So, I've had my Grand Prix for a couple years now and have put on 24k or so; she just ticked over 141k and its mostly been the wife's car for the last year or two. Without me driving it, it slowly fell into disrepair apart from oil changes, simply because the wife didn't always know what was and was not a problem. So it is now time to resurrect this from the near-grave that I feel like it is, and put another 100k on it. This time around, not forgetting about it even though I don't drive it much.
Went to a local NAPA this morning and picked up 5 quarts of Valvoline High Mileage Full Synthetic 5w-30 and a NAPA Gold filter, new ignition coil, can of Seafoam and BG 109, and 6 AC Delco irridium Spark plugs pre-gapped. Got home, cleaned my garage out, and popped the hood on the Prix, to find a hole in the serpentine belt. Literal hole. So, needless to say I did not do anything else to it. I feel like I stopped at the edge of a precipice.
Came upstairs and joined up to get full access to the knowledge and DIYs and opinions of the members. The trans fluid is overfull, and it kicks pretty hard switching gears sometimes. Shocks were bad when I picked it up, and ended up blowing about a week after I got it due simply to me being stupid. Didn't realize the road I was on had an obscene dip on it and hadn't slowed down for it.
I am honestly considering getting a new engine/trans out of a GTP for it, if I can find one being parted out. I'm not afraid of tearing into things, I do all my own work even on my BMW. One thing I remember seeing is a top-swap to a SC, which is certainly an option. I'll be both refurbishing and finishing the payoff of the Prix with my tax return, so I want to have everything planned well in advance, and take steps for what I can before then.
Little bit about me, 21-yo married with a 6wk old son, US Air Force stationed at Buckley here in Aurora, CO. Major gearhead and tech guru, and luckily for me the wife shares my love of go-fast parts.
Now, off to troll the DIY sections!
Quick Edit: Every link I click on to the How-To section is non functioning. What am I missing?
