Car Noob. Need Help

[tonyloban]

Hey R3v, about 3 years ago my brother bought an 88 vert with a broken auto tranny. He fixed it with an (SO DUMB, COULD BE MANUAL RIGHT NOW) auto swap from an 87 (not exactly sure about the year).

It sat in the drive way for 2 years after that because he didn't have an income and I didn't have my license then. He got married and moved out and gave the car to me. For the past year, I have been doing little things here and there to it. When he swapped the tranny, he isn't sure if the timing belt was done, but thinks it was, he doesn't remember because a shop did all the work. The car doesn't overheat or have any major driving problems.

Main things I have done so far are oil changes, all drive belts, heater fan fix, new tires, new radiator (used but works great), fixed the cluster completely (yes, an e30 noob with an actual working cluster). I don't have any contact with the previous owner before my brother and can't find him and don't know jack about cars to be honest. I'm just learning everything along the way. I love the car. I want to keep it and make my first car perfect. I'm planning on getting h&rs and billies soon and some different wheels because the ones on the car right now are ugly and not the correct hub size (I got hub rings).

The purpose of this post is, I need some help from an e30 professional. Someone with A LOT of experience in suspension, engine, and drive-train. I would like to have this person drive my car around a little and not anything fancy but just do a general inspection on the car so I can make a list of important things I need to fix/work on. I'm fixing things as I notice they are wrong along the way, but I don't want something like a timing belt snap while I'm driving because of stupidity (happened with the drive belts and that was my first time ever working on a car, trying to fix that without any knowledge). True, I learned a lot that way and actually really enjoyed it, but it could have been way worse and dangerous. I got lucky.

Hopefully someone knows someone who can do this or you yourself are that person. I want to build up this car on my own and do it right. Not go buy a clean one and not know why it works.

The other day, my dad's friend knows a bit about cars and told me I need new toe arms. The wheels upfront shake a little when the car is lifted up. I researched that a little and kind of know whats going, but like I said, I'd like someone who knows a lot about this car to do a bunch of little checks like that, that I don't know about. Will pay or buy food or whatever this person wants. Negotiable.

Thanks!

[mitchlikesbikes]

if you're not sure about the timing belt, just do it. it's cheap. you can do the whole job with a new tensioner and water pump for like $100

[tonyloban]

if you're not sure about the timing belt, just do it. it's cheap. you can do the whole job with a new tensioner and water pump for like $100

Yeah, true. It's been bugging me in the back of my head a lot lately. Only problem is I don't have some of the tools from the diys that I've read. Very limited on tools at my place. I'll probably end up doing that really soon.

[Batz]

My guess would be if your drive belts were bad and snapped then probably no one touched your timing belt either. Everything depends on your budget. I would suggest to rebuild whole front suspension anyways and rear as well. Front suspension costed me around 400 bucks I think. That's with quality/performance parts. Rear I have done yet, but revshift sells the kit for 200 i believe.

[tonyloban]

My guess would be if your drive belts were bad and snapped then probably no one touched your timing belt either. Everything depends on your budget. I would suggest to rebuild whole front suspension anyways and rear as well. Front suspension costed me around 400 bucks I think. That's with quality/performance parts. Rear I have done yet, but revshift sells the kit for 200 i believe.

By front and rear suspension, what do you mean? What goes into that category? I can go and research all that, but I don't even know where to start. Haha. Sorry for the noob questions. I just never had someone growing up to tell me how cars work. Everything is really new to me. I don't need details though, just at least names of parts and then I'll go research that.

[Batz]

I had a list on my computer somewhere I can see if it's still there if so. I'll pm it to you. But what I replaced were control arms, control arm bushings, sway bar bushings, sway bar end links, complete tie rod assembly I think that's it maybe forgetting something. And don't buy crap rebuild kits . Buy quality parts from lemforder, revshilf, condor or other good name brands.

[Quadrajet]

Your front wheels shaking could be -Wheelbearings/hubs, tie rod ends or lower balljoints. That's where I'd start looking and work from there as time and money allow.

[tonyloban]

Yeah, that list would be awesome! Any info helps.

Quad, that's why I would like someone to drive my car and check it out. Would give me a really nice starting point. I don't want to go out and buy stuff I don't need, ya know? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[mitchlikesbikes]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

unless it's an old bmw. in which case the saying goes "if it ain't broke, it probably will be soon".

i figure while i have stuff ripped apart i usually just replace whatever i possibly can as far as wear items. saves time and money in the long run and makes me feel a little more confident in the reliability. but my e30 is also my second car so i don't have to fix things in one day flat like some folks.

bottom line: replace the issue, but while you're in there replace whatever else you can that may wear out soon. new parts will cause older sloppier parts to wear out quicker, and vice versa

[Quadrajet]

To really nail down what's bad, you have to jack up the car, making sure it's stable and start pushing/pulling/prying to see which items have failed.

