Possibly buying a 93 SHO with blown Head gasket.. ?

[97GTP450]

Hey guys, i found a 1993 SHO that was a guys daily driver until he blew the head gasket. it is the 3.0 with 5 speed.. has all the options and what not. What i am wondering is how difficult it is to replace the head gasket and how much money i will be spending on it.. i want a car just to mess around in as i already have my nic Pontiac Grand Prix GTP that i have put alot of my time and money into. This 1993 SHO is white with leather and has 130000 miles on it. i can get it for about 500 dollars.. I was just wondering if you guys think that this would be worth it. One of my buddies also has a 93 MTX engine that i could just buy and swap out but i think if it were easier to replace the headgaskets i would rather do that. I would enjoy talking to someone over AIM about this so if you want to IM me you can at GMW454. Thank you guys for any help!

 

[Bruce M]

motor or head gasket

Before I got too far into this I would find out what lead up to the head gasket letting go. I have had these cars since 1989 and I have never had one just “blow” without a good reason. It could have over heated in which case the heads could be warped. Now you would need new heads or have them machined down. If it over heated, why? Doing head a gasket is very time consuming but not any more difficult than any other duel over head cam. You have to know what you’re doing. If the car is in very good shape i.e. seats, dash, body, and then it might be worth playing with. Check for rotted brake lines and undercarriage rot, look under the rug in the trunk for heavy rust. Is there bubbling under the rubber door trim, that’s a bad sign. How is the suspension? If it were me I’d swap out the motor with that other one. These 3.0Ls are a dime a dozen where I am. If I had a burning desire to do so I’d rebuild the one that came out. If you do swap out, do any and all the 60k – 120K stuff while the motor is out of the car. Also, while the motor is out do any and all engine compartment work or repairs, brake line box, master cyl if need be, paint, harnesses. You know what I mean.

Good Luck!!
shobam

 

[97GTP450]

ok, here is what i know, i have not gone down to look at the car yet.. The guy hit a deer and had minor front end damage, took it into the body shop and had it all re done after he left the car got hot.. said the head gasket needs replaced.. also says it will run, but not the greatest.. what should i look for on the block? that would be bad if it were warped/cracked.. i dont need this thing to be perfect, i really just want a fun car to mess around with and one that runs good.. and then maybe get rid of it after i have my fun possibly for a profit. Thanks for your help

 

[jelloslug]

Well if the engine is toast, you could alway throw a 3.2 from an ATX car in there.

 

[1993MTXSHO]

Well if the engine is toast, you could alway throw a 3.2 from an ATX car in there.

thats what id do

 

[97GTP450]

how tough is that to do? how much should i expect to pay for a 3.0 or 3.2

 

[Bruce M]

3.2L or 3.0L

up here in the north east I can get a used motor with between 85K - 120K for anywhere between $450 and $700 depending on what shape the car was in and how the motor ran. The junk yard decides that. The last 3.2 that I bought was in 05 it was out of a 94 and I paid $450.00. It had 85K on it. These motors are not hard to find. They are a very good motor and in most cases they don't let go so the bone yards are littered with them . I would not buy anything with over 120K on it. That is just me. However, I had a 1990 that had 210K on it and that motor was a solid as it was the day it left the factory. Geting back to the one with the blown head gasket. Check the oil see if there is water in it. It will have a creamy dark look. It will run like crap if there is a leak between cyls. I wouldn't fool around with someone elses blown head gasket because you don't know how long he was driving it while it was over heating. that would ruin other parts. Moreover, when a motor is blowing white smoke being water vapor it can ruin the Cats and a host of other things. If you want a project car and that one is in good shape body wise and you think the original owner took good care of things buy it for that. I'd pay 5 bills for 93 with a blown motor and a very good body and inside.

 

[Rockledge]

I wouldn't fool around with someone elses blown head gasket because you don't know how long he was driving it while it was over heating.

Agreed. It's probably ready to wipe a bearing as we speak.

 

[97GTP450]

yeah, i realize what you guys are saying.. these engines must be really quick to go when one thing happens... im going to see if i can get him way down on it and go check it out... ill look at the oil and all of that.

 

[97GTP450]

Ok i got an update from him. he said that it got hot, stopped running.. and when he trys starting it it sounds like its loosing compression, says it will start if you spray starting fluid in the intake.. whats it sound like to you guys?

 

[Mr95Gl]

Ok i got an update from him. he said that it got hot, stopped running.. and when he trys starting it it sounds like its loosing compression, says it will start if you spray starting fluid in the intake.. whats it sound like to you guys?

I think that motor is more then likely toast, or will need an extensive rebuild. Buy it, keeping in mind that it'll need a replacement motor, and factor that into the price.

 

[97GTP450]

that is what its sound like to me too..... how much should i try to pick it up for? i dont want to spend much over a grand on the thing, i know i can get an engine for around 4-750

 

[Bruce M]

Re: motor toast

If he is spraying starting fluid in the intake to get it to run then it probably has no vacuum and no compression. The lower end is probably junk too because it sounds like it got real hot. The cap bearings and connecting rod bearing are most likely toast. He let that thing over heat like ****. See if you can talk him down and then base you decision on the shape of the rest of the car including the tranny and the cost of a used 3.0 or 3.2 if decide to go that way. That motor is junk based on what I have heard thus far

Good luck

 

[97GTP450]

Yeah, i am guessing it is too... he says the body is in real nice shape but ill believe it when i see it.. has short throw shift kit, gibson cat back exhaust,K&N CAI... i probably would pay him 250-300 for it

 

[93rev2sev]

I'm guessing the waterpump let loose and killed the CPS...happens all the time.

These engines don't lose headgaskets often.

 

[dantheman68]

, says it will start if you spray starting fluid in the intake.. whats it sound like to you guys?

he shouldnt be doing that on a fuel injected car

 

[Mr95Gl]

Yeah, i am guessing it is too... he says the body is in real nice shape but ill believe it when i see it.. has short throw shift kit, gibson cat back exhaust,K&N CAI... i probably would pay him 250-300 for it

I don't think gibson makes a catback for these cars, but I could be mistaken. If the exterior and interior is in GREAT shape (no rust, no ripped seats, all power options work, etc) its easily worth a grand, but that'll be up to you to decide.

 

[jelloslug]

Until you get your hands on the car it's really hard to really know what's wrong. It could be anything from a roasted engine to failed sensor. Several people here have bought SHOs with "blown motors" and replaced the crank sensor and it was good as new.

 

[jelloslug]

Yeah, i am guessing it is too... he says the body is in real nice shape but ill believe it when i see it.. has short throw shift kit, gibson cat back exhaust,K&N CAI... i probably would pay him 250-300 for it

Also, there is only 1 short shifter for the SHO and there are probably only around 100 or so in existence.

 

[97GTP450]

good to know this information guys, im very un-educated on these cars my Grand Prix GTP is the only thing that i am up to date on.. Im confident the guy dont know what he is talking about. a few other options have come up, and im really starting to show som interest in getting a SHO just to play around with. a 500 dollar running 93 SHO with approx 110000 miles... little rough on the edges.. 300 dollar SHO with blown tranny... 500 dollar SHO with blown tranny in as good as condition as they come. Or this one for a very potentially low price since i broke the bad news to the guy that his engine is more than likely effed up.. Is the Crank Positioning Sensor har to replace on these cars? sounds like the car got hot tho and im sure that ruined a whole lot of stuff. Thank you guys very much for all of your information.