When to cut your losses

"G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3" (gbodyman) 06/17/2015 at 20:13 • Filed to: None

1

60

Hi everyone. Today, I went and did a checkup on the Cutlass. The situation is bleak. It’s running on 7 cylinders, has valve cover gaskets that are leaking oil all over the headers, has a leaky trans pan gasket, a leaky oil pan gasket, a rusted-through rear frame rail, a rusted-through rear bumper, random rust patches on the doors, speed holes in 2/4 wheel arches, a possible head gasket leak, and bad tires, plus who knows what else. I have about $1400 invested in it, including the cost of the car. I’m starting to think that I made a bad financial decision, and should cut my losses before this old car turns into a major headache. What would Oppo do?

505Turbeaux > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:16

3

is it a 307? Maybe the rear driver side plug has never been changed due to PITA factor (like my Delta 88 was).

Jaloppo suggestion number one - the best one. Get out your wrenches, get some goddamn gaskets and bondo, get a case of beer, and get yo ass crackin’

Then get some used tires on craigslist and finish the job. Weld it when you can as long as it isn’t a safety factor

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > 505Turbeaux 06/17/2015 at 20:18

0

It's the 305 Chevrolet. I'm more concerned about headgasket replacement than anything else, really.

505Turbeaux > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:20

0

I would retorque the heads before pulling them off, but remember it is a pushrod motor. It is an afternoon of beer drinking

bob and john > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:20

0

yea, just sell it. The gaskets arent tht much of an issue as the frame rail is.

jkm7680 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:21

0

Any pictures of the frame/structural rust?

Leaky valve cover gaskets isn’t a good sign though for sure.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > bob and john 06/17/2015 at 20:21

0

I have a replacement rail ready to be welded into the car.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:22

1

As someone who was there this last 6 months with this fork in road, if your heart is not in it, sell it. If you have tight financial constraints, sell it. If the car is now seen as a burden than a hobby, sell it. The fact that you are asking tells me: sell it before you become *really* unhappy.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 06/17/2015 at 20:23

0

I don't want to sell it, I just don't want it to become a money pit.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > jkm7680 06/17/2015 at 20:25

0

No pics of the rust, because it's the typical rust through behind the rear axle that happens to most g-bodies. The leaky gaskets are definitely not good.

bob and john > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:26

0

its not tha part thats pricey man, its the labour.

really, with THAT much wrong, cut your loses. At the end of the day, its not a particularly sought after car, no point in throwing good money after baqd.

hell, even clayton sold the lotus.

jkm7680 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:26

0

ouch

RallyWrench > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:27

1

Drive it across Canada, as is. C’mon, it’ll be fun! Nothing like an ill-advised road trip in a car that could leave you stranded to build character.

Kidding aside, I forget, is this is your primary or only car? If not, it can go on stands for some solid wrenching. If it is and you want to keep it, maybe think about parking it and getting something else cheap to beat around in while you plan this out. If you love the thing, get wrenching and learn a lot along the way. If you’re losing interest, move on to another one with less corrosion.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > jkm7680 06/17/2015 at 20:28

0

Yeah. Compared to this, an Astro van is a fairly solid choice.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > RallyWrench 06/17/2015 at 20:29

0

I'm a broke 16 year old. I love the thing to death, but simply cannot afford having many issues pop up.

Birddog > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:30

0

How did they determine the possible Head Gasket leak?

305s aren’t really known for issues there. The Valve Covers are easy and ir sounds like it just needs a tune up.

Either way it’d be wise to fix as much as you can before selling it to avoid taking too much of a loss.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > bob and john 06/17/2015 at 20:30

0

Fair enough. Part of me wants to finish what I started, while part of me wants a more reliable vehicle.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Birddog 06/17/2015 at 20:31

1

There was so much white exhaust smoke, you'd swear that a new pope was chosen. I'll fix as much of it as I can afford to.

bob and john > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:32

0

i know the feeling, but really, its not worth it. geta focus for a corolla and beat that thing like it owes you money

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:32

1

Then you have to fix it with your own knuckles (HG job, holy crap)... or sell it. I’m just saying you should be all in (enthused and handy), or cut your losses asap. If you had a second DD, it’s not a crime to just mull it over and puck away at it for a few months though.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 06/17/2015 at 20:34

0

The problem is that I may be needing a car to take cross-country in a few months. I really want to do it in my car, but a never ending list of tasks is what keeps me at bay.

