Buying an S13 have questions.

[Turbo_Turtle88]

Hey guys, I have been a member on here for about a month. I own a Z31 project that I have been building for a while now. I have been looking at picking up a s13 and I finally found one. I just want to ask a few questions about what I should be looking at/for when buying this car. I have already seen the car once. I have to make a 12 hour trip after 4 days of the purchase. I plan to do as much work on it in the four days as possible. I just want to know about common problems or issues with them to know what to check out and test. So some info on the car and what I have seen from my first look. The car is a 1992 240sx hatch. Body wise the car isnt the best. Someone took so very aggressive sandpaper to the body and looks like they scared the shit out of the metal. Subframe didnt have any surface rust or holes from what I could see. The rear sub frame has surface rust but when I poked at it nothing went threw. The front tires are baled so I will replace them and the car needs new brakes all the way around. When I pushed on the brake pedal it fell to the floor. We lifted the hood and the brake master cylinder was empty so I need to put new fluid in it. The motor is stock with 151k miles on it. It sounded strong no sputtering responded nice to the throttle. It did have a 3" exhaust but other then that the motor is stock. The car has full coilovers and has rust holes threw the front towers. Doesn't look like anything I cant fix. After I make the trip. Inside the only issue I seen is the back lighting on the dash doesn't work. I will need to get that fixed before the trip so I can see how fast I am going at night. The guy who is selling thinks that its just unplugged. The tail lights work and headlight and headlight motors work fine. The floor boards didnt have rust holes that I could fit my foot threw but maybe a few that I could stick a pen threw lol. Well I think thats all I know about the car. If anyone has read threw all this thank you I know that was a long message. I just want to know what else to check to make it safe for the trip. I thought about doing an oil change checking all the fluids. Just want this car to be mechanically sound for the drive thanks guys. If I think of more I will post it.

[Turbo_Turtle88]

Oh also if the diff cover has fins for cooling it down doesn't that mean it is an LSD?

[Croustibat]

No. VLSDs work correctly for around 60.000miles anyway, and these units are not serviceable.

[fliprayzin240sx]

Sounds like alot more work than its worth, specially since you have to drive that shit 12 hrs. Just because the mastercylinder is dry doesnt mean it just needs fluid in it. I'd be very weary to buy this car and drive it 12 hrs...

[Turbo_Turtle88]

I can pick this car up for around $500. I have some pics that I can upload when I get on my computer. I will be making the purchase sometime this week if I decide its worth it and I can fix the brakes.

[Turbo_Turtle88]

Okay here are some pics of the condition of the car. I know about the rust on the strut towers and thats the least of my worry. This is either going to be a temp car or a fixer upper I haven't decided yet. I just graduated from wyotech. So I will be doing all the work my self.

http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab295/revolt911/imagejpeg_2_17.jpg

http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab295/revolt911/imagejpeg_2_18.jpg

[240sohc]

i can see why the coolant reservoir tank was relocated to back of engine bay. lol. even if you do the work yourself, you'll find yourself in a big money pit. good luck.

[Turbo_Turtle88]

Money pit in the towers or does something else look wrong?

[Turbo_Turtle88]

Is it not worth 500 for it? The motor was strong and it does have full coilovers

[jonsparrow]

i wouldnt pay $500 for that. my friend just got a clean s13 for $200 that was hit in the rear. other then that its in great condition. try to bargain the price.

also the rust on the towers is a good chance to just tub out the wheel wells for that race car status. :snoop:

[Turbo_Turtle88]

Well idk how hard its going to be to get him to low the guy started asking 1000 obo

[essthirteeeen42]

Dude I would definitely take that...Here in cali, if someone sold that here, they would be asking for 1500....

[rcdad123]

i would not buy that car if i were you. that looks like a lot of work. but, if you want to tackle it and put what you learned in school to work, have at it.

[Turbo_Turtle88]

I have a z31 in much worse shape i just want an s13 for a dd. There is no way I am going to find one for my price range back in Illinois. So this is all I got and I really don't want to be stuck with a cavy or neon lol. But the motor and everything seem so strong. I'm really have a hard time deciding this one.

[Turbo_Turtle88]

Im looking for a dd beater while I fix my z31. And i thought about swapping this cars rear sub frame on to myz at a later date