trade firebird for 99GTP

[Bigthoogs]

this was posted in Introductions but wasnt getting much attention.

hello all,

i own a 97 firebird. with some problems. bad rotors, cause the car to shake at speed. headliner is sagging. truck hydraulics dont hold the hatch up. its a 3.8 auto. upper dash is cracked. could use new tires. and it leaks a little oil.

and a guy wants to possibly trade his 99 GTP

heres his listing
99 Grand Prix GTP

sent me pics. looks clean. has some small scratches. but he tells me his valve covers and intake are leaking.

is it worth it?

[Bigthoogs]

no one has any input?

[EJOUIE]

Pictures of both cars are necessary for further evaluation.

[Bigthoogs]

firebird - a set on Flickr

thats my firebird. the pics of the GTP are on my phone. its got a few sratches and a small rust spot. and a peice of trim on the passenger door is off. but he has it.
and his listing didnt seem to link so here http://battlecreek.craigslist.org/cto/2311536935.html

[FordMan77]

Doesn't look like too bad of shape. I would drive the GTP until fully hot and see how the trans. shifts, see if you notice any cooling issues, etc.. Everything else he listed is minimal to fix.

And personally, I'd rather work on the 3800 in the GTP than the F-body. I've worked on a 99 Camaro w/ the 3800 and you can't reach half the motor from the top! FWD wins this time.

[EJOUIE]

If your going to be modding, then GTP all the way. But If its for a DD that doesn't need a back seat, then keep the bird. GTP drink holders suck.

[Kejross]

gtp ftw

[Bigthoogs]

drink holders haha. so does the firebird. but you wanna know the worst car for cup holders? a mark3 Jetta. you cant even fit a can of pop in them

so even with the Intake leak and valve cover leak you think its a good trade?

what i like about the GTP is well...its a GTP. and i can actually fit more than 2 people in it. it actually can hold things in the trunk. i can drive it in the winter without having to change my pants every time i go around a corner. and its better on gas.

firebird plus. its a firebird and looks sexy. i get so many looks. but it needs to go to someone with a garage and a DD.

anything in particular i should watch out for?

[Kejross]

Trans issues maybe... Drive it a while and make sure it goes into all gears like it should and doesn't slip when you gas it. That would be my main concern simply cause its an expensive fix. The intake gaskets be blown, and the valve covers leaking is almost a given with these cars... The lim gaskets have a good solid fix though with the aluminum gaskets and the valve cover gaskets are a free recal fix at the dealer since they have cause sooo many engine fires.

[Odi]

if its the lower intake manifold leaking in the GTP id say keep the bird.

[FordMan77]

Depends on how long its been leaking, and how bad. Pull the oil dipstick and see if you notice it looking like a milkshake. If so, walk away. Try to look at it and listen to the motor on a cold start. Have him start it while you are listening under the hood and see if you hear any knock.

Check the coolant and see if its brown, or orange (like it should be). If brown then I would also walk away.

Check power steering (known to leak), ball joints, wheel bearings, tie rods, etc... If everything is tight then good to go.

If it's stock then it will probably need struts/springs/mounts on all 4 corners right off the bat. Then figure in the LIM gaskets, injector o-rings, and coolant elbows. Then valve cover gaskets AND grommets around the bolts. Just skip the dealer recall and install the fel-pro gaskets asI have a feeling the valve cover gaskets the dealer installs are still an issue.

Sell your F-body to some teenager and get a decent GTP if that's what you're after. Either that or step up to one w/ an LS1 in it If it's going to be a PITA to work on might as well have a V8 in it, lol...

[99prixgt]

all those problems mentioned are really nickle and dime ****. If you know ur way around the motor, doing lim gaskets would be really easy.