RallyWrench > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:35

2

There is perhaps no better engine for a young’n to learn on than a small block Chevy. I’d still encourage you to work on it, none of those oil leaks are hard to sort, and even the heads are easy if you have a free weekend and a good shop manual. Maybe just fix the valve cover leaks to start, so you can establish whether or not it really has a head gasket leak.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > RallyWrench 06/17/2015 at 20:36

0

Thanks. Are there any additional tools that I may need to complete this project (other than a torque wrench)?

RallyWrench > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:38

0

For the valve covers? Nope, a socket set & extensions will do.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > bob and john 06/17/2015 at 20:38

0

I’m thinking more like an Astro van. I need something with utility, and all the Rangers in my area are completely beat.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > RallyWrench 06/17/2015 at 20:39

0

Excellent. Now I just have to order the parts.

bob and john > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:39

0

and all the Rangers in my area are completely beat.

FIFY. Astro vans are REALLY old at this point man. not worth it. An express would be better frankly.

jkm7680 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:40

0

Those things rust.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > bob and john 06/17/2015 at 20:41

0

Express would be a bit big for me. I know the Astros are really old, but they're still fairly youthful compared to my Cutlass.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > jkm7680 06/17/2015 at 20:41

1

Everything rusts up here.

bob and john > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:42

0

venture?

or how about just a station wagon? how much shit are you hauling? I would have easily been able to take EVERYTHING i owned in our audi if it was about 3 feet longer ( hatchbacks are great though) and a roof rack

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > bob and john 06/17/2015 at 20:44

1

Ventures are worse than gonorrhoea. Considering that it will also haul the fam, plus whatever else we need to shunt about, we need a fair amount of space. If we move, we're selling the Echo, and going down to two vehicles.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:46

0

Get a manual v6 ranger or mazda b series. You wont regret it

bob and john > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:46

0

ah.

to bad you didnt say 2 cars, other wise i would have been showering you with links to motorcycles and saying: see? not a car!

RallyWrench > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:47

0

Any auto parts store will have them, cheap.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > bob and john 06/17/2015 at 20:48

0

Trust me, I really want a CBR125, but like most things in life, I can't afford it.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > RallyWrench 06/17/2015 at 20:48

0

Alrighty. What would you suggest to seal up the trans pan leak? A new filter and RTV?

Twism > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:49

1

I’d fix the engine, but leave the rest of the car untouched.

When it croaks, yank the now-good mill, and simply plop it into anything else that can be fitted with a 305 (so like, ANY other car made in the past century).

Then rinse and repeat, gradually improving the engine until you end up with something like this:

In something like this:

And then just win at life.

It’s a very special feeling when people snark at your car until you pop the hood and they go WOAH

RallyWrench > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:54

1

New gasket, maybe some RTV, though if it’s torqued properly it shouldn’t need it. Check the pan upside-down on a good flat surface to make sure it’s not bent.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:56

0

You do not sound confident that it can make the trip as is.

dogisbadob > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 20:59

0

LS swap bro

lone_liberal > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 21:08

0

Time to let it go. Most of that stuff isn’t that big of a deal but the rusted frame rail combined with your pretty obvious growing frustration with it probably means that it’s time for you to cut your losses. No sense spending that kind of time on something that your heart is not in to.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 06/17/2015 at 21:18

0

As is, it couldn't make it around the block. I have a lot of work ahead of me.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > dogisbadob 06/17/2015 at 21:18

1

4.8 or 5.3?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 21:20

1

The way I see it, if the thing can’t even drive, then there’s little loss in seeing what you can do with your own hands and some parts. I think once you give that a whirl, you will get closer to your final answer.

dogisbadob > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 21:23

0

doesn’t matter :)

BigBlock440 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 21:31

0

Filters should come with gaskets, and they’re not that much, maybe $30. Just checked on mine, it’s $7.

