So... a co-worker, knowing I'm something of a car guy, has offered me his family's old hand-me-down 1987 Grand Marquis (5.0 mpi, 59k miles) for pretty much scrap value. The problem? It hasn't run in 10 yrs. I asked why he parked it as I was looking it over he pointed at the starter relay and said "I always had to hit that thing to make it start". So in theory THAT is an easy fix.
Engine oil looks good. Trans oil looks great. Coolant and PS are dry or at least at a level I can't see. No rust on/under the car. I'm in the desert southwest.
I'm tempted to take the deal since it's so cheap, but obviously I'm gonna have to put some money into it just to get it running again. New battery, new oil/filter, new gas, PS fluid, coolant. That right there already doubles the cost of the car.
Only other thing that looks to be a problem is the smog pump appears to be seized. No belt on it, and I can't turn it by hand at all.
I pulled all the plugs and they look great. Dropped a little oil down into each cylinder to help soak the rings until I get all the other supplies in order.
I know sooner rather than later I'd be overhauling the entire cooling system and replacing most of the rubber under the hood. That's pretty much standard fare for old cars in the desert.
I've worked 60's and 70's american, and 80's japanese and european... but never really dug into an 80's american car before...and all the contrived emissions add ons to these cars in this era seem a bit daunting. I suppose I could just rip most of it out though right? If anybody else has been down this road with an 80's era 5.0 I'd like your thoughts on potential problem areas or indeed if you think it's worth it as a whole.
Engine oil looks good. Trans oil looks great. Coolant and PS are dry or at least at a level I can't see. No rust on/under the car. I'm in the desert southwest.
I'm tempted to take the deal since it's so cheap, but obviously I'm gonna have to put some money into it just to get it running again. New battery, new oil/filter, new gas, PS fluid, coolant. That right there already doubles the cost of the car.
Only other thing that looks to be a problem is the smog pump appears to be seized. No belt on it, and I can't turn it by hand at all.
I pulled all the plugs and they look great. Dropped a little oil down into each cylinder to help soak the rings until I get all the other supplies in order.
I know sooner rather than later I'd be overhauling the entire cooling system and replacing most of the rubber under the hood. That's pretty much standard fare for old cars in the desert.
I've worked 60's and 70's american, and 80's japanese and european... but never really dug into an 80's american car before...and all the contrived emissions add ons to these cars in this era seem a bit daunting. I suppose I could just rip most of it out though right? If anybody else has been down this road with an 80's era 5.0 I'd like your thoughts on potential problem areas or indeed if you think it's worth it as a whole.