Anyone on here know of any issues on the early 80's Grand Prix? I know of someone whos selling one cheap, and the body is in great condition. He says he thinks it needs a new carb cause its a PITA to get started when its cold. Curious if theres anything I should check for before I get it.
I know this is a Ford site but all the Pontiac sites I looked at seemed to be geared more towards G8's and what-not.
P.S. Dont worry the 'Bird still has priority. I just need something to replace my truck.
They're probably like anything else.It depends on the history of the car and how well it was taken care of (or not taken care of).Carbs are an easy swap.
The car was maintained pretty well and the last time saw it running it sounded good (no misses or ticks). Only reason he's selling is so he can replace the rear end in his P71.
I was mainly wondering if there were any specific issues they had, but there not much different than the Monte Carlos so it should be ok.
Rear frames tended to rot out, as did body mounts. If it's '81 or older it likely has a 301, and the 301 is a dog (even worse than the SO 5.0) but it's easy enough to find another GM powertrain to replace it...
If you buy it you'll have to keep us informed as to what it's like to have a car that's actually got aftermarket support...
As far as the rotting goes,we just don't have those problems down here.I do know that a lot of times the doors seem to hang due to worn hinges.
Didn't the old rear drive GP, Monty, Cutlass, and Regal wiggle like hell on bumpy roads as well?
i had an 80 grand prix lj, primer grey with tan interior, ttops:hick: , so305 with headers and 3 speed auto(i forget which trans). was the first car i ever bought as all my previous cars had been accuired at that time.
when my acuras brakes fell off it broke down right infront of the guys house and he felt bad and said he had a running car for sale. it had been sitting wet in the guys driveway for 8 years covered in vines and was someones saturday night special at one time, lowered in the front with slicks and all.
sold it to me for $50 bucks. even with bad gas and the ancient sludge i hesitate to call oil it started right up.
had that car for almost 2 years and the only problems i had were the brakes went to the floor, the lock cylinders in the doors were pretty much shot and the pass. door handle didnt work, brake light thing down by the pedal went and a broken axle. i wasnt used to having ttops and accidently forgot to lock one completely before i got on the highway and well it blew off and almost hit a tractor trailer:flame: after that night it officially became a beater to me.
the body wasnt all that bad rottwise like ive heard on those body cars but im sure it was there at one time and covered by the primer half-decently. doors didnt sag and the ttops didnt leak for me.
handled fine never bumpy or shakey but in the rain the bald slicks really made it a handful, so much i never drove it in the wet after the one time. with some actual tires on it im sure it wouldve rode fine wet or dry.
mechanically, its a chevy the only tools you need to fix it are a hammer and a rock.
wasnt a bad car and if i saw a decent one i wouldnt hesitate to grab it, funds permitting. lately ive noticed the prices of even the 6 cyl grand/monte carlos jumping up but most of the time i find them being parted out. i dont know much about the olds ones they always seem to go for more than i would spend on a car.
if your looking for input on a car but cant really find anything decent you can always check "carsurvey.org", very resorceful place for common problems and owner input.
watch for the frame to crack just behind the spring cups...
Mehhh... G-body mullet mobile to me :hick:
Maybe if it was a GN or regal turbo.
Well I talked to the guy about it today, and got a good look underneath it, and it all looks great. The only thing about it I'm not big on is the 2bbl 301 :yuck: .
The Good: The carb aint as bad as I thought. He said if its driven regularly he has no problems what so ever, but if it sits for a few days its a pain in the ass to start back up and usually just ends up needing a little gas in the carb to get it started. To me that sounds like a choke issue but I could be wrong. Its also a '78 so no emissions testing!
The Bad: Needs tires, but I have some in the garage that will fit, and theres a small tear in an otherwise immaculant interior. Oh and its 301 with a 2bbl. :flame:
Tomarrow I'm gonna go take it for a drive (battery was dead today) and see if its any good. Who knows maybe I'll end up owning a mullet mobile :mullet: .
ROFLMFAO!!! Thats great!! Post has been edited!lol
I swear if i ever get my 78-79 TA with T-Tops i will take it straight to the wig store and get a mullet wig and wear it everytime i drive it!
I would do that too. I'm not sure I want one like permanently attached to my head but I'd love to be able to put it on take it off as I please, a lot of my friends would get a kick out of it :laughing:
Well I got the car last night, and got all the paperwork and tags done earlier today. The car runs great. Every once in a while its a pain to start but as long as your patient with it will fire right up and purr like a kittin. I might post up some pics of this weekend after I wash it get it looking decent.
Before and after pics!!!!