What to look for in used grand prix gtp? Friend is selling

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Cardude

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Hello Pontiac Forum :D I'm new here. I like to work on stuff at home but have not done much with gm yet. My old roommate says he's got a new car and wants to get rid of his old grand prix gtp supercharged. He only wants $500 so I am curios to see if I could get a deal and possibly flip it. I was wondering if you guys could give me some heads up as to what to look for on these particular cars when buying used. Here's what I know:

1997 GTP supercharged
146k miles
"probably needs new tires"
"no gaskets have been replaced yet"
"overheats occasionally"
$500

I am aware of the dex-cool problems with vehicles in these time frame. My x-gf's century blew both the intake manifold and front cover gasket at only 67k. I'd be willing to replace the intake manifold gasket at home, but I don't know if I want to tackle head gaskets. Do these heads/intakes warp easily? Do the supercharger bearings go out on higher mileage cars like this? (I've never worked with forced induction).

Things I plan on checking:
tires
brakes
fluid leaks (oil,coolant,location of leak)
how the trans feels
milky oil
oily coolant
and of course general stuff like body and rust

Should I do this?:
compression test
radiator pressure test
head gasket leak test (blue fluid on radiator cap type)
anything else?

I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks a ton.
 
well looking at sites that appraise cars the $500 is a bargain. The problem is you have to check and test all those things you listed to make sure no failed lower intake or head problems. Do you know if the supercharger oil has ever been changed? Since you want to flip it you dont have much room to make a profit, you already indicate it needs tires. You also have to figure what your labor is worth, you dont want to end up making only $100.
 
Yes that makes sense. He is telling me he may sell it to a junk yard because he is about to go out of town. I'm curios to see what they will take for it. Tires are so annoying, they are a very expensive maintenance item I often forget about until I need them. I will ask him about the supercharger oil, I thought it just used the car oil :/
 
I would say no. 3800 should not warp head easily and are great engines. The intake gasket probably are shot. Dex-cool is fine, but should be changed as mfg recommends. I would take a guess that the trans will have problems now or in the very near future. Front bearings are probably shot as well as suspension is on the way out.

This could all be wrong; but when you said it over heats and he got another car, this is a flag to me that he decided he had enough with this car and got another. He may think it is still a good car which is why he is recommending it to you (and it CAN be) but will need some serious attention.

It's an 18 year old car, and a grand prix at that. Seems to me (as I have bought several Grand prixs 1990, 1996, 2003, 2004) that people beat the hell out of them and never maintained them thinking they were high performance sports cars.

Flipping this for a profit is a no go in my book. The best customer for you would be a young man with relatively little experience to know what he's getting into OR someone who does know what he's getting into and can get it at a good price ($500-$1000)

Tires: Vary in price but let's say discount tire for ~$450
Gaskets: $150-$200 (heads and up gaskets as well as trans and oil pan SHOULD be changed)
Trans Oil & filter: $50
Coolant and Oil: $50
Serp Belt: $25
S/C Belt: $15
Spark plugs: $35
Wheel hubs: $200

This alone is $1025 and is mostly online pricing (no shipping included)

I have a hard time with KBB or edmunds as there is a huge variation between them and the real world.

Kbb puts you car nearest I can tell around $1800 in good condition so $500+$1025-$1800= $275 for you. You could get away without doing some of these things but is it worth it and your time? GLWS and let us know if you need anything.
 
I just got my 2000 GTP from the second owner. Luckily it was an older woman. It's in pretty good shape but it leaks from the oil pan. And possibly the crank seal. That's why I think they sold it to me for so cheap. These jobs are not small ones. Aside from my problems, the 3.8 intake manifold gaskets are a must repair over 100,000. Also the plasticish elbow that goes from the block to the tensioner bracket. Be sure it has an aluminum one. These also have the theft prevention which is a joke.
 
Thanks for the advice guys, he ended up giving the car to a junkyard. It seems that there are so many grand prix's in the used car market now. I wish they were easier to work on. Because I understand they can be fun.
 
Actually I find them about as easy to work on as any other front wheel drive. They sure can be fun and you should get one. I wasn't discouraging against buying one and fixing it up for yourself, just flipping it isn't a good idea since there isn't much room for profit.
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