Ok, so I am about this close --> | | from my own DSM! Its a 90 TSI AWD, like 120k miles, manual, and dark cherry. The compression is fairly good, but it overheats because of the blown head gasket. I called him yesterday to ask about it, he said there was one other guy looking at it, and if he didnt want it, it was mine. Well, I check the thread about it today and they guy that was looking at it (dsmstyle admin) decided not to get it. So, guess what that means? As long as the guy doesnt sell it out from under me, ITS MINE! Its all stock except hacked air can and the only problem (I hope) is the blown head gasket. Hes only asking $950 for it, I am going to call him later and offer him $800, but if I have to, I will shell out $950 for it.

Its about 230 miles away. If I can find anyone to help me change the head gasket down there, I'll do that, but otherwise it has to get driven back with the head gasket blown. As long as the coolant isnt getting into the oil I should be ok right? He said it overheats, but I dont care, I'll pull over and let it cool if I have to. Should I refill the coolant as it gets low? It is fairly cold up here, would anything bad happen (as long as I dont let it overheat) if I just drained the coolant so I wasnt burning any?

EDIT: Holy 1500! What a day eh? To bad I am home sick... :puke:

holy fuk man dont drive it with blown head gasket! You'll warp the head! could anyway.. just come down to my house and buy this awd 90 tsi for 300$ lol

I don't know where you are going to pick it up but why don't you look for a shop nearby you can take it to? Get yourself a replacement head gasket, bring it with you, and have a shop install it. When I had to replace mine (leaking) it cost $115 for parts and labor. Make sure you set up an appointment beforehand so you can be in and out.

Congrats man. It's about time :)

Head gaskets cost way more than that to replace dont they?

Yeah dude, I know two people that have gotten shafted for a grand on a 420a head gasket.

I dont know, I'll worry about it later. I just got off the phone with him. He confirmed that guy didnt want it and that I am next in line. Since this is going to go down under the radar, I have to wait until I'm alone to call him back, get some specifics, discuss payment, and that kinda thing. Would the only reason for the head to warp be overheating? I sure as hell dont want that to happen, but I also dont want to get fucked for a bunch of money for a shop to replace the head gasket. Damn guys, its finally happening. I get my own money pit, I mean DSM.

Anyway, if I do replace the head gasket while I am down there, which one should I get? Later I was thinking one of those cometic ones, but you need really machined gasket surfaces right? All I need is a crutch to get me home. Any suggestions?

if you pay to have it done. but they are like 200ish maybe 300 for a new one.

I'm probably wrong but isn't this the gasket in question?

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/catalog.php?carcode=1103050&parttype=5412

Yeah, thats the one. I didnt realize they were so cheap. I am going to still check with any area DSMers, hell, they seller might have a garage/parking lot for me to do it in. If we cant, I will have to find a deserted parking lot. If we can have a shop do the labor for ~$100, we'll do it. One of my friends can do it in 2 hours, so I'm hopeing I can do it in about 4. Any ideas how heavy the head, intake, and exhaust mani will be?

Where is the car? Cause if it's 270 miles from you it might be near me, i could help if you need it. The head might be warped but it's not that big of a deal you just need to get it resurfaced (It cost $30 for mine). Don't forget head bolts, and i'd just get the whole head gasket replacement set (comes with a ton of gaskets, basically everything you'd take off to do a hg)

Hey thor if your looking for a car... one of my friend over here in Wichita Kansas is selling his 94 GSX. All black with black rims and he qouted me $3500 with 145k miles... new tranny. If your interested let me know!

I'm not trying to ruin your parade thor, but a head gasket is not an easy task. You have to at the very minumum buy a new headgasket, headbolts, and get the head resurfaced. A good head gasket isn't cheap either. The labor is rather difficult, you would have a VERY hard time doing it in a parking lot, not ot mentino the machine shop will take time to resurface. I'd still hold out if I were you. I've seen 1g AWD's go for about 1k that could make a decent drive. You definitely can't drive an overheating car 250 miles.

I see what you mean crunchy, but this is a deal I cant really afford to miss. Mike's Talon was almost twice as much with over twice as many problems and that is a pretty common thing to see up here. I missed three cars in the past month that went for $1800 with 50-80k more miles and barely any driveable than this one. This is the best option in my area.

All we need to do is get it a big enough crutch to get home. Either A) drive it or B) fix it.

If we fix it, I will get the $30 head gasket from rockauto and head bolts if absolutely needed, then we will find someone down there that will let us use their garage. I've got friends, and my friends have friends, I dont think it will be a problem. Once we get it home and I get money, I will get the ARP and cometic gasket.

He did say that its a minor leak and theres barely any white smoke coming out of the tail pipe. Also, he said that it takes about 20 minutes before it starts to over heat. Is there any stop leak fluid that might help it hold up a little better? Will any damage be caused taking it to a safe temperature, letting it cool off, taking it back up, letting it cool off, and so on? I dont think anything will warp or anything if its not brought up to a dangerous temp will it?

