Basically just bought a wagon.

[ILLaViTaR]

Tomorrow I am handing $400 over for an EB II wagon I looked at tonight.

It has slight front and rear damage from a pile up at 30km/hr.

It will need a new boot lid, bonnet and front bumper.

The rest is fine.

Some things are worrying me though.

The surge tank for the coolant is leaking and he said that it was leaking a bit after the accident.

Oil level is very low, at the add section.

Power steering pump is also dry and has the tiniest bit of oil in it.

How can I test for leaks in these things?

I'm testing it more tomorrow since it was too dark tonight and basically just checked over the obvious things ad the engine starts and runs extremely well.

Also the gearbox was rebuilt the day before the accident. (I will be using it in my ED).

I will be doing a compression test, head gasket check, suspension, brake and exhaust check tomorrow.

Anyone got any ideas on where to check for leaks regarding oil, coolant and power steering fluid?

Brake and transmission fluid are fine.

[Nostalgia]

Pics ?

[Sorted]

You have already handed over the cash and what suburb is the car in?

[ILLaViTaR]

No cash goes over tomorrow.

It's in Berwick, same suburb as me.

I'll have pics up when I get it but so far here's some from the add.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....MEWA:IT&ih=019

It's the bronze one.

[MotherNatureVer2]

First thing, are you using it as a parts car ?????? I would be getting someone to check it before you pay. The ad says that its a right-off.

Also, a 'worked on' gear box doesnt mean a rebuild. He could have meant he changed the oil .......

I really dont want to burst your bubble ..... but as a parts car she sounds fine ....... not as a daily ;)

[apolloxbgt]

How are you going to fit a boot lid to a wagon? :P

[ILLaViTaR]

Yeah it said it cost him $660 to fix the transmission up so I was assuming something around a rebuild.

Hmmm, I'll take more of a look at it tomorrow.

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by apolloxbgt

How are you going to fit a boot lid to a wagon? :P

You know what I mean.

[Dezza]

If the radiator support or chassis rails are damaged, you could be up for a LOT of money to fix it. Quite often there is worse damage than can be expected.

You'd better have a very thorough look before handing over the cash, because it may not be the bargain you're looking for.

[Krytox]

Originally Posted by MotherNature

First thing, are you using it as a parts car ?????? I would be getting someone to check it before you pay. The ad says that its a right-off.

Also, a 'worked on' gear box doesnt mean a rebuild. He could have meant he changed the oil .......

I really dont want to burst your bubble ..... but as a parts car she sounds fine ....... not as a daily ;)

Agree.

end is bent pretty bad.

[ILLaViTaR]

Hmmm the front was worse then the end.

The bumper at the end is fine and the front one is screwed.

But will the tinted windows fit in my car doors?

Also with the little window in the rear doors, can I take that out without breaking it?

[Dezza]

On what I'd said, looking at that front end shot again, I'd guarantee that the rad support is bent. The way the headlights are sitting confirms this. I can see why it'd be leaking coolant. The clutch fan probably went into the back of the radiator.

With the windows, they'd fit except for the quarter windows (the small ones in the rear doors). They are a different shape on wagons compared to sedans.

[ILLaViTaR]

Yeah i'll skip it then.

He has an EA wagon he'll let go for $100 but it won't start.

It's been sitting for 12 months and hasn't been started since then.

When you go to crank it there's no sound whatsoever, what could that be?

The EA put me off because it has some rust and the rear wheel arcs and the shockers feel rooted but if it starts I'm happy to pay $100 for it.

He says a flat battery but if there's no sound at all would it be something else like the coil?

I'm looking for a car to learn on but also want to try to make my costs back.

[Bill_R]

For parts it looks ok. What sort of condition was the transmission fluid in?
I'll agree that there is possible structural damage. As well as front and back it looks a bit suspect around left and right rear doors - right in particular.

If you are thinking 400 for a tranny and see about the rest then you are fine as long as the tranny is ok. I'd focus on the condition of the tranny. Ask for receipts for the work done.

You mentioned low engine oil. Check for signs of leaks and signs of oil staining around the rear exhaust. Pull the plugs if you can and see if they are oil burnt.

[ILLaViTaR]

The oil is brown which is odd seeing as it's meant to be bright red.

Mine was also brown and was regularly serviced, guess it's just the wrong fluid.

Yes I will ask for receipts.

i'm more interested in the EA though for $100 and no structural damage besides some rust, it could be ok.

