What to look for in a box?

[killgore]

Alright I probably put this in the wrong place or missed a sticky. Whoops.

Anyways, so I know what to look in Aeros, but what do I look for in a box vic/gm/tc? Where are the trouble spots? What is the signal to turn tail and run? I'm looking at 3, if not more this weekend, and want to know how not to F up my purchase and need a new motor asap.

[porschpow]

Yes, def look under the body where the frame is on the passenger side behind the front tire for rot, That is where the A/C drips

[Bobcat]

When you look for a box, make sure it's in good shape and hasn't been tampered with too much. Make sure there isn't too much tape on it and the corners aren't crushed. If you live in a wet area, you should make sure it's not soggy. Make sure to take off the old shipping label before attaching a new one.

[killgore]

I was completely missing it Bobcat...got it now. FedEx will be pleased my observation of cardboard boxes class has been passed.


So what about these boxes with four wheels and four doors (some with two but they are out of my price range).

[Bobcat]

Bottoms of fenders, under the trim that goes along the whole bottom of the car. Check the edges and under it (if you can) the best you can. Frame general look over, if it's got factory paint still then that's a very good sign. Check your door tag to see what rear end she's got. Don't be afraid to hit your hand on any body panel that is in question. Make sure to check the bottoms of the doors and the drivers door pin (By grabbing the edge of the door at the bottom and lifting it and down a few times.)

See if it'll do a burnout, if it can. Buy it.

[killgore]

"Sir can I do a burnout in your car" "Hell no" "Whoops, too late"

[GM_Guy]

I like to look for a Christmas present in a box...

[gadget73]

They're largely similar to aeros really. Same frame and plumbing concerns. Doors seem to rust more on boxes though. Less problems in that area between the back door and the wheel well, but perhaps more behind the rear wheel. Look around the edges of trim especially. If its a Lincoln, that wide stainless trim can hide a lot of rust. Same with the "granny trim" on GM/CV models. Usually you can look at the bottoms of the doors and get a clue whether the trim is all thats really there. If the oil or replace engine light flickers while idling after warming up, the motor is getting pretty tired. if its flickering while driving, the motor is pretty much done. A bit of a rod knock on a cold start is not that unusual, and not a particularly big deal unless it goes with the oil light crap.

Check for a TV bushing. If its missing, skip it. Chances are extremely high that the trans is dicked if the bushing is gone. AODs are clunky, so don't be overly concerned if it thumps into gear. If you can't feel it shift, something is probably funny with the TV pressure. Make sure it has all 4 gears too.

[killgore]

Where would I be looking for a tv bushing?

[87Topaz]

Where would I be looking for a tv bushing?

Directly under the throttle body. There is a hole, on the bottom, that the top of the bushing goes into. If it is missing, the trany linkage that attaches to the TB will just be sitting on the valve cover area. The issue is when it is still there but weak. Then the linkage will be in the correct position/location but the trany can be screwed because it is not getting the correct pressure. Check out the following article for instructions and photos!! Anthony

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00052.html

[killgore]

So its screwed when its still there but wiggle room and its screwed when its not there. Joy.

[killgore]

Also I'm a dummy. But so these all list 87-up. What if I find an 86 with multiport. Would it still use a tv bushing?

[tjc78]

Pretty sure 86 was a rod setup.

[sxcpotatoes]

Kittens!

[gadget73]

The 86 is a different TV cable that doesn't have the bushing problem.

If the bushing is still mostly there and the trans seems to work OK, its probably OK. Its a simple job to swap it and keep things happy. If the bushing is just gone, you ought to be as well