I don't think it would be physically possible for me to drive it home like that. I would be too tempted to drop the accelerator...just to feel her pull.

Anyway, sounds like a good enough deal to me. It does run atleast, and once the head gasket it done it should be a decent ride.

Yeah, I just got off the phone with him. As soon as he gets a deposit tonight, it will be mine. Man I am fucking excited. It started to overheat a couple days ago and before it did, the compression was all within a few PSI and around 150. Pics will be up within two weeks!

If you take the thermostat out it wont over heat. It over heats because all the compression that leaks out from the head gasket goes into the coolant and causes a pocket of air to build up behind the thermostat and it wont open then. Thats a possibilty at least, to check it start it up and if the rad hoses get hard right away thats your best bet

.. just come down to my house and buy this awd 90 tsi for 300$ lol
I would if you didn't live so GDamn far away:frown: :p :disappoin :shakehead

Thor, can't you get a trailer or something? Doesn't make much sense to do the job twice. HGs blow for a reason, so the head is prolly already warped especially if he's been driving it around with it overheating. I would tow it or if I couldn't I would just drive the thing home and make sure it doesn't get too hot. If you don't let it get hot it isn't gonna get any more furked up than it already is. :licka:

Getting it hauled up here would cost so much money though. I dont know guys, I am going to do this, but I feel like shit. At the same time, its just like I have been telling myself and everyone else... I dont want to go through life not doing what I want. Sure I could sit this DSM thing out, but I want to have some fun with my ever dwindling childhood. I learned a lesson from my dad, he always wanted to drive a dirt track car, but he realized a couple years ago that his time for that is running out, so he got himself a car and went to it. I just dont want that guys... what if I am not lucky enough to have a second chance? They are hard enough to get a hold of as it is, just imagine a few years down the road. Well, either way I will feel like shit...

Just do it man, it shouldnt be that big of deal. Where is it anyway?

where is vehicle located? town wise

http://www.dsmstyle.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10495&page=2

Theres the link. It says hes in Brooklyn Park, but I dont know if thats where his lot is. He says hes 5 minutes west of down town Minneapolis.

The money isnt the problem. Its just doing it kinda behind my parents backs. I know my mom will never go for it, my dad wont right away. Hes old school V8 and is immediately prejudiced when it comes with a imported name. He's got a few mechanic friends that immediately say no to a Mitsu engine. They say the "come apart funny" or something. I dont know, I've been through a 420a that isnt much different when it really gets down to it. Also, I've had mikes car half apart a couple times and it ran until he ran it out of oil. I need to talk to my dad.

I have family in brooklyn park lol, its like a 2 hour drive for me. Let me know when your going and I may be able to meet up with you or something if you need any help

Thor, first off, you shouldnt do anything behind your parents back. When I bought my DSM, my dad had specifically told me not to the day before. He was in NYC at the time and when I called him to tell him that I bought it, he was dissappointed...not angry, which is much worse.

Otherwise I think you should just drive the car for 15 minutes intervals. it might take all day and night,so schedule ALOT of time, and drink alot of caffeine!

GL!!

Thor, first off, you shouldnt do anything behind your parents back.
:werd: Last time I talked to him about a DSM it was about a 95 GSX with a tranny on the way out. I asked him and he said that he couldnt condone that, but it was my money and I can do what I want with it. Well, if hes still up I am going to talk to him after I get done with this post. If not I will talk to him tomorrow night. Wish me luck guys...

good luck, let us know how it goes

you shouldnt do anything behind your parents back.

Screw that. Parents can be retarded, so sometimes you need to take things in your own hands.

Screw that. Parents can be retarded, so sometimes you need to take things in your own hands.
Yeah they just don't understand sometimes...ezpecially if they ...(i found a new way to spell especially!!) don't know what it's like to drive a dsm.

Screw that. Parents can be retarded, so sometimes you need to take things in your own hands.

Well that can be true, but when you live in there house for free (I am 18 now) so I need to cooperate, so I dont get the boot.

But Thor, just ask your dads permission and whatever his answer still get the car....just give him a heads up that you are going to buy it.

When I had my eclipse, I had to store it half the time in the garage (due to broken window) and that just pissed my dad off...but when he came down and saw me working on it and learning, he was actually with me and the car. Plus then I sold it and made good profit, and that put my dad in his place....lol

Good luck thor!

You dont know anyone with a truck? Car dolly's can be rented for $40 a day from u-haul. Bring a jack along, when you get there either drop the t-case and wire up the driveshaft or drop the driveshaft and leave the t-case. Simple as that. Then there is no worrys about how long its going to take you to get home or if you will fuck up the engine and be stranded somewhere with a DSM that doesnt run.

Nope, no friends with trucks, none that could make that kind of a trip anyway (bigger POS's than the DSM). The u haul station up here told me it was ~$100 per day.

