NJxxxJon
something good. or your mom.
Premium
join:2005-10-22
00000
| might get a free 1985 monte carlo but....are they.
expensive insurance wise? or.....maintance..? [im asking because on cardomain someones always dropping trannys into them...or a whole new engine...this one...well..im pretty sure it needs brakes......
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3SGTE
ST215W
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-23
there
clubs: | Re: might get a free 1985 monte carlo but....are t
The car is 21 years old.
Regardless of what model or manufacturer, a 21 year old car that is being "given" away is bound to have significant issues.
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Everything in this post is pure BS! |
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rockotman
...Blown On The Steel Breeze
Emerging Research
join:2000-08-06
DSotM
clubs:
 ·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | reply to NJxxxJon
Re: might get a free 1985 monte carlo but....are they.
LOL - My sister-in-law gave my son a "free" 1989 Cougar back in '99. It was his first car. It "only" needed head gaskets and some tires.
Being an ex-wrench bender, I warned him that it might be more trouble than it was worth, but he really wanted to give it a go. So I told him I would help him do the engine work (and any other work needed) if he bought the parts.
Well here is a run-down of what we ended up having to do, parts-wise, to get it road worthy and to pass PA state inspection:
Head Gasket Kit ~ $200
Inspect/Plane/Test heads ~ $90
Four tires ~ $250
Front and Rear Brakes/Rotors/Drums ~ $140
Two rear wheel cylinders ~ $50
One rear brake flex-hose ~ $20
Three separate sections of parking brake cable ~ $60
Idle bypass valve ~ $50
Parts total: $860
Not to mention the time spent fixing it all.
There were also a lot of other little things wrong, that I was able to fix with just my time and some stuff I already had laying around - such as power lock motor for the driver's door - fix window track in driver's door - replace several bulbs - fix keyless entry system. We started working on the car at the beginning of October, and only being able to work on it on the weekends, finally had it all ready for inspection in mid-November.
After getting it inspected and on the road, he drove it for about two months, when the fuel pump went out (of course, in the middle of winter). Being as it was an electric pump in the tank, and since I was out of town at the time, he took it to my buddy's shop and had it done for about $200.
Two week's later, I was replacing the alternator. Another $75.
The following summer, the steering rack started acting up. I suggested that enough is enough, and that he donate it for the tax break, and get something a little more reliable. He ended up with a nice, cheap, '97 Cavalier that he is still driving to this day.
So yeah - it might be free - but it's probably gonna cost you...
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Is there anybody out there? |
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sdgthy
@optonline.net
| reply to NJxxxJon
Re: might get a free 1985 monte carlo but....are t
Expensive to insure? Not unless you're silly enough to get collision, in which case it'll probably cost more per year than you'd get when they total it.
The trans depends, many had the THM200 which is near junk, but easily replaced with a THM350 which is much more durable. If it has a 4-spd auto, it has a 200-4r which is a good trans, but it wasn't until '86 and later that they worked out most the problems.
If it's a NE car, rust will be the the biggest issue. Be sure to check the rear frame rails, I've seen a few where those were almost nonexsitant. Frame cracks just behind the rear axle bump up are also not uncommon.
Otherwise, most all the wear parts are dirt cheap and easy to get. So if it doesn't have major issues, it probably won't cost much to keep it running. |
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NJxxxJon
something good. or your mom.
Premium
join:2005-10-22
00000 | Yeah rust. head gaskets...delt with it all so far.
anyhow, only liablity will be put on this chevy. some free things could cost 100's of dollars......i heard... |
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sdgthy
@optonline.net
| A big factor in that is if you pay someone else to do the work.
Anything that is that old is going to need attention on a regular basis. If you can do the work yourself, that means not much more then parts cost + time. If you're going to pay someone to do it, it's probably best avoided. |
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Stiv2k
Rm -Rf As Root
join:2002-07-22
Orlando, FL
| reply to NJxxxJon
you will definitely spend some money on fixing things, as it is an old car and will tend to fall apart (i speak from experience!).
However, don't feel bad for spending all the money, its a great learning experience to learn firsthand about mechanics and cars, and the feeling of something working right and knowing you did it yourself more than compensates for the cost 
Anyhow, those 80s monte carlos are friggin pimp man  is it a V8 RWD?
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- Steve Bularca
irc.neoturbine.net - NeoturbineNET IRC |
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NJxxxJon
something good. or your mom.
Premium
join:2005-10-22
00000 | no, ........its a v6 and silver. nothing bad about this car from back in the day is there? /or any "flaws" you guys would know about...thats all im really asking... |
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sdgthy
@optonline.net
| Like anything there's a few little things. The rear axle is weak, but with a V6 not something you would have a problem with. The rear brake cylinder design was subject to a recall, even the redesign can still cause backing plate problems. The brake system itself is overall kinda wimpy, although adequate for a driver. Windshields often leak because the urethane has dried out and no longer seals to the glass. They suffer the same problem most GM cars from that time had, in that you'll loose HVAC blower high speed if you use that too much (a terminal in the harness melts). If it doesn't have the F41 package, the steering box is the junk one. Power windows, if it has those, are slow. The PW and PL switches tend to collect dirt and stop working.
I have an '88 Cutlass with over 200K, rust will kill it before anything else. |
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