May upgrade to a used 05 GP from my 97. Some questions before the test drive.

[Wanderlust]

I'm going to be test driving an 05 Grand Prix tomorrow. My 97 SE 3.8 has about 190K on it and runs absolutely amazingly, but everything except the motor/trans is falling apart. (my sway bar broke a couple weeks ago... eek). Does the 05 come with aluminum LIM gaskets? That is my primary concern as of right now as I know it is rather inconclusive as to what gasket sets came in what motors. I know where to look as I have done a LIM job before, but I'm hoping I don't see plastic gaskets when I look at it tomorrow.

This is the vehicle I will be test driving: http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/cto/4743150268.html

The car fax says this car spent about 3 years in Florida, then a bit in North Dakota before coming to Michigan. It needs front brakes and needs a blower motor or the resistor. What do you think?

[02NavyBlue]

Metal LIM gaskets were put in 3800's sometime in the mid 2005 model year. So some 05's came with, some didn't. If so, knock some money off the price, it's bit of a pricey job to have done.

[StangGP]

What NavyBlue said. My 05 had plastic LIM gaskets, it's hit or miss

[theaceofspades]

My 06 has plastic gaskets

[02NavyBlue]

What?? lol maybe someone put them in there or your engine was swapped?

[Speedy1973]

thats like..... the base of all base model grand prixs

i wouldnt even consider that car for that price. c'mone now. you can do better.

[chrsmi1]

^^^This x100.
Here (NC) there are like 4 or 5 gtp/comp g's for sale for that or less.

Keep looking OP..

[hensleya1]

I'm going to be test driving an 05 Grand Prix tomorrow. My 97 SE 3.8 has about 190K on it and runs absolutely amazingly, but everything except the motor/trans is falling apart. (my sway bar broke a couple weeks ago... eek). Does the 05 come with aluminum LIM gaskets? That is my primary concern as of right now as I know it is rather inconclusive as to what gasket sets came in what motors. I know where to look as I have done a LIM job before, but I'm hoping I don't see plastic gaskets when I look at it tomorrow.

This is the vehicle I will be test driving: http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/cto/4743150268.html

The car fax says this car spent about 3 years in Florida, then a bit in North Dakota before coming to Michigan. It needs front brakes and needs a blower motor or the resistor. What do you think?

I would offer this seller like $2700 and go no higher than $3,000 if it has a plastic LIM gasket.

Plus, being a 10 year old car that has spent any appreciable amount of time in a Northern state, look for rust around the usual suspect spots - the rocker panels, below the gas door, the pinch welds, brake lines, etc. Discount the car accordingly for each rust spot you see

[Wanderlust]

Thanks for the advice. Owner lived a mile away from a reputable shop yet car was noticeably in disrepair and had a check engine light on for 7k miles without ever getting scanned. The motor had a loud whining noise that varied with mph and the brakes were completely shot to the point of making the vehicle unsafe. My 97 SE has seen 17 Michigan winters and has 82k more miles than this 05 but it stops on a dime and has no CEL on. It is sad what people do to these cars. I'll keep looking.