94 LE 5S-FE 240k mi. LOTS of problems, worth it?

