Need opinions fast!!!

[megaman3]

OK I took my friends 91 240 to a nissan dealership to get it checked out and to find out what all was wrong with it and junk to see if it was worth buying. This is what they said was wrong with it. Crankshaft and camshaft timing is way out, left front caliper leaks, transmission leaks, needs alignment, front struts are worn, power steering leaks, power steering rack boot is torn, and the front pads are at 20%. Now he just called me and said he would sell it to me for a grand. I do need a car for college but that sounds like alot of work and i know its gonna be expensive to repair all that. I told him id think about it but i duno what I should do. I have about 2200 dollars right now, the car needs the hatch and front side panel repainted white to the factory color because the last owner painted them off white for some reason. What should I do I really want the car its nice but is it worth it, will I be able to fix enough wrong with it so I don't have to worry about it breaking down on me? Please I need opinions fast. Thanks

[megaman3]

He called me back just now and said he'd give it to me for $800 what should I do, I'm thinking about going for it

[Silvia007]

Hmmm... any average person can handle all that themselves. Timming off... 2 min job, leaking caliper... depends where it's leaking from, about 3 hour job, power steering rack boot 10 bucks at napa and about 2 min job, just have an alignment shop put it on when they align the car just provide the part. Leaking power steering, depends on where it's from, very unlikely it's leaking from the power steering pump, probably bad lines... easy job, 10 min. Brake pads... 25 dollars from napa and about a 1 hour job. All this probably will cost you "if" you do it yourself about 300 bucks including the shop alignment. Just PM other 240sx owners in Florida and have them stop by to help... to bad you're not in minnesota, I'd do that for ya.

[Soy]

I'd take it at $800 - that's a steal, even with the problems. Like Silvia007 said, should be pretty simple fixes all the way around. You'll stay well under your 2200 limit, provided you don't really care too much about the paint for the time being.

[megaman3]

Yea I went ahead and closed the deal, I figured that the problems werent as bad as the dealership made them out to be. I am just really happy to have a car of my own. I had my sisters hand me down sentra for highschool but some guy in a buick destroyed it by running into the back of me a year ago, and since it cost more to repair then it was worth they only gave me like 600 bucks. But yea I love the 240 now all I have to do is find some members that live in the sarasota area to help me fix the little problems wrong with it. Thanks again this is the best 240sx forum on the web and now that I own one, I truly feel like a member!

[NoStickers]

Way to go on the deal. How many miles on the engine?

[megaman3]

just under 160000

[PalmerWMD]

If you are even slightly handy with a wrench its a good deal.Some parts can be gotten from junkyard others from NICO sponsors at a significant discount below retail.

Fred..

[megaman3]

ok thats good to know, you guys have really made me feel better about it. I mean when the guy was reading off the problems to me at the dealership he was talking crazy estimates for parts and labor. Like nearly 600 dollars just to fix the caliper leak.

[PalmerWMD]

If done at dealer retail, I am sure the total comes out to a couple grand right?

Fred..

[megaman3]

Yea like all the estimates together come to about 3 or 4 grand thats crazy

[amolao]

COngratulations! THe only thing that is ALWAYS costly is any kind of body repair/paint job. And is something that not everybody can do, like mechanical work. But yeah, if you have tools and dont mind getting greasy, check your car from top to bottom and learn every system on it....do you own repairs and save "mucho dinero":ylsuper

[rico05]

Congrats!! The S13 is a decent chassis and for the money a great value. It will serve you well for years to come!!

Oh, and the p/s high pressure line is about $60-$100. Steering rack boot is $17 at Napa. Caliper rebuild kit is about $25 for a kit for 2. Pads are cheap. You can get those for like $30 for a set from Napa as well. Alignment cost me $68. Where is the transmission leaking? Explain that more. Struts are cheap (like $40 each).

Or you could be like most of us, and upgrade everything that needs to be replaced;) That is how I "justified" all that I have done to my girlfriend and family. But what they don't know is I could have done normal OE maintenance for about $500 where my upgrades have now run about $5000;)

[megaman3]

Thanks, Rico I dont know where the transmission is leaking from, hopefully its just the line or something. This is my first car basically and I bought it myself. I dont know much about auto repair but my friend does so ima try to learn as much as I can from him, but if there are any members around the sarasota area please feel free to lend me a helping hand. For right now I just want to make the basic maintenance repairs so I can save to have the hatch and side panel painted back to the factory white. Then I'll take it from there as far as upgrades go. But as far as looks the body is in good condition one or two small dings but nothing serious.

[rico05]

We need pics to drool over!! And even though we aren't all in Sarasota, we are here to help!! elcome to the cult...er family....er forum;)

[nab911]

My grandparents have a condo in sarasota... if i head down there anytime ill post up and let u know and offer my services.

[megaman3]

aight cool i'll go take some pics right now, but can one of you tell me how to post more than one pic at a time please.

[DammitBobby]

If I had to guess about that power steering leak I bet it is the rack because the boot is bad. Depending where you get it. It could cost you over 300 bucks.