Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #30 – September 21, 2017, 06:48:33 AM

Quote from: Sancho;462821

I might have a spare console or two stashed away, I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I might have some console parts. Haven't been near my parts stash in years.

Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #31 – September 21, 2017, 06:12:31 PM

Quote from: Zorin;462822

Well, it's set up.

Sunday is the day. We shall figure out then if I will become a full fledged member of this group.

It's a 3.5 hour drive, hopefully, it's not just for Kansas City BBQ.

Tim

Wishing you a safe journey and good results. Be sure to let us know.

Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #32 – September 21, 2017, 06:36:15 PM

Quote from: Zorin;462822

Well, it's set up.

Sunday is the day. We shall figure out then if I will become a full fledged member of this group.

It's a 3.5 hour drive, hopefully, it's not just for Kansas City BBQ.

Tim

Check for rust on the strut towers, torque boxes, and rockers before you buy. These areas can be fixed but the strut tower repair is $$$$. Torque boxes and rockers are easy to get at, hence the cheaper repair. Based on the photo you posted of the car in question I'd concentrate on checking the structure for rust more than anything else.

Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #33 – September 21, 2017, 07:17:38 PM

Quote from: mcb82gt;462842

Wishing you a safe journey and good results. Be sure to let us know.

Quote from: thunderjet302;462847

Check for rust on the strut towers, torque boxes, and rockers before you buy. These areas can be fixed but the strut tower repair is $$$$. Torque boxes and rockers are easy to get at, hence the cheaper repair. Based on the photo you posted of the car in question I'd concentrate on checking the structure for rust more than anything else.

Gentlemen, rest assured, you will know, LOL. Thank you all for the advice, and the tips.

Thunderjet, I intend to look VERY hard for rust. I simply do not want any, LOL. I know that may be unreasonable, and I may have to settle for as slight amount a rust as I can get. I keep having to remind myself that these cars are now 30 years old.

Tim

Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #34 – September 21, 2017, 10:06:29 PM

Quote from: Zorin;462756

Cool, cool, that's also good to know! Let's see if I can do this.....

Here's a picture of the car I'm considering.

oh wow that car has been for sale for years

Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #35 – September 21, 2017, 10:35:50 PM

Really? Makes you wonder why. I'll find out Sunday, hahahaha.

Tim

Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #36 – September 21, 2017, 11:43:29 PM

Quote from: Zorin;462853

Really? Makes you wonder why. I'll find out Sunday, hahahaha.

Tim

Yeah, if I remember correctly it would be 4 or so years maybe longer, but 5 grand is more than almost anyone will pay for it. He is still asking 5 for it right?

Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #37 – September 22, 2017, 06:39:48 PM

Quote from: Moonmount;462851

oh wow that car has been for sale for years

That is what I thought also. It sure looks nice every time I see it.

Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #38 – September 22, 2017, 09:23:05 PM

Quote from: Moonmount;462854

Yeah, if I remember correctly it would be 4 or so years maybe longer, but 5 grand is more than almost anyone will pay for it. He is still asking 5 for it right?

Quote from: mcb82gt;462877

That is what I thought also. It sure looks nice every time I see it.

Yeah, the CL ad I saw said $5500. However, that's why I was asking what the current value of these cars are. That seemed strong to me, especially after seeing a black 64K mile '88 XR7 for $4500.

Of course, I always figure that some people price way high for various reasons, and as such, I'm prepared to make him a very reasonable (as per my research and everyone's help here) offer, however, it won't be a $5500 dollar offer...UNLESS....the car is unbelievably nice, with service records, etc.

Not to come off as crass (this is always difficult on line), but since you guys seem to have some history on this car, and I know I'm asking for a spit-ball......what do you reckon a fair offer is for it? I have my ideas, but I'd like t see if my idea agrees with your ideas.

Of course, when I get out there Sunday, and start going through this car, there's certain things that will blow this deal sky-high, and result in a no-offer. Everyone has those little no-fly zones, and after almost 30 years of turning cars for fun.....I sure have mine!

Thanks again, everyone.

Tim

Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #39 – September 24, 2017, 04:35:32 PM

Value, hard to say. I would guess mid to upper 3's. Just me and my $.02

My brother just bought a very nice 83 Tbird 5.0 with 102K from a small dealer here in KC, $2400

Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #40 – September 27, 2017, 10:14:55 PM

Well, I suppose everyone's dying to know what I found...

I didn't buy it.

