87 turbo coupe. $400?

[lifelesslived17]

i frequently buy cars to flip and make some quick cash, and i think i found one, but would like the opinion of those in the the know. the body is real solid, no rust. one small dent in pass. door. interior is fairly clean, everything works.
here what i know is wrong
it wont idle/ idles rough. it drive great when your giving it gas and scoots down the road real nice, makes good boost to. gotta keep giving her gas though or itll stall out real easy like. acts like maybe it has a miss? its got all new plugs and wires and cap and rotor, maybe its in the fuel injection? maybe the valve train? whadyas think?
also the heater core is bad.
aside from that its a pretty nice little car. paint is faded to, but i dont care to sell it as is or even try a cheap paintjob if its worth it.
for 400, should i fix and sell, sell as is, or part it out? please lemme know whatya think, i really need to make some money while i have some time off from school or my wife will eat me!!!

 

[Red_LX]

If you fix the idle you could probably sell it for $1000 or so.

As far as that goes, a rough idle could be a number of things, TFI might be going on, could be a vac leak somewhere (pretty common).

I'd really hate to see another TC parted out...

 

[j and v]

First off, I to would also hate to see this parted out. Just fix the miss, as best you can. Every 2.3 I've ever had or seen has had a little skip at idle. BTW, changing the heater core in these things is a real pain in the *ss. Fix it, sell it, take your money and do it again. Where is the car located? Is it a manual or auto?

 

[lifelesslived17]

If you fix the idle you could probably sell it for $1000 or so.

As far as that goes, a rough idle could be a number of things, TFI might be going on, could be a vac leak somewhere (pretty common).

I'd really hate to see another TC parted out...

im not sweating the heater core, i live for this kinda stuff, lol. heres the thing though. it doesnt have a skip at idle, it wont idle... period. you can let off the accel to downshift or go to neutral and itll die before you get to the stop sign or light without constant throttle stimulation. what do i do? hmmmm 5 speed!

 

[lifelesslived17]

First off, I to would also hate to see this parted out. Just fix the miss, as best you can. Every 2.3 I've ever had or seen has had a little skip at idle. BTW, changing the heater core in these things is a real pain in the *ss. Fix it, sell it, take your money and do it again. Where is the car located? Is it a manual or auto?

sorry quote wrong guy!

 

[Red_LX]

Like I said, that could very well be a vacuum leak...sounds to me like it's leaking vaccuum somewhere behind the VAM.

My car did that when I first installed the front mount intercooler and blowoff valve- it would idle, but if you drove it and let off the throttle it would die almost immediately. Found out the BOV was leaking vacuum.

 

[lifelesslived17]

update!!!

ok! just bought her and drove her home. at first the check engine light was on and it wouldnt idle. then, it started idling real low, lil rough, but idling without check engine light. drove all the way home, 2o miles of mountain roads with no stalls. bang, bang, bang!!! uh oh?! nahhhh, just the driver muffler blowing out, lol. now runs a lil bit better. gonna paint it i think, itd look sweet!!! man, i may not want to sell this thing, think im in love! seriously, look how many exclamation points ive used in a single post! sooooo
how to?
remove haze from front end lights? a friend of mine said to hit it with 1500 grit wet, then 2000, then use rubbing or buffing compound. anyone tried this?
moonroof is slow! needs greased, recomendations?

in the morning, im gonna take it and swap the mufflers for glasspacks (cheap, sound good). then im gonna putty the one and only dent on the whole car, put some fuel system cleaner and some high test. maybe change fuel filter while im at it. and hopefully remove some haze from front end lights.. driver tail light has a chip, anyone selling a set?

hot sweet sweaty damn, i like this car!

