What to look for?

[UncleEvil]

Hello everyone, new to the forum and hopefully will become a larger part of it here in a couple days.
I am very interested in purchasing a 97-03 GTP and really only have one question at the moment. I am going to look at a 98 tomorrow, is there anything in particular I should look for in these cars? I have been researching as much as I possibly can and from what I can see it mainly seems like these are pretty solid cars without a whole lot of common issue however, I haven't been able to find an exact answer on what to look for when buying a used GTP aside from the common things you look for in any used car.
Thanks for any responses in advance.
(Btw if this is in the wrong section my apologies, please move.)

[Austins01GP]

first make sure its not knocking...
i guess then look for any leaks
and make sure the transmission seems good
i think these are very solid cars

[UncleEvil]

Good to know. I figured I would look for the knock. That's mainly why I'm staying away from any that have already been modded. Figure my best luck of finding one with no knock is one that is bone stock. I have already seen quite a few with super charger pulleys way too small for the supporting mods they have and it scares me lol

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

dont buy a modded one.

check for the LIM gasket, see if its leaking.

check tranny, make sure you do a few WOT runs to make sure all the gear shift good and work, and make sure you hit atleast 70-80 mph to test out 4th gear and make sure it works nice.

With the freeway speeds, check and listen for abnormal noises and or vibrations.

Do some slow speed cornering to check for noise's and such.

[Austins01GP]

haha yeah that would be your best choice then follow this when you get it
http://www.grandprixforums.net/safel...car-17482.html

[Austins01GP]

dont buy a modded one.

check for the LIM gasket, see if its leaking.

check tranny, make sure you do a few WOT runs to make sure all the gear shift good and work, and make sure you hit atleast 70-80 mph to test out 4th gear and make sure it works nice.

With the freeway speeds, check and listen for abnormal noises and or vibrations.

Do some slow speed cornering to check for noise's and such.

^ this
have a little fun with the other persons car

[UncleEvil]

Great advice, thank you very much for your help. I'll check out as much as I can. Also, Austins, I have read through that thread a few times. Excellent information, that thread is how I knew to stay away from modded ones and smaller supercharger pulleys without correct mods.

[Austins01GP]

No problem
and yes it is has everything you need to know to make a decently quick car safely
BTW colorado is awesome

[UncleEvil]

haha thank you.
Getting it upto 70-80mph will require the interstate which is cross town from where I will be so I got to get a little "creative" on our main streets on the test drive lol

[chevyy1212]

For sure do atleast one HARD WOT feel for bogging or possible misfire. I had that issue on one I looked at only could tell after 4,000 rpm tho

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

well fourth gear will go into gear around 45ish, under light gas.

So if you can get it up to 60 or higher, that would be best.

[UncleEvil]

I'll definetly open her up no matter what just for the fact I have never driven a supercharged car before hehe. I had a Mark VIII before this. Very fun and fast car and hoping the Grand Prix lives upto the same fun factor. The closest main roads speed limit is 45 however, people always speed on it anyway so it shouldnt be much of an issue to get it upto atleast 60.

[TheAce144]

Enjoy your new car! My dad has an 02 GTP and I love it as much as my 04 GTP, really fun car to drive! I think I should have bought a previous gen Grand Prix and invest the change on mods lol! And like FiveFingerPunch mentionned, don't go with a modded car!

[chevyy1212]

No on the modded car for sure. Theres atleast 3 dudes around here 100% stock with a 3.4 and think there good. When they go to sell it sumnes gonna be screwed.

[99prixgt]

Almost all gp's knock from the factory, unless you have a freak. Don't buy a modded one.

Make sure it has a stock pulley. A good way to tell is if their is a hub on the snout spindle and the pulley is bolted to it. It should look like a pressed on type pulley measuring 3.8".

Make sure the car shift into 4th, should be around 45-48. 4th clutch is a known problem on 97-02 cars, later gm redesigned the clutch with a hardened one.

Check the LIM gaskets, your gonna have to pull off the cover, there is one screw on the top going into the top of the s/c, then you have to pull the oil cap and twist off the oil neck, then lift up and pull gently towards you. If they appear clean and silver, the were already replaced with the new aluminum designed ones. If its sludgy looking around the LIM and the gaskets appear black, those are the old plastic ones, they'll need replacement.

Listen for any abnormal sounds, these engines are a little noisy but, listen for anything out of the ordinary.


-oh, i just realized opp was looking at the car today, i wonder if he bought it...