My new $225 GXE project car
04-05-2010, 06:38 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 268
My new $225 GXE project car
I just picked up this '95 GXE Auto for $225. I have seen it parked on the street for a while and when the for sale sign showed up, I couldn't pass it up.
The good:
- It was cheap
- Most of the body is in good shape
- Interior is complete and in great condition
- Only 101k miles
The bad:
- Engine needs repair / replacement
- Rear driver side door will need to be replaced
The guy said he didn't know what was wrong with it, but it was blowing white smoke out the exhaust and the engine wouldn't stay running. The coolant reservoir is completely empty. The oil on the dipstick is really dark, but didn't have any obvious signs of coolant. When I took the oil cap off, I think I saw some water around it, but I'm not sure. I'm just going to tear down the engine and hope it's only the gasket.
The good:
- It was cheap
- Most of the body is in good shape
- Interior is complete and in great condition
- Only 101k miles
The bad:
- Engine needs repair / replacement
- Rear driver side door will need to be replaced
The guy said he didn't know what was wrong with it, but it was blowing white smoke out the exhaust and the engine wouldn't stay running. The coolant reservoir is completely empty. The oil on the dipstick is really dark, but didn't have any obvious signs of coolant. When I took the oil cap off, I think I saw some water around it, but I'm not sure. I'm just going to tear down the engine and hope it's only the gasket.
Last edited by komik; 07-16-2017 at 08:09 AM. Reason: Updated image links
04-05-2010, 06:41 PM
#2
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Location: Dallas, TX
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I just realized when looking at the above picture that I forgot to put it back in park when I got it on the trailer. I guess that's why it was beeping at me after I took the key out.
I did at least put the parking brake on and make sure the straps were tight.
Last edited by komik; 07-16-2017 at 08:10 AM. Reason: Updated image links
04-05-2010, 06:59 PM
#5
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Location: Dallas, TX
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My plan is to fix it up for my mom to replace her '97 Grand Am. I didn't want to buy the Enterprise green thing in the first place, but she liked it. It's a total PITA to work on. I much prefer working on the Max. I've been wanting to get her something different for a while, so this was a great opportunity.
04-05-2010, 09:07 PM
#12
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Detroit
Posts: 1
Thats a pretty nice deal man, Im new here and just bought my first maxima 5 days ago. its a 95 auto and I paid $2000 for it. The best part is 2 days after I bought it some driver changed lanes into me and wrecked my front end. plpd insurance ftl
04-06-2010, 10:14 AM
#19
That is a great deal, I've seen them here WITH NO ENGINE for $500 - so if you can 'salvage' the engine - then your way ahead - if not heck your still ahead...
Post of photos of the 'fix up for Ma' car...
Post of photos of the 'fix up for Ma' car...
04-06-2010, 10:20 AM
#21
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 223
The guy said he didn't know what was wrong with it, but it was blowing white smoke out the exhaust and the engine wouldn't stay running. The coolant reservoir is completely empty. The oil on the dipstick is really dark, but didn't have any obvious signs of coolant. When I took the oil cap off, I think I saw some water around it, but I'm not sure. I'm just going to tear down the engine and hope it's only the gasket.
$43.95 Head Gasket
$70.62 2 Lower Intake Manifold Gaskets
$4.46 Upper Intake Manifold Gasket
$19.09 Valve Cover Gasket
$33.36 8 Head Bolts
$8.80 Front Crank Seal
$76.18 2 Exhaust Manifold Gaskets
$4.36 Small O Ring between Rear TC Case & Block
$5.47 Big O Ring between Rear TC Case & Block
$8.72 2 Small O Rings between Upper Oil Pan & Block
===================================
$275.01 (All based on courtesyparts.com)
Add to this the RTV for the TC covers and the oil pans as well as shop towels and various other things.
