YACT: Buying an '86 GMC Jimmy 4x4 v6 for $500!

[DurocShark]

My son's friend's mom is selling her Jimmy for $500! I went and checked it out last night. She was told by her mechanic that it's only worth parts and that the engine is shot.

Here's my evaluation:

Body- paint in good condition. Small dent in front left fender. 80% dark tinting in rear windows good.
Tires- Alloy wheels in good condition. Tires shot.
Trans- Great condition, smooth and quiet shifts. Paperwork shows rebuild 15000 miles ago
Suspension- feels good. Possible rear shocks worn. Front suspension pristine. Paperwork shows all wear components replaced 10000 miles ago, as well as welding some frame cracks.
Interior- mediocre due to age. Headliner falling.
Engine- Solid compression. Some valve slap. Exhaust leak in left header pipe (donut gasket). Backfire during accelleration.


My take on the whole thing is that her mechanic is ripping her off. I tried to tell her this, but because her family has been going to this mechanic for years, she's not listening. He's just trying to squeeze $3500 out of her for a rebuild.

I'm buying it, but gotta scrounge some extra $$ because my wife blew out my savings (again). But it's absolutely worth it.

 

[iamwiz82]

its a 2.8L, i'd have them pay me to take it away

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
its a 2.8L, i'd have them pay me to take it away

It *is* a 2.8, and I'm aware of what a POS that engine is, but the price is still right.

 

[Eli]

Cool. Sounds like a good deal.

 

[Papagayo]

"Backfire during accelleration."

My dad used to own a chevy that had 2.8l engine.. Backfire during acceleration sometimes caused by incorrect wiring of sparkplug wires...

 

[Scouzer]

What's so bad about the 2.8?

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: Papagayo
"Backfire during accelleration."

My dad used to own a chevy that had 2.8l engine.. Backfire during acceleration sometimes caused by incorrect wiring of sparkplug wires...

Yeah, I'm thinking it's almost certainly ignition related. I had a car with a bad coil that would do that.

 

[CraigRT]

I had a 2.8 MPFI in my 86 Celebrity and aside from the 5 alternators in 14 years the car went through, it never let me down. (when i owned it)
it had 296,000 kms when we got rid of it still running fine!

 

[Rent]

meh, that just means you can replace the motor... with a 350

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Why/how did your wife blow out your savings?

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Why/how did your wife blow out your savings?

You're kidding, right?

She's a she!

(Xmas for the kids.)

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Rent
meh, that just means you can replace the motor... with a 350

Sounds like a plan to me!

 

May I ask what valve slap is ?

I've heard of valves tapping and piston slap, but never valve slap.

Backfiring can be caused by leaking intake valves, lean fuel mixture and/or failing ignition.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Roger
May I ask what valve slap is ?

I've heard of valves tapping and piston slap, but never valve slap.

Backfiring can be caused by leaking intake valves, lean fuel mixture and/or failing ignition.

He probably means valve/lifter tap...

 

I know that Eli, I was breaking his stones

 

[Quixfire]

Engine- Solid compression. Some valve slap. Exhaust leak in left header pipe (donut gasket).

The engine has worn main bearings. I have seen this many times on high mileage 2.8L V6 engines. The "valve slap" is most likely lifter ticking because of the lack of oil to the lifter galley. This condition is repairable, but if driven it could lead to a spun rod or main bearing.

Good Luck!

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: Roger
I know that Eli, I was breaking his stones

So what else is new?

I was reading the piston slap thread and had slap on my mind. :|

The strong compression tells me that there's little valve problem, but possibly needs an adjustment.

I'm pretty sure it's ignition. When I get my dirty grubby hands on it I'll start playing with it.

 

[Sluggo]

Nice deal, why not offer them $250

Didnt FFMCobalt also pick up an older GM mini SUV for just a couple hundred dollars?

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: DurocShark

Originally posted by: Roger
I know that Eli, I was breaking his stones

So what else is new?

I was reading the piston slap thread and had slap on my mind. :|

The strong compression tells me that there's little valve problem, but possibly needs an adjustment.

I'm pretty sure it's ignition. When I get my dirty grubby hands on it I'll start playing with it.

DurocShark, before you start putting money into the engine please run a oil pressure test and make sure you have better than 30 psi @ 2,000 rpm.

 

[codeyf]

We got our 94 Jimmy 4x4 w/55k miles for free Me still wish I had my Accord tho

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: Quixfire

Originally posted by: DurocShark

Originally posted by: Roger
I know that Eli, I was breaking his stones

So what else is new?

I was reading the piston slap thread and had slap on my mind. :|

The strong compression tells me that there's little valve problem, but possibly needs an adjustment.

I'm pretty sure it's ignition. When I get my dirty grubby hands on it I'll start playing with it.

DurocShark, before you start putting money into the engine please run a oil pressure test and make sure you have better than 30 psi @ 2,000 rpm.

That's a good idea. I'll check that. The oil pres guage on the dash is maxed out, so prolly not working. That was on the list of little things for me to check. I'll make sure to confirm pres at the shop.