Barn Find!
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,640
Likes: 117
From: Cypress (Houston), TX
Thanks for all the support and negotiating advice. I probably wasn't as tough as some of you would have been, but I think I got a decent deal, considering I can do all the necessary work myself. This guy was pretty sharp and fairly knowledgeable, knew what he had, and wasn't desperate to sell. He wanted it to go to someone that would appreciate it and had the capacity to put it back on the road, so it worked out well.
I spent a couple of hours looking it over on the lift this evening, and there were no big surprises. The car is very original and mostly unmolested, but it also hasn't had any attention in quite a while, so it will need CV boots, steering rack boots (maybe not leaking, but boots cracked), motor mounts, and rack bushings. I can tell the pan gasket has been replaced since it's not leaking and the only leak on the motor is a valve cover so not too bad. It had a huge PS leak, but I found a fitting on the rack was not as tight as it should have been, so I think that might take care of that leak.
One weird thing was that both lower bell housing bolts were visibly lose, like backed out an 1/8" or so. Haven't checked the top ones yet.
I wiped down the interior and vacuumed it. Of course found a few more spots here and there on the seats and a couple of holes in the carpet, but nothing major. After washing the dust off, I did find some light scratches here and there, and there are some chips to touch up, but the overall appearance is very good. A good buffing should help.
I can already tell the car is running better the more I run it. Probably some very old gas in the tank.
Here's some pics from today.
I spent a couple of hours looking it over on the lift this evening, and there were no big surprises. The car is very original and mostly unmolested, but it also hasn't had any attention in quite a while, so it will need CV boots, steering rack boots (maybe not leaking, but boots cracked), motor mounts, and rack bushings. I can tell the pan gasket has been replaced since it's not leaking and the only leak on the motor is a valve cover so not too bad. It had a huge PS leak, but I found a fitting on the rack was not as tight as it should have been, so I think that might take care of that leak.
One weird thing was that both lower bell housing bolts were visibly lose, like backed out an 1/8" or so. Haven't checked the top ones yet.
I wiped down the interior and vacuumed it. Of course found a few more spots here and there on the seats and a couple of holes in the carpet, but nothing major. After washing the dust off, I did find some light scratches here and there, and there are some chips to touch up, but the overall appearance is very good. A good buffing should help.
I can already tell the car is running better the more I run it. Probably some very old gas in the tank.
Here's some pics from today.
T
Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 2
From: Supply, NC
Happy birthday youngster
Well, I am still wanting an s4, so when you are finished and decided which one you want to keep, I may be interested in the other one. I would love to have a 5spd but know that with old arthitis in my feet, the auto is probably the most practical. Hell, who wants to be practicle????
Congrats Don,
Frank
Well, I am still wanting an s4, so when you are finished and decided which one you want to keep, I may be interested in the other one. I would love to have a 5spd but know that with old arthitis in my feet, the auto is probably the most practical. Hell, who wants to be practicle????Congrats Don,
Frank
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,057
Likes: 432
From: Cleveland, MN
Nice score and happy birthday!
They are to different driving experiences. He will keep them both.
Happy birthday youngster Well, I am still wanting an s4, so when you are finished and decided which one you want to keep, I may be interested in the other one. I would love to have a 5spd but know that with old arthitis in my feet, the auto is probably the most practical. Hell, who wants to be practicle????
Congrats Don,
Frank
Well, I am still wanting an s4, so when you are finished and decided which one you want to keep, I may be interested in the other one. I would love to have a 5spd but know that with old arthitis in my feet, the auto is probably the most practical. Hell, who wants to be practicle????Congrats Don,
Frank
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,640
Likes: 117
From: Cypress (Houston), TX
tv,
The 89 has aero mirrors I could swap out, also has CIII wheels I'll probably move over. Could even convert to a black and tan interior since the 89's seats are nicer, but there's something about a red/black 5 speed that really works.
Sean,
1306. It's not in the registry. Haven't found a good place to decode the VIN so send me a link if you have one. The option sticker is hard to read but I don't see 220 so probably not LSD.
rgs944,
Squirter block? Refresh my memory, does this car have one? Build date is Jan 87.
Herman,
Really happy the way things worked out for you. See you Friday to fix my screw up on the title date.
The slave cylinder is on it's way, so I'm thinking it will be on the road by the end of the week. It's been a while since I had a car with rock hard original motor mounts, and the vibration is more intense than I remembered. If the top bellhousing bolts are also lose, I may be able to fix some of the vibration.
I sold the white car's old block with a bad bore to Carl for $200, so I now have paypal money that can go straight to Roger :-)
The 89 has aero mirrors I could swap out, also has CIII wheels I'll probably move over. Could even convert to a black and tan interior since the 89's seats are nicer, but there's something about a red/black 5 speed that really works.
Sean,
1306. It's not in the registry. Haven't found a good place to decode the VIN so send me a link if you have one. The option sticker is hard to read but I don't see 220 so probably not LSD.
rgs944,
Squirter block? Refresh my memory, does this car have one? Build date is Jan 87.
Herman,
Really happy the way things worked out for you. See you Friday to fix my screw up on the title date.
The slave cylinder is on it's way, so I'm thinking it will be on the road by the end of the week. It's been a while since I had a car with rock hard original motor mounts, and the vibration is more intense than I remembered. If the top bellhousing bolts are also lose, I may be able to fix some of the vibration.
I sold the white car's old block with a bad bore to Carl for $200, so I now have paypal money that can go straight to Roger :-)
Race Car
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,928
Likes: 732
From: Le Mans, France
Happy birthday!
WP0JB092_HS861306
I158: Radio "Monterey" - 86 "Reno" - 87
I302: Type designated on rear end
M481: 5 speed manual transmission
M490: Hi-Fi sound system
M494: Additional amplifier
I513: Lumbar support - right seat
I586: Lumbar support - left seat
M650: Sunroof
WP0JB092_HS861306
I158: Radio "Monterey" - 86 "Reno" - 87
I302: Type designated on rear end
M481: 5 speed manual transmission
M490: Hi-Fi sound system
M494: Additional amplifier
I513: Lumbar support - right seat
I586: Lumbar support - left seat
M650: Sunroof