The engine swap would probably take less time than replacing the head gasket and you would have a ton of extra parts for later repairs. I recently R&R'd 1 of my cylinder heads. I chose this route a)because I didn't know it would take so long to get the head off and on, b)because I knew my engine was in good shape other than the valves I bent (long story), and c)because I don't have an engine hoist. Since you don't know what else might be wrong with it, I think you're better off with a new engine. I would stick with the vq30de since it's for your mom.
Last edited by dan1el; 04-06-2010 at 10:27 AM.
04-07-2010, 07:53 PM
#23
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Location: Dallas, TX
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An engine swap is Plan B. I am not in any hurry to get the GXE on the road. After having done just about every kind of automotive repair short of rebuilding an engine, I am looking forward to doing it. If I take the engine apart and find that it has major problems, sure I will have lost some time, but I will have learned from it. My SE has a consistent oil leak that I need to address and I would rather teach myself on a non-working engine before tearing down my DD.
04-08-2010, 07:04 AM
#26
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 223
04-09-2010, 08:22 AM
#29
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 21
The white smoke could easily just be moisture in the exhaust from sitting. Does the smoke smell sweet?
Hell at that price I'd give it a nice cheap oil change, fill up the coolant, and try to get it started and driving to see what happens. Check the fluids often and put a big piece of cardboard under the car to check for leaks when its parked. You might get lucky.
As for it not staying running: Are the radiator fans turning when this happens? Kind of sounds like what my Maxima did when the coolant temperature sensor was dying.
Hell at that price I'd give it a nice cheap oil change, fill up the coolant, and try to get it started and driving to see what happens. Check the fluids often and put a big piece of cardboard under the car to check for leaks when its parked. You might get lucky.
As for it not staying running: Are the radiator fans turning when this happens? Kind of sounds like what my Maxima did when the coolant temperature sensor was dying.
Last edited by 8ender; 04-09-2010 at 08:24 AM.
04-09-2010, 10:35 PM
#31
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PA
Posts: 100
VQ35!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahaha that would be really nice, anyways i think it'll be less time if you just swap the engine and not bother with trying to fix it up and replacing parts...and also you could find another engine instead of VQ but with alot less miles on it and it'll turn out great either way it'll be a win win situation since you only paid $225 for it!!!!! GL
04-17-2010, 06:49 PM
#32
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Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 268
After washing off four years of grime, the paint looks great!
The body is practically flawless aside from that one door, which, despite its condition, didn't let in any water when I washed it. I vacuumed the interior and it looks almost new aside from the carpet.
I haven't been able to do much this weekend. It rained on and off today and is supposed to rain all day tomorrow. So far I have disconnected most of the electrical connections on the engine, drained the oil, and removed the air intake, filter box, engine cover, UIM / TB / EGR, and coil packs.
Right now, the forecast for next weekend is looking good. I hope to put in a good amount of time on it then, because I'm going on vacation May 1.
The body is practically flawless aside from that one door, which, despite its condition, didn't let in any water when I washed it. I vacuumed the interior and it looks almost new aside from the carpet.
I haven't been able to do much this weekend. It rained on and off today and is supposed to rain all day tomorrow. So far I have disconnected most of the electrical connections on the engine, drained the oil, and removed the air intake, filter box, engine cover, UIM / TB / EGR, and coil packs.
Right now, the forecast for next weekend is looking good. I hope to put in a good amount of time on it then, because I'm going on vacation May 1.
Last edited by komik; 07-16-2017 at 08:12 AM. Reason: Updated image link
04-17-2010, 09:04 PM
#34
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/pts/1694851047.html
Just to give you an idea about how much an engine would cost if you choose that route.
Just to give you an idea about how much an engine would cost if you choose that route.
04-19-2010, 02:53 PM
#38
Cant see it post it up ! It may be broken.
BTW I paid 700 bucks for my maxima and 20,000 miles later im still happy I bought it !
Komik: You got a 95 GXE with great interior and good exterior !
If the engine only needs a rebuild and regular maintenance they you
came out on top buddy