 

[4turboho]

ok! just bought her and drove her home. at first the check engine light was on and it wouldnt idle. then, it started idling real low, lil rough, but idling without check engine light. drove all the way home, 2o miles of mountain roads with no stalls. bang, bang, bang!!! uh oh?! nahhhh, just the driver muffler blowing out, lol. now runs a lil bit better. gonna paint it i think, itd look sweet!!! man, i may not want to sell this thing, think im in love! seriously, look how many exclamation points ive used in a single post! sooooo
how to?
remove haze from front end lights? a friend of mine said to hit it with 1500 grit wet, then 2000, then use rubbing or buffing compound. anyone tried this?
moonroof is slow! needs greased, recomendations?

in the morning, im gonna take it and swap the mufflers for glasspacks (cheap, sound good). then im gonna putty the one and only dent on the whole car, put some fuel system cleaner and some high test. maybe change fuel filter while im at it. and hopefully remove some haze from front end lights.. driver tail light has a chip, anyone selling a set?

hot sweet sweaty damn, i like this car!

well good job yea 400 and if it starts and runs is a good deal i bought a 88 2 weeks ago and it didnt even run!! Ive got a pass side tail light if you need it.

 

[Red_LX]

You can use chrome polish to clean up the front headlights. Rub it in real good in a crosshatch pattern (NOT a circular one) and then buff it out. I like Turtle Wax's chrome polish for that.

Problem is that they will haze/yellow again in a few months. I even wetsanded and clearcoated mine and they still did it...sigh.

You might be able to find taillights on ebay but they usually don't go too cheap if they're in good shape.

 

[lifelesslived17]

You can use chrome polish to clean up the front headlights. Rub it in real good in a crosshatch pattern (NOT a circular one) and then buff it out. I like Turtle Wax's chrome polish for that.

Problem is that they will haze/yellow again in a few months. I even wetsanded and clearcoated mine and they still did it...sigh.

You might be able to find taillights on ebay but they usually don't go too cheap if they're in good shape.

i actually started doing this 20 minutes before reading this post, lol. i stink like mothers chrome polish! they are looking pretty good. im going to buy a buffer to hit the rest of the car, picking up all fuel system cleaners and the glass packs. exhaust appoint prolly in next 3 days or so.
wish me luck yall, if this thing gets to running decently smooth and sounding good its getting paint and 17's before the end april. i need a driver tail, just a tiny lil chip, but oh well for now.. do they sell new rubber to go around those qtr windows?

 

[Red_LX]

Nope it's just like the Mustangs...the rubber around the window is part of the whole window assembly.

 

[lifelesslived17]

Nope it's just like the Mustangs...the rubber around the window is part of the whole window assembly.

fbomb
got it looking pretty nice so far.. check engine light is on again, wont idle. when you come off the gas it straight dies.ran when warm though? looked around but didnt see any vacuum leaks,lol. no, but seriously, all the hose appear in good shape.

 

[evintho]

Stellar deal for $400! First, run codes to see why the CEL is on. Next, what brand are you plugs, rotor, cap and wires? It they're anything other than Motorcraft, replace them immediately! That's cleared up many an idle/cruise problem. Check your grounds. Run an extra ground strap or two to the motor.

I would also do things like change oil and tranny fluid, flush the coolant, power steering and brakeing systems. Glasspacks will work for now but if you can swing it, a full 3" exhaust system will really wake that puppy up!

Almost forgot. Visit www.turbotbird.com for all kinds of info, tips and tricks!

 

[lifelesslived17]

Stellar deal for $400! First, run codes to see why the CEL is on. Next, what brand are you plugs, rotor, cap and wires? It they're anything other than Motorcraft, replace them immediately! That's cleared up many an idle/cruise problem. Check your grounds. Run an extra ground strap or two to the motor.

I would also do things like change oil and tranny fluid, flush the coolant, power steering and brakeing systems. Glasspacks will work for now but if you can swing it, a full 3" exhaust system will really wake that puppy up!

Almost forgot. Visit www.turbotbird.com for all kinds of info, tips and tricks!

its a solid 3 to the y pipe and then 2 1/2 the rest of the way back. plugs,wires, cap and rotor all brand new, less than 100 miles, that was the first thing the previous owner did was take it to ford. hmmmm, how do i check the cel, lol. im a chevy guy,, kinda lost right now

 

[evintho]

Pick one up, plug it in, read the directions and pull codes.

Ford code reader