After finding a set of BF Goodrich Touring T/A tires installed, I knew these hadn't been made in several years, so I checked the date code.....2002 date coded tires. Then, I was told that the car had only been started a few times a year, and driven around the block a few times a year since 2006. Ouch!

I went over the car with a fine toothed comb, and even put it up on ramps at both ends and got under it.

As far as real, actual problems went, I found the following:

EQ power button not staying engaged (here's a surprise, right?)
Chime Module pretty much mute (another shocker)
Struts and strut mounts knocking
Steering rack expiring
AOD throttle lever bushing recall not done
Transmission fluid showing a high amount of clutch wear
Front main seal seeping
Rear main seal seeping
Transmission pan seeping
Original 30 year old Ford fuel filter still installed
Driver's seat had two rips, one in a spot that would rip further with time
Cloth covering on sunroof slide panel missing
Headliner water stained from someone having left the sunroof in the vent position while it rained
Engine had a slight miss, and was down on power (I figure the fuel filter to be a good bit of the problem)

These are the high points:

Tires showed nice, even wear
Brakes were new
Catalyst, mid pipe, and ler all new
VERY minor paint chips
All alloy wheels in nice shape, with no clearcoat checking, crazing, clouding or peeling.
Worst rust I found was on the rear sway bar, the car was very nice underneath
Carpets were in nice shape, no real wear, only very minor stains
No evidence of a sunroof leak or water intrusion
Door hinges were sound, and in good alignment
Everything worked except the EQ power button, and the chme module, this includes all windows, locks, seats, sunroof, power antenna, frigid air conditioning, you name it.
Engine oil and dipstick looked very nice
Recent tune up and ignition module replacement

But the largest issue I found with this car, and it will keep me from buying ANY automatic Thunderbird or Cougar.....my size 14 double wide foot gets caught under the brake as I press the accelerator.

Gentlemen, I want to thank you again for helping me with this!

Tim

Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #41 – September 28, 2017, 01:07:45 AM

In 6'5 and I wear size 15, so I know exactly what you mean. I drive with my foot sideways, pivoting at the heel. That way it sits over the brake. Then I can pivot my foot over and hit the tip of the gas pedal.

Btw, the manual pedals are smaller, but much more cramped. Installing a manual brake pedal would probably be the best fix if you cant drive the way I do.

Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #42 – September 28, 2017, 08:15:09 PM

EQ power button not staying engaged (here's a surprise, right?)
Chime Module pretty much mute (another shocker)
Struts and strut mounts knocking
Steering rack expiring [COLOR="#FF0000"]Expected[/COLOR]
AOD throttle lever bushing recall not done[COLOR="#FF0000"]Simple and cheap[/COLOR]
Transmission fluid showing a high amount of clutch wear[COLOR="#FF0000"]Based off what? Expected dirty fluid[/COLOR]
Front main seal seeping[COLOR="#FF0000"]/For sure expected[/COLOR]
Rear main seal seeping[COLOR="#FF0000"] sure expected[/COLOR]
Transmission pan seeping[COLOR="#FF0000"]Simple fix[/COLOR]
Original 30 year old Ford fuel filter still installed[COLOR="#FF0000"]Was it date coded?[/COLOR]
Driver's seat had two rips, one in a spot that would rip further with time
Cloth covering on sunroof slide panel missing
Headliner water stained from someone having left the sunroof in the vent position while it rained
Engine had a slight miss, and was down on power (I figure the fuel filter to be a good bit of the problem)

Not to be critical, but a lot of that is to be expected for a 30yr old car. I wish you could have got it, instead of someone else potentially butcher and molesting it into worthless. You could cut that brake pedal surface smaller and fit another pedal cover onto it :)

Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #43 – September 29, 2017, 01:31:42 AM

I agree with that. However, it has more problems then my $500 car had. For a $5500 asking price, id expect near perfection. The plus side though, all of thise things are pretty fixable. Body work is expensive as well as rust. It would be a good starting point for a project. I dunno about $5500 good though. Just my $.05.

Brand new member - looking for advice on an upcoming purchase.

Reply #44 – September 29, 2017, 05:10:20 PM

I have to agree. For the 5,550 asking price, the car needs to be mostly perfect. Even for 4,500, I would expect a little bit better.

If you're patient, and really do want one of these, you will find a nicer example for less money. I've seen a few that have come up for sale, and then months later come up for sale again for a cheaper price.