Total noob 17 year old maybe getting a '99 SE tomorrow?

**HandyManSnooby** · 12-20-2012

Hey guys, so I might be getting a 99 SE tomorrow, and while it does need some work, I think it's totally worth it. I love GPs, and wouldn't want any other first car.

The good: It has never been in an accident.

The bad: Needs fenders (both)
Needs Transmission lines (Transmission coolant lines I assume?)
Needs a blower motor.

The guy wants $400.00 for boxing day sales, and I'm just wondering how hard of work this is going to be to get it drivable and how much you guys think it should cost?

Thanks guys!

-HandyManSnooby!

**buickman104** · 12-20-2012

Avoid the 3.1 or 3.4 liter engines. They suck. Hold out for a grand prix GT if you don't want to pay for premium fuel or GTP if you can afford premium and a few mods.

**redlinepontiac** · 12-20-2012

blower motor 100$? 20min install.

tranny lines little more involved not bad

needs both fenders but never been in a accident???

**dsmuts** · 12-20-2012

Hopefully it has the 3800

**HandyManSnooby** · 12-20-2012

Sorry for the low amounts of information I gave you guys!

It needs the fenders because the owner wanted to do an engine swap but hurt his back and can no longer do the swap himself, and they were badly rusted so he just threw them out. And Mr redlinepontiac, I can get a blower motor for about $40.00. I was just curious how hard it will be to install it

**Scottydoggs** · 12-20-2012

took the fenders off to swap the engine??? do yourself a favor and run now! do not look back or think about this car at all. run!

im not kidding at all. run!

**Nickell** · 12-20-2012

if its the 3.1L I would advise against it. odd that the front fenders would rust out? sounds like maybe body damage that was hidden.

**HandyManSnooby** · 12-20-2012

I'm not liking the sound of that one bit! Could you elaborate on why it's bad? *total noob here*. He said that the fact they were rusted out & that he was going to do an engine swap anyways was why he was gonna put new ones on. Does that make more sense?

**Scottydoggs** · 12-20-2012

fenders dont need to come off to change the engine. makes no sense to me. sounds like this guy could be a butcher.

what engine is in it now? and does it still need to be changed?

if its anything other then a 3800 let it go.

**HandyManSnooby** · 12-20-2012

It's the 3800 without a supercharger. And he wanted to put in one with a supercharger

. Thanks for the information guys! Would any of you like an update tomorrow with information on how the deal goes/ doesn't go?

**ctracer** · 12-20-2012

Originally Posted by HandyManSnooby

It's the 3800 without a supercharger. And he wanted to put in one with a supercharger

. Thanks for the information guys! Would any of you like an update tomorrow with information on how the deal goes/ doesn't go?

yeah update us.
make sure to look at the strut tower area and rocker panels for rust. those are common places.
good luck on your deal, hopefully it is 400 for a decent ride.

**matt5112** · 12-20-2012

It had better run and the trans work.

Otherwise the headache of finding a good body shop to paint those panels wont be worth it.

**LS1GTP** · 12-20-2012

Hold out for something a little nicer man...

**HandyManSnooby** · 12-20-2012

Well, LS1GTP, I could, but I really want to get into a project and work on something that I can call my own, you know? I don't really have commitments, university is looked after so I don't need to save (not trying to sound cocky by any means), so I figure why not buy an absolute piece of garbage and revive it?

**Scottydoggs** · 12-20-2012

Originally Posted by LS1GTP

Hold out for something a little nicer man...

i would too. just dont seem worth it. these cars can be found for 800 bucks and up, running yet needing some TLC.

defiantly check the rear strut towers for rust, pull the carpet back and the rockers, if they are rotted out like he says the fenders were keep on looking. that would be a unsafe car in the end and not worth putting a dime into.

and just dropping in a sc engine will require a tuner to make it work. or a pcm from a vendor. and those engines go for some coin used, 500 and up most of the time, more of the up side if you know what i mean....

**DanPrixGTP** · 12-20-2012

But if you consider yourself your a total noob and plan on repairing the whole car then you have lots of learning to do.

**HandyManSnooby** · 12-20-2012

I'm taking co-op at a garage next semester in school, and I always have dad & his uh.... however many years behind him

**Scottydoggs** · 12-20-2012

you know what, take dad with you to look at it if you can. that way someone who knows can steer you one way or the other.

this does sound like it could be a lot of heart ache at the end of a long and expensive road.

**HandyManSnooby** · 12-20-2012

Dad's out of town working, but I went 1 step up. Grandpa

**LS1GTP** · 12-20-2012

I tend to agree. Beaters are never worth putting money into, you'll be fixing it all the time, that means $$$ and a lot of it. Get something that's been taken care of, you'll probably have less invested in it in a year than you will for this $400 car, it'll feel much better driving something that's not beat up.