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Purchase Advice

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Stashman94

New member
Hey! I'm not exactly a part of the Grand Prix owner's club just yet, but I am on the verge of possibly buying a 1997 Grand Prix GTP with 270k miles. Allow me to introduce myself a little bit more, I'm a college student currently studying math at a relatively small honors university near Baltimore City. I currently have a 1985 Mercedes 380SL that I have done a fair amount of DIY work on but need to find a winter car so I can keep from getting anymore rust on it. At first, I found an '01 Buick Regal with the same engine and S/C but after a bit more shopping I've kind of come to the conclusion that this style matched with this engine might be the one for me.

The one I linked seems like a pretty good deal because, upon doing research of the L67 and talking to my friend that had an old Bonneville with the same engine, they are relatively bulletproof as long as they get their required maintenance. I had also heard that the transmissions are notorious for going before the motor and the current owner has already repaired or replaced the original which puts my mind a little more at ease. The only thing stopping me from pulling the trigger is that I want a little reassurance of the longevity of the engine. With that many miles (mostly highway for the past 12 years) does anyone here think flogging it every now and then would result in a catastrophic meltdown? I'd mainly be using it to go to and from home (95ish mile round trip) and driving around town but I might accidentally end up driving it a bit hard if it's as fun as I've seen other people saying.

Any input will help, thanks guys
 


My L67 is currently at 277K, doing great. I replaced all the common failure gaskets on the engine when I bought it, as well as other wear/common failure parts. If you buy this car, you may want to consider that as well.

I also wouldn't suggest paying more than $1500 for it, without seeing the car or knowing the condition of the new/rebuilt trans.
 
Just my luck, right when I finally decide to go for it it's either sold or the post is expired. Anyway, I could still learn a bit more. I tried searching around the forums and couldn't find any threads on commonly failing parts. Are there any stickies or threads showing what should be done to high mileage engines when you buy them?
 
Stashman94 said:
Just my luck, right when I finally decide to go for it it's either sold or the post is expired. Anyway, I could still learn a bit more. I tried searching around the forums and couldn't find any threads on commonly failing parts. Are there any stickies or threads showing what should be done to high mileage engines when you buy them?
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I know that the valve cover gaskets like to fail, as does a coupler in the supercharger snout. Obviously with a new high milage engine a good oil change, run good synthetic oil, I personally like to run an engine flush through my engine (maybe some seafoam) to clean it out even slightly. I would also recommend a coolant system flush, and a swap of trans fluid. You don't know how the last owner maintained the car. I once got a monte carlo 3.4 and for some reason i don't remember i had the valve covers off, and they were caked with sludge oil, meaning it hadn't been changed in a seriously long time.

Like they have said, the l67s are good engines, im buying my brothers gtp with 200k and i have qualms about it. you can also easily find junkyard cars with these engines for parts (where i live anyway) and a full rebuild (if you can do the work) costs about 300-400$ with new bearings, rings seals etc.

That's just my two cents.
 
Full rebuild? NO! Just NO! These engines are worthless to rebuild, go to the junk yard and find another. When these engines fail....... throw it away.
 


SnowTh1ef said:
This.
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why is everyone here so anti rebuild? Im just curious, ive picked up junkyard motors, both l67 and i have them scoped, 1 of them needed a rod reconditioned so i had it done. I mean isnt it better to check the engine out to avoid spending 12 hours pulling it out again to fix something? Do the engines just not hold up when rebuilt?
 
If the crank is mad you cant fix it... if you have a bearing failure chance is the crank got ruined.

The price of installing a new crank is way more than a new motor.
 
04lss said:
why is everyone here so anti rebuild? Im just curious, ive picked up junkyard motors, both l67 and i have them scoped, 1 of them needed a rod reconditioned so i had it done. I mean isnt it better to check the engine out to avoid spending 12 hours pulling it out again to fix something? Do the engines just not hold up when rebuilt?
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Rebuilt L67s are called 200 mile motors. Guess why.
 
that makes sense, Im still getting stuff scoped is a good idea to prevent putting a bad engine in.
 


im going to turbo my setup so i know im gonna need a new engine at some point. Im not trying to argue, im just trying to figure out why the rebuild is garbage.
 
Id take a 200k mile L67 short block over any rebuilt anyday. Why? Because its been proven more reliable and people have made upwards of 700WHP on a stock bottom end. Id say 90% of rebuilds last less than 500 miles. You got lucky.
 
04lss said:
im going to turbo my setup so i know im gonna need a new engine at some point. Im not trying to argue, im just trying to figure out why the rebuild is garbage.
Click to expand...

Why would you need a new engine? The record breaking 8.65 1/4 mile GTP ran 2 enourmous turbos on a stock bottom end l67.
 


I don't know the exact technical reasons but something about the crank not being right after a rebuild. I'm sure someone can explain this is more depth.
 
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