends on alot though, mold can be fixed. Headliners can be fixed, Dash pads (if its the top part) can be had for cheap. Seeing some pictures of the car might justify this case more. Some of those CEL's can be fixed easily too. ABS and TCS lights are probably related to a wheel/brake sensor that makes them both work.
11-01-2011, 07:41 PM
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Buy the car. The problems that you listed are petty...
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11-01-2011, 09:35 PM
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This is the only picture I could get my hands on, the car looks much worse in person.
It is automatic but the transmission was working fine. This car was not abused, rather it was not taken much care of. I don't know much about lt1's, the only thing I know about it its the "famous" opti. My only experience is with the ls1 trans am (my brother has one).
What has me worried most is the rust and how it could have affected the F body.
The car has been sitting so long that I do not know how it will affect its future reliability and how much it will cost me to make it into a daily driver.
It is automatic but the transmission was working fine. This car was not abused, rather it was not taken much care of. I don't know much about lt1's, the only thing I know about it its the "famous" opti. My only experience is with the ls1 trans am (my brother has one).
What has me worried most is the rust and how it could have affected the F body.
The car has been sitting so long that I do not know how it will affect its future reliability and how much it will cost me to make it into a daily driver.
Last edited by acq; 11-01-2011 at 09:41 PM.
11-01-2011, 09:40 PM
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Wish it was a six speed, now those are really tough ones to find!
The general consensus is not to get it and seeing I really have no previous experience with lt1's, this is a no buy.
I love this cars and despite the lt1 having less hp/tq than the ls1, to me the lt1 felt more torquey on the low end.
Also I have to thank everyone for their feedback!
The general consensus is not to get it and seeing I really have no previous experience with lt1's, this is a no buy.
I love this cars and despite the lt1 having less hp/tq than the ls1, to me the lt1 felt more torquey on the low end.
Also I have to thank everyone for their feedback!
11-02-2011, 11:57 AM
#15
This guy is selling me his trans am for 2500.00 The car has been seating in his backyard for months without use. But here is the catch: The car has rust in the engine bay and below the rear end. Coolant, ABS and Service Engine lights are on. The TCS is not working. At +45 MPH the steering wheel vibrates heavily and there's mold on the door sills.
However, the car has only 68,000 miles and runs great. One owner only. The engine and tranny seems to be in great shape.
Btw there are lots of cosmetic details, the windows don't work, the a/c doesn't blow cold air and the dash is cracked beyond repair. The headliner is broken too.
Beyond cosmetic details, mechanically is this car is a good buy for the price? I'm I going to spend a fortune fixing it?
Ideas? Any feedback will be greatly appreciated!
However, the car has only 68,000 miles and runs great. One owner only. The engine and tranny seems to be in great shape.
Btw there are lots of cosmetic details, the windows don't work, the a/c doesn't blow cold air and the dash is cracked beyond repair. The headliner is broken too.
Beyond cosmetic details, mechanically is this car is a good buy for the price? I'm I going to spend a fortune fixing it?
Ideas? Any feedback will be greatly appreciated!
LOL That was my first thought. I did run it. The car ran great and I was amazed at how silky smooth the tranny changed gears. There weren't any weird sounds coming from the engine at all. Because I live 120 miles from the guy, we agreed to meet in a middle point, so the car at least the car can run long distances.
To think the owner was asking $4000 for the car orginally!
To think the owner was asking $4000 for the car orginally!
A lt1 and 4l60e isnt worth 2500$ alone
It depends on alot though, mold can be fixed. Headliners can be fixed, Dash pads (if its the top part) can be had for cheap. Seeing some pictures of the car might justify this case more. Some of those CEL's can be fixed easily too. ABS and TCS lights are probably related to a wheel/brake sensor that makes them both work.
It depends on alot though, mold can be fixed. Headliners can be fixed, Dash pads (if its the top part) can be had for cheap. Seeing some pictures of the car might justify this case more. Some of those CEL's can be fixed easily too. ABS and TCS lights are probably related to a wheel/brake sensor that makes them both work.
Agreed, and $1k would be puhing it too
Op IMO youre better off spending a little more cash and getting something in a much better condition.