BigBlock440 > jkm7680 06/17/2015 at 21:33

0

Huh? Valve cover gaskest are almost the easiest thing to replace, at least on a longitudinal engine.

BigBlock440 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 21:44

0

Depends on what you want to do with the car. My project car will be mine until I die, so I don’t really car what I end up spending on it. Most of the gaskets are an easy fix, but the oil pan gasket you may need to pull the engine for, if it is actually the oil pan gasket that’s leaking. I’ve had a dipstick tube be the source of a significant oil loss, and you don’t need to pull the engine for that. Bumpers are usually easy, every car needs or will need tires, so those aren’t that big of a deal. The 7-cylinders thing, check the plugs and compare to a chart to see what’s going on. If they all look good, do a compression check, and that’ll let you know where you’re at engine-wise. Small block Chevy’s are probably fairly cheap, especially with how many they made if the outlook for the engine isn’t so hot. I got a running mopar big block for under $500, a SBC should be even less than that.

What it comes down to is how much you like the car. If you like it, the only thing that’s really a problem is rust. If you don’t like it, get rid of it.

crowmolly > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 22:06

0

Think of it this way (I saw you said you are 16):

This car is a rolling education . Certain things on it (plugs, valve cover gaskets, filters, brakes, trans filter/gasket, etc) are pretty easy to fix and there’s no better place to cut your teeth than on, quite frankly, something that’s a throw-away.

Post pictures of the frame rail damage as that’s a big safety issue. If bad is REAL BAD, then the car’s gotta go.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 22:10

0

5.3 with cheap boost.

Tohru > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 22:37

0

Well, if you don’t want it...

pip bip - choose Corrour > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 22:39

0

complete resto.

8)

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/17/2015 at 23:17

1

I say quit yer panicking. Valve cover gaskets take an hour to fix. Trans pan gasket is a messy 2 hour job for a noob but easily doable. Hell, I’ll help you out if you go through with it. The rusty frame bit is the most worrying but the other stuff is super simple.

Dunnik > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/18/2015 at 01:18

0

I read your post, then formed my opinion, then read the comments, which seem to generally agree: as much as it pains me to say this, I’d say it’s time to retire the old girl. She’s reached the age where major surgery and effort is required to keep her on the road for another 35 years.

I read your earlier post about how/why you love old cars. If that’s what’s holding you back, then I’d say, start over: find a new/old car, and aim for mileage/condition as your number 1 priority. This may take a while to find the one you want in the right condition, so you may in fact need to get a cheap (modern) beater to tide you over until then.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > crowmolly 06/18/2015 at 06:12

0

No pics until next week, but the left rear frame rail extension is just completely rotted through.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 06/18/2015 at 08:02

0

4.8 with LOTS of boost.

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/…

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/18/2015 at 11:16

0

For the love of god don’t take a torque wrench anywhere near the valve covers. I made that mistake and turned a 30 minute valve cover gasket replacement into a 4 day nightmare by snapping a bolt in the head.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 06/18/2015 at 11:52

0

It’s really not about how much you paid for the car it’s about what is it worth to you once it’s fixed up.

To me if you could get it all fixed up and running like a champ for lets say another $1000.00 then you have a good running classic car for ~$2500.00 which is not an obscene amount of money for any car for that matter.

The key thing is that you’ll know that everything is fixed and you should have very little maintenance to do afterwards.

What’s it’s worth to you and what it’s worth are two completely different things.

My truck for instance I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of it so it’s worth way more to me than what I could ever sell it for so I don’t mind dumping money into it even tho I know I’ll never get back if I sell because I’m not selling it. I wan’t to lower my truck it will cost $1000.00 but it won’t add 1 cent of value to the truck but it doesn’t bother me one little bit.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 06/18/2015 at 13:03

0

Thanks for the tip!

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 06/18/2015 at 13:03

1

That’s a good way of looking at it.