I didnt catch him last night, but I am going to talk to him in about a hour after supper. Last DSM I wanted he said that there was no way he would approve of it, but its my money. I am just praying for that answer tonight. I'll be on in a few hours with the verdict...

EDIT: Any idea how much it will cost to have the head resurfaced?

Guess who just talked to dad? Guess what he said? Check the sig homies... :grinyes:

He said that he isnt for it, but that hes not going to stop me either, just like I thought. I am excited guys, he said that it wouldnt hurt to go look at it. He's done 3 cars in his day, body work, engine, and interior. Granted they werent all out show cars, but they looked better than stock. Hes been there and he can understand all of this. He started a 57 Corvette when he was in college that didnt work out, so he was a little skeptical about me starting one before college. But guys. I am going to go look at and probably buy that car. Pics soon guys!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a285/crazydriver7686/Baby_UL_Snd.gif
sorry i found that... look at that baby shift!!!

good luck thor... need another vavle cover?!

congrats and good luck.

Congratulations and good luck, let me know if you need any help

Awesome man! Your finally an official DSMer. lol :wink:

Fuck yes I am :D. I have (or have a chance to get) what I want and I dont have to be an asswipe to do it. Now I need another job... two should be good. Maybe that guy at Advanced Auto Repair still wants me... Man guys. I CANNOT FUCKING WAIT for that car.

Thanks for the love guys!

<3

:rolleyes: :lol:

sweeeet......

Woot! Meh want pics!!

Just out of curiosity, are you sure the car has a bad head gasket? Just because it's overheating doesn't mean hg, or is it burning coolant? When my head was warped it had horrible compression.

I say, you take the head off, lol and take pics, but you couldn't drive it home =(

He said its burning a little coolant, but its not completely shot yet either. It just happened like a week ago while on a test drive IIRC. Just before the head gasket went, he had the compression checked, he said it was 150-155 all the way across. I think the car has been for sale for a while (the guys friend is selling it) and when a potential buyer was out for a test drive, it started to overheat a little. I its been drivin only a couple times since then, and it was taken care of while it was being driven to see whats going on. I'm not worried about head warpage at this point, but if it is, I will get it milled down. I'm going to see if he has any pictures to send me, otherwise about 9000 pictures will be taken nest thursday or friday when I get it. We are going to just leave the radiator cap loose and fill the overflow tank every few miles to get it home, as soon as it is it will get parked. After I save up some more money, ARP head studs and a cometic gasket will be ordered, the head will be resurfaced, and we'll put it back together and have a well running car. After that, mods will start to happen and over time (probably a long time) it will be pretty and quick.

It shouldn't be too much to get the head resurfaced the only problem is you need to take the valves out.

Finally! That must be close to a record, 1500 posts and you just now got a DSM. ;) Congrats man, now get your ass to work on the beast.

Congrats Thor, now I want another DSM. Your joy reminds me of me when I had mine.

YEEEEEEEEEEEPEEEEEEEEEEE!

You dont need to leave the cap loose, just remove the thremostat and there wont be any restriction in flow so it wont over heat. It over heats because air gets in the system causing the thermostat of stay closed.:2cents:

I'm not trying to ruin your parade thor, but a head gasket is not an easy task. You have to at the very minumum buy a new headgasket, headbolts, and get the head resurfaced. A good head gasket isn't cheap either. The labor is rather difficult, you would have a VERY hard time doing it in a parking lot, not ot mentino the machine shop will take time to resurface. I'd still hold out if I were you. I've seen 1g AWD's go for about 1k that could make a decent drive. You definitely can't drive an overheating car 250 miles.


Thats right it cost me 600 bucks to try and get the 1g head swap on my car. that was at 50 dollars an hour. Most shops cost much more that that. but if you can have it shipped i would do that instead

That must be close to a record, 1500 posts and you just now got a DSM. :wink:
Yeah no shit! I just sent the down payment, now I just need a ride down there in a week, everything else is taken care of. I got pictures from him, more to come when I get it cleaned up and up here.
http://x402.putfile.com/3/6016151083.jpg (http://www.putfile.com)
http://x402.putfile.com/3/6016172748.jpg (http://www.putfile.com)
http://x402.putfile.com/3/6016233924.jpg (http://www.putfile.com)
This is going to be awesome guys. The hg is the only thing mechanically wrong with the car. The front bumper is cracked, theres a small patch of rust starting on the, fender, and there is a door ding on the door, but through the salt and shit the paint seemed fairly decent (not as bad as Mike's 1g anyway, that thing is crusty as hell). The interior is nice, non smoker. The best part... bone ass stock and unfucked with. I am glad its purple, I thought he told me it was dark red. Dark red is just fine, but I like the purple better.

Looks good man

Sizexy

Sweet, it looks exactly like my brothers. Hows the interior? Nice and clean I hope? lol