Do i keep it or ditch it?

[cgomate]

Hey folks...

I've been lurking in the background for a while, but now i need some advice. I'm the original owner of a completely stock 93 vert. Over the weekend i got "the call" from the wife... car died on the freeway.

Apparently we lost ALL of the coolant and the car overheated to the point of shutting down. The tow truck dumped it off on my driveway and now the car will crank, but not start.

Where do i start with the diagnostics to see just how much damage I've done? I'd hate to have to get rid of this car, but i can't afford to spend too much $$$ or time on a project car.

What do you think?

mm

[biggie]

First guess is bad water pump if it hadn't been replaced and then causing the overheating and blown headgasket. My guess was it was also ran so long under too high of temp that some things are warped.

Based on that guess a new engine would be in order (from junkyard or someone/internet).

Up to you if you want the time/money to fix it. Probalby looking at getting a little less than $1k for stock Vert with blown engine from a private sell.

[cmkelly]

Ditto to what Biggie said. My water pump went out last summer while traveling down the highway but it did no damage. I knew what it was becasue it had been running a little hot in the previous days. I had the water pump replaced for maybe $150-175 and and she's been purrring along ever since. A reputible mechanic should be able to tell if the head gasket's blown or the head's warped.

If you've done damage an engine from a junkyard is probably $300 plus install. There are several people on this forum (*cough Eikon*cough*) that would probably love to have it for cheap.

But if you can afford maybe $800 - $1000 then it's worth keeping it. Otherwise you've got to buy something else anyway.

Good luck, too bad you live to far away; I could use another vert...

[Clark W. Griswald]

Dude you are the original owner. Keep this car in storage if you have to, but please don't get rid of it. It's absolutely worth putting a "new" engine in. Wait it out if you have to.

Hey folks...

I've been lurking in the background for a while, but now i need some advice. I'm the original owner of a completely stock 93 vert. Over the weekend i got "the call" from the wife... car died on the freeway.

Apparently we lost ALL of the coolant and the car overheated to the point of shutting down. The tow truck dumped it off on my driveway and now the car will crank, but not start.

Where do i start with the diagnostics to see just how much damage I've done? I'd hate to have to get rid of this car, but i can't afford to spend too much $$$ or time on a project car.

What do you think?

mm

[cgomate]

Yeah, that's what I've been thinking.

I think i'll have to find a used engine just to buy some time. Maybe in the distant future i can scrape together the funds needed to properly restore the car.

Thanks folks... back to lurking.