[Gerta]

I'm in Bothell too Tony. Up near the gun range. Where you at?

[tonyloban]

I'm in Bothell too Tony. Up near the gun range. Where you at?

I'm Technically in Kenmore, on meridian.

[Gerta]

There are a number of folks up here pretty close to you. Kid325e, Wardie, me, and Austin425k are reasonably close to you. You might consider taking your car to a shop and pay for an inspection. It might be the best money you can spend right now. They will give you a list of stuff that you will need to do, then you can prioritize what you know you can do and what you need to pay someone else to do. I'm saying this because you sound like you don't have a lot of tools, space, or experience all of which hinder your ability to get the car fixed safely. Anyone can do the work on these cars, but you need to do it right so it is safe to drive.



The alternative is that you do A LOT of homework on the R3Vlimited site and collect the tools that you need. Example a decent floor jack and at least 4 jack stands are a must. A decent set of craftsman, Husky, or similar tools is as well. If someone comes over to help you, would they have to bring their own tools or do you have enough to cover basic maintenance? What kind of reference material do you have (i.e. the Bentley Manual, etc)??



Here is what I recommend if you decide to do it yourself (... and kudos to you for taking the plunge):



1. Timing Belt and waterpump - If you don't know how long it has been, then this should be your first priority ... not done, this could kill your engine.

2. Brakes - This is a safety item and it is a fairly simple task if you have the tools to do it.

3. Front / Rear suspension - Doing both together is a weekend project and requires replacement of all the rubber bushings along with tie rods and control arms. You need access to the right tools to do this correctly and a press for new lollipop bushings. Parts for this can be found at Blunttech (I get all my parts there ... email steve@blunttech.com and tell him I sent you)

4. Regular service interval stuff - fuel filter, air filter, new plugs, etc ...



If the car runs and drives good after doing the above the rest you can work on as you need to.



PM me your number and I can give you a call ... depending on the weather I might be able to stop by tomorrow.



Thanks,



Gerta

[iansane]

There are a lot more e30 people around here than I thought.

I tend to second the inspection thing. Plus a lot of shops will over inflate problems and that gives you a good chance to inspect and compare to other peoples cars/parts on here if you're not sure if it should be done right now or not.

But yes, the timing belt should be done now if you don't know when it was last done. Make an offer of pizza/beer/soda here and I'm sure you could get a couple locals to come help out and guide you.

[tonyloban]

There are a number of folks up here pretty close to you. Kid325e, Wardie, me, and Austin425k are reasonably close to you. You might consider taking your car to a shop and pay for an inspection. It might be the best money you can spend right now. They will give you a list of stuff that you will need to do, then you can prioritize what you know you can do and what you need to pay someone else to do. I'm saying this because you sound like you don't have a lot of tools, space, or experience all of which hinder your ability to get the car fixed safely. Anyone can do the work on these cars, but you need to do it right so it is safe to drive.



The alternative is that you do A LOT of homework on the R3Vlimited site and collect the tools that you need. Example a decent floor jack and at least 4 jack stands are a must. A decent set of craftsman, Husky, or similar tools is as well. If someone comes over to help you, would they have to bring their own tools or do you have enough to cover basic maintenance? What kind of reference material do you have (i.e. the Bentley Manual, etc)??



Here is what I recommend if you decide to do it yourself (... and kudos to you for taking the plunge):



1. Timing Belt and waterpump - If you don't know how long it has been, then this should be your first priority ... not done, this could kill your engine.

2. Brakes - This is a safety item and it is a fairly simple task if you have the tools to do it.

3. Front / Rear suspension - Doing both together is a weekend project and requires replacement of all the rubber bushings along with tie rods and control arms. You need access to the right tools to do this correctly and a press for new lollipop bushings. Parts for this can be found at Blunttech (I get all my parts there ... email steve@blunttech.com and tell him I sent you)

4. Regular service interval stuff - fuel filter, air filter, new plugs, etc ...



If the car runs and drives good after doing the above the rest you can work on as you need to.



PM me your number and I can give you a call ... depending on the weather I might be able to stop by tomorrow.



Thanks,



Gerta

Pretty much exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks!

I can't tomorrow and I'll be gone in spokane for a week, but when I'm back I'll be sure to text you or something.

About the shop thing, I agree with that. Might as well pay some money to have the inspection done correctly with the right tools. Only problem now is finding a good honest shop that won't rip me off or break stuff while inspecting to try to make money off me. I've heard and read to many stories to trust Firestone and all those big chain shops.

I have a little bit of a collection of tools. Enough to change the belts and do an oil change and get into a cluster and stuff like that. Obviously before doing anything, I usually spend a couple days googling and looking through r3v.

I'll send you the number, I appreciate the friendliness! (: