Won't idle after overheat

[MilTownSHO]

There is a SHO for sale near me that I am going to go look at today.

Florida body and a good price, yada yada but here's the scoop

Owner said it overheated and shut down, since that moment it will not idle. Apparently the radiator blew and the light never came on, by the time he noticed it was overheating the car had shut itself down.

Apparently it will start if you give it gas but dies as soon as you let off

He freely admitted he didn't think it would be a cheap fix, any luck he's wrong?

I mean I would think if the overheating did significant damage it wouldn't even start, right?

I know the usual stuff, IAB, etc but any other ideas?

Should I run far away? I definitely am not interested in a motor swap.

 

[NovaSS]

It could have warped the heads, giving it gas just "overloads" the cylinders with enough fuel and air to overcome the leakage..... RUN AWAY !, RUN VERY FAST....


Unless its a cheap price to be use as a parts car I wouldnt touch it.

 

[K-Dawg]

Since SHO motor swaps are relatively cheap, it can't be that bad.

 

[NEp8ntballer]

assuming it's an MTX and you have a way to get it home do a 3.2 swap. less than 500 bucks will get it back on the road.

 

[sperold]

When you get it running, have the rad cap off. If there is a lot of activity in the rad and the liquid reminds you of Coca-Cola, complete with the froth, then you have head gasket problems. Look in the oil for signs of water or antifreeze, or if it is just up past the full mark. Same thing, head gaskets. Sometimes there is white smoke as well, as your motor turns the water into steam. Once you have a new rad in it you can do a pressure test to see if it will hold a pressure.