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TA^Guy
05-22-2003, 11:19 PM
Well after selling my baby I picked up a car pretty cheep. Actually the front and rear strut bars for our GA cost more than this car. :lol: It's a '88 Cavilier with a 2.0 liter four-banger. I paid only $175 for it and so far have installed a battery, alternator, and muffler. I also mounted tires I salvaged from my old Subaru to the massive 13" wheels, and saved the two front snows it came with for winter. I also have purchased a new radiator for it but yet to install it. So for a grand total investment of $380 it gets me to and from work just fine. Since we have purchased our new home and both live so far from work we use it to car pool on Tuesdays & Thursdays to save a few bucks and say 100 miles a week on our beloved GAGT. Later in the summer I might consider picking up a fender for it, do a cheep job at reskinning the lower doors and spraying it with some single stage paint. If I do that I'll keep my eyes on ebay looking for some decent stock GM 16's for it or something.

Well here it is in all it's rusty glory.
Y2KGAGT
05-23-2003, 08:04 AM
Ewwwwwwwwwwwww what a dirtay car! :lol:
TA^Guy
05-23-2003, 08:10 AM
Originally posted by Y2KGAGT
Ewwwwwwwwwwwww what a dirtay car! :lol:
Hmm probally cause I've had it hearly a month now and yet to wash it. I'm affraid I'll lose something. :)
99GrandAMSE
05-23-2003, 11:15 AM
... nothing wrong with that car at all John ... if it is safe and CHEAP ... that is all that matters ... nothing like the feeling you get when driving a car that it really doesn't matter if it gets rock chips, door dings or whatever ... good stuff bud!! :)
Red99GAGT
05-23-2003, 01:45 PM
When you taking that down to the track?? :D
LargeFish
05-23-2003, 02:02 PM
Doesn't look all that bad for a 15 year old car. How many miles?
Y2KGAGT
05-23-2003, 02:52 PM
140,000mi I think. But I think thats the best part is not having to worry about following a truck cause rocks fly.. its great :D
LargeFish
05-23-2003, 03:16 PM
Doesn't look as nice as this car though...
TA^Guy
05-23-2003, 09:01 PM
Well it happened. Today during my 20 mile drive to work I started feeling a loss of power with 5 minutes to go. I was wondering if my catalytic converter was getting clogged. My exahust pipe is sutty and black. But when I came to a stop I realize it was ticking a bit. $h!t. So I head up the hill to my job a mile away, no power at all. I get to work and with the car running I open the hood. Behold, a hole clean though my vavle cover. Removed teh valve cover right at work and just as I suspected, the rocker arm moved and the pushrod punched a hole though the valve cover. With what crappy basic hand tools we have at work I fixed the problem. It seems who ever replaced the head gasket before I purchased it didn't set the valve torque/lash very well. I assume they didn't turn the engine over and retighten them, I checked others and a few others felt loose too. Lucky for me there wasn't much damage, the pushrod was even still nice and striaght.


All in all, it's back together and runs fine. :)

Picture posted of the hole below.
Originally posted by LargeFish
Doesn't look as nice as this car though...
That car wasn't all that perfect either. lol
But that was a steal at only $1500 also.
I think that car only looks that damn good because there is a sexy blonde standing in front of it. :drool:
antirice
05-23-2003, 09:16 PM
SWEEEEEEEET!
sunrunner_pei
05-30-2003, 02:18 PM
You sure that's a 2.0L John? It looks like the 2.2L to me. I could be wrong, of course.
TA^Guy
05-31-2003, 10:22 PM
To be honest with yaou Shawn I was told it was a 2.0 but could very well be a 2.2. Tomarrow when I replace the radiator and patch that hole I'll check out to see what it really is. :D
TA^Guy
06-03-2003, 07:35 AM
Well I replaced the radiator, patched the hole in my valve cover, hot wired the cooling fan (until I figure out what is wrong with it), and while everything was off sprayed the valve cover and intake with some paint. (I couldn't resist) :lol:

Shawn it is in fact a 2.0 liter, it's labeled right on the emission sticker. Plus I looked it up and no 2.2 was offered in '88 for the Cavy, or thats what the book at the parts store said.
sunrunner_pei
06-03-2003, 07:40 AM
Originally posted by TA^Guy
Well I replaced the radiator, patched the hole in my vavle cover, hot wired the cooling fan (until I figure out what is wrong with it), and while everything was off sprayed the valve cover and intake with some paint. (I couldn't resist) :lol:

Shawn it is in fact a 2.0 liter, it's labeled right on the emission sticker. Plus I looked it up and no 2.2 was offered in '88 for the Cavy, or thats what the book at the parts store said.

Cool! Learn something new every day! I had a 2.0L OHC in my '89 Sunbird, which is why I mentioned that. :)
crazeyGT
06-05-2003, 11:56 AM
Nice ride.. all U need is a big wing and there ya go j/k :)

:wave: