I went and took a look at an 87 TII tonight. The engine was rebuilt a few months ago and the car has been parked. The exterior has no damage on it and on tiny spot of fading paint. The interior is clean, no tears in the seats or stains, only damage to the infamous radio surround. Now the only problem is the car overheats. Seems that the coolant is lost somewhere. It doesn't go on the ground either. Everyone that I have talked to about it says it must be a coolant seal pinched when the rebuild was done. The guy was asking $2000 but said he doesn't expect me to pay that with it overheating. Anyone have any ideas what it could be? Is this a good deal for $1500 and another $1500 for a rebuild? Just please give me some input. Thanks.

 

Well, if the coolant is missing from the radiator and you are positive it is not leaking out, then it is getting into the combustion chamber some way. If there is white smoke from the pipes this means that water is getting vaporized in the engine, so look for that. Also check the oil on the dipstick to see if theres any water in the oil. Either way you are looking at a rebuild, but probably all you'd need is new gaskets and such, not machine work and apex seals and all that, so it would be cheaper than a full rebuild.

 

Well a full rebuild at the local rotary experts is like $1800 or so, so how much should this cost? Like $1000 or $1200? I mean I can get a full rebuild and streetport for like $2200 so I might as well get everything done and have a warranty if its too much, ya know?

 

Try to knock him down to about 1200.

 

I'd say it sounds like a good deal if the rest of the car is in good condition.

Personaly i would like to see the paperwork on the rebuild.

 

offer him $1000 tops.

 

sounds like a deal for $1200 but I too would want to see the paper work

 

Well I ended up getting the car for $1400. Everything works good(a/c, p/w, s/r) and the exterior I would say is in great shape and so is the interior. The guy didn't have the paperwork for the rebuild, thats why the overheating problem wasn't fixed. In the end what made me decide to get it was the condition and the fact that there aren't very many TIIs around here. I have only seen 3 ever. Well I figure for like $3000 I will have a perfect TII to start with.

 

No offense, but you got ripped off. $1200 for a car that needs a new engine? Yikes. I would have offered $500, and if he didn't take it I would have given him my number and walked away...He would have called me back in a few days....

 

I might think so too if the car was in OK condition or if there is a selection of TIIs. But there aren't any plus the car looks terrific. The car is worth the money without the engine, to me at least. And thats all that matters.

 

congrats on the purchase man...as long as you're happy thats all that counts welcome to the turbo club!