1988 grand am turbo for $350

[btchn1]

I will be picking up a 1988 turbo grand am by the end of the month from the junk yard. It is is perfect shape, except the head went out and it has been torn down to the block. I get to put it all back together from a buch of boxes and hope you guys can help. Anybody know were i can get a new/rebuilt head for a good price? Thanks and I hope to get to know you all very soon. Peace out, Lee

[Hybrid T2T3]

oh man, u dont know what ur getting ur self in to, let me be the first to let u know: "u will have better luck finding parts for a ferrari", but once u get it running it will all be worth it. if u need any help, let me know.

[btchn1]

I see that it is hard to find parts for that particular car but I feel that I must have it. I was wondering around the wrecking yard looking for a few interior parts for my 89 when I stumbled along this one. It is the coolest gray with the grey rims, sun roof, electric everything and the car is in perfect condition except for a small dent in the hood. It is just weird to me to find such a perfect car at a wrecking yard so I have to have it. I guess the guy who owned it torn it down to the head but neatly put everything in the trunk. The pistons look almost like brand new and the cylinder walls have no ring ridge. I haven't seen the head yet but I hear its a common problem with four bangers. The turbo is in the trunk and it looks like brand new also. It is just so weird how perfect this car is. I can't wait to get it and start working on it. I think I might go up and admire it again today. So if anyone has a list of cool grand am sites to go to for engines and/or exterior hop up stuff please post it here. Thanks and Peace out, Lee

[ritzard]

nice find on the ga i wish i had such luck i payed 800 for mine and needed a motor rebuild i thik i got a bad deal but im happy with it.

i think you should have the turbo check b4 you buy the car unless you have the money to have a aftermarket one put in or have it rebuilt beacuse the stock one is expinsive and hard to find i priced it and its $1400 canadain and there are 2 of them in all of canada and no extra stock and they dont make it anymore.

just my sudjestions i dont know about the head i know im paying $2400 to rebuild my whole motor with better parts of course stock rebuild was $1800 so hope this helps even if just a little.

[Myetball]

Here's (http://www.mantapart.com/) a link to Mantapart.com. They have performance upgrades for our engines if you have the cash....it aint cheap.

[btchn1]

They do make some cool stuff. But what are they doing with these cars, racing them on an oval track somewhere? Lee

[btchn1]

Well the car is finally in the shop. I am not able to do the work since the job change, but with the change I can afford to have it done profesionally. The guy doing the work is going to hone and re-ring the pistons, check the bearings, put on the new head and belts and I should have it back in about a month. All for the low price of $750. That makes a total of $1100 invested in this sweet car. I also finally got a digital camera so as soon as I get it back I'll will post some pics. Peace, Lee

[Myetball]

Glad to hear you're getting it all going again. You're putting on a new head? You wouldn't happen to have an old rebuildable head would you?

My engine has a bad rod bearing so I bought a brand new short block of ebay and will be building it up. Was hoping to get another head so eventually I can rebuild the current engine to put out some serious HP.

EDIT: DOH! Went back and reread the beginning of the thread and realized you don't have an old head.

Sooooo, where did you come up with a new head? Would still like to get another one.

[btchn1]

I do have the original head but I'm not sure if it is warped or not. I found a few places that had rebuilt heads for around $200. I just did a search on yahoo for grand am head and came up with 2 or 3 different places. Peace, Lee

[Myetball]

I got to searching an found a place that has these heads for $149 rebuilt, no need to send in old head.

If you want to get rid of your old head, let me know. I wanted to get another one to try out my porting/polishing skills. Also, since I bought a new short block, I'd like to rebuild my original so I have a spare engine. I can get most of the other parts off non-turbo Sunbirds and the junkyard but the turbo head is different.

[Hybrid T2T3]

i was wondering, what is the diffrence? is it just the combustion chamber?

[Myetball]

Originally posted by Hybrid T2T3
i was wondering, what is the diffrence? is it just the combustion chamber?

Well, I thought I read somewhere that the valves were larger on the turbo head but after some searching it looks like they're the same.

I guess I can use a non-turbo head from a junkyard. Will be less likely to have cracks since it's not exposed to the extreme heat of a turbo head.

I'll feel safer porting a junkyard head than I would a $150 rebuilt unit.

[KrazyDave]

i would be intrerested in getting the web site that you found on the heads for 150or what ever but i just bought a 1987 grand am turboed that does not run for 280 and planing on swaping it to my other one any info would be nice

[Myetball]

Send an email to Tim, tstarcher@aol.com , from J and C cylinder head exchange in Fairmont WV, their number is 1-800-266-5599.

[btchn1]

I need some help! The head on my 88 2.0 turbo is bad as I have said before. I thought I found a head for it but come to find out the Turbo head is different (egg shaped combustion chamber) then a non-turbo head (heart shaped combustion chamber). I also need a new cam box and cam. Does anyone know of a good place to get these parts either stock or performance oriented? Thank you for your help. Peace, Lee

[Myetball]

Whatchu talkin' bout Willis? As far as I know there are two casting numbers 049-738 and 098. Both were used on turbo and non-turbo 2.0's. They both have a kidney shaped combustion chamber. Make sure whoever is giving you the info isn't looking at a 121 ci (2.0l) OHV, they need to be looking for the 122 ci (2.0l) OHC Brazilian engine.

[Myetball]

For replacement parts try http://www.buy-oem-parts.com/ their prices are not bad on OEM stuff. For performance stuff I'd suggest Mantapart.com

[scott9050]

There is an 89 turbo at the local pick your part that is complete minus the turbo, but they won't sell the whole car.