I'm Back Need Suggestions

[RaiderGT]

Hey all! Been a long time since I've been around as I got rid of my GT years ago. Well tonight I just picked up a 2003 GT for free. 160k. PO said they put $1000 into the cooling system and a week later "the motor locked up." Anywho have a signed title in hand and towing it home tomorrow. Exterior is really nice, interior has water intrusion and needs a lot of cleaning and wherever its leaking to be fixed. Just not sure what I want to do with it. Lemons racer? Winter beater? Part it out? Project car hell? Just looking to hear some ideas.

[idrivejunk]

I think an investigation of the existing engine will help you decide. Can't go wrong on free stuff. Scrap it today for the win!

[FordMan77]

My guess is that either the existing motor had the UIM fail and it hydrolocked it, which likely means you can remove all the plugs, spin the motor over to clear out the cylinders and it will fire up or the leaking LIM gaskets finally made it spin a bearing and it really is locked up. For the price you paid, I'd find a junkyard motor if need be and drop it in and call it done.

[coolone]

Interior water intrusion on passenger side? If so is an easy $5 and 20 min fix.

motors are cheap and available... So free $... Little investment and you got yourself a good, cheap set of wheels. Just don't get silly and try to overthink it. If motor is shot, dump it, get a new (used - JY) motor and whoola, all done!

[RaiderGT]

Yeah interior deconstruction is today along with trying to free the motor. If not I figured for $500 put a motor on it and have a cheap set of wheels. Body is in super shape and has nice chrome torque stars on it. Its just filthy. Ill try to get some pics up. Def had like 2 gallons of water sitting in the passenger footwell so I need to figure out what caused that.

edit:also looks like it had the UIM replaced recently so im worried its more of a spun bearing or bent rod.

[FordMan77]

For the water leak, take read through here--> http://www.grandprixforums.net/threa...-Permanent-Fix

[RaiderGT]

Motor is definitely locked up. Pulled the plugs and they were the originals lol. So rebuild, boost, nitrous, and smile now?

[coolone]

Motor is definitely locked up. Pulled the plugs and they were the originals lol. So rebuild, boost, nitrous, and smile now?

Forget the rebuild... Lol

[RaiderGT]

Is anyone building turnkey performance motors for these anymore?

[FordMan77]

Might be some turnkey motors out there, but for the money I'd get a stock N/A motor and drive it. If you want extra performance from the N/A and have some cash then TEP trans, turbo kit, tune and away you go.

If not, then redo all suspension parts, jy motor, trans go kit in the trans. and then appearance mods. Nice DD GT. Just my .02

[RaiderGT]

I've been wanting to build a lemons car for quite sometime so I think this would make a perfect candidate, esp since the interior is pretty much trashed. I have the funds/space/tools. Just a matter of doing it right and following the rules.