[Bill_R]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

The oil is brown which is odd seeing as it's meant to be bright red.

Mine was also brown and was regularly serviced, guess it's just the wrong fluid.

Yes I will ask for receipts.

i'm more interested in the EA though for $100 and no structural damage besides some rust, it could be ok.

Brown is burnt and needs a flush (at least).

You'll need a battery to hear the EA going (if it does). It might not hold up to a jump start if it's totally dead but you could try.

Give him $400 for the EA and the EB and you might be set.

[ILLaViTaR]

Yeah I don't know how to flush it and actually heard that flushing it does harm.

I'll offer $400 for both but I don't think he'll accept.

[private9]

If you're thinking of putting either car on the road, don't bother they're both crap and will cost you far more than you think.

$400 for a stacked in both ends EB that's written off is a complete rip. If you're thinking that the tranny's just been rebuilt, I highly doubt it if it's got brown tranny fluid - takes alot of kays to get that to happen. Sometimes people reuse fluid, but you'd have to be stupid to do that after a rebuild.

Rear door windows won't fit in your sedan either, completely different shape.

No offence, but both cars are pretty much worthless.

[efgiar]

yeah dont worry about it, save your 400 and spend it on something that is straight, it has rear quarter damage, its stuffed, thats why HE isnt fixing it, because its a write off! turn around, and keep walking till you find something half decent.

[webby_191189]

Why not lower your car like you have been talkng about instead of buying a written off old wagon?

If you look at the rear wheel arch it has a dent which coould be due to a read end colision. If thats the case the back of the car is more than likely bent

[NudgE^SIKBRO]

just looking at the pics of the bronze wagon, check the rear door to 1/4 panel gaps the 1/4 has been pushed forward, that car needs to go on the jig... my guess is that it will never see the road again...

Sorry

Cheers Dan

[pauly85]

it doesnt have to go onto a jig, you could fix that with a simple floor rack, but its not worth the time and effort to fix it compared to what the car will be worth when its back on the road

[ILLaViTaR]

Yeah.

The bronze one is stuffed.

He has the receipt for the transmission and I can get some other parts off it for my ED.

I can also transplant the EB stuff into the EA and possibly get an almost roadworthy car.

Also how do I test if the shock absorbers are ok?

[Serial_Fool]

Push down on all 4 corners, if bouncy as a Hong Kong matress the shocks are stuffed.

[ILLaViTaR]

Nope they don't bounce at all which is good.

It was roadworthy just over a year ago so all things such as the ball joints look relatively new.

Also I also discovered it has a 2500kg tow bar and an excellent condition spare tyre.

The radiator is screwed (was damaged from crash and is pierced at the top).

The front of the car is pushed around almost an inch back.

Is it possible to replace it or is that part of the body and needed to be professionally rebuilt?

i'm not expecting much though to restore it but other than the body damage and radiator, the rest of the car is awsome

[EF Futura 07]

i think you mean 2300kg tow bar, thats all a falcon can LEGALLY TOW, although im not saying it doesnt have a 2500kg towball if thats what your looking at :

as with the car how badly damaged is it? is it just cosmetic? or is it structual? ie chassis/crossmember???? you can get a half cut but that would cost more than what the car is worth, unless you plan on keeping it???

[ILLaViTaR]

Nah it's to do up and sell and make some profit so I can afford my LPG conversion.

How do I check if it's the chasis/crossmember?

The back seems semi fine but the front isn't.

I think when he crashed the radiator hit the clutch fan and that's what pierced it, which made the entire front move in basically (the front quarter panels are fine).

Also the transmission has just been reco'd and I have the receipt.

What's it worth?

[Kryton]

dont want to sound harsh or anything, but you dont seem to know anything about cars at all so what makes you think you can repair any of these cars if you bought them?
they are are box of crap that are only worth wrecking.
save your money and buy something that isnt damaged.
being the year they are, if they have been classed a write off by the insurance company, you will need to get a VIV, thats another $440 alone ON TOP of all the repairs. radiator support to remove and replace by a panelbeater is around $1000.....its just keeps going.
seriously, stay away from the crap cars and get something that isnt smashed and runs.

[Kryton]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

Nah it's to do up and sell and make some profit so I can afford my LPG conversion.

you do know what these cars sell for?
you do understand that you wont be walking out of this for less than $3000?
where do you expect to get the profit from?

[webby_191189]

Im with davway on that. You make so many threads about your car. Maybe save up for one that actually works instead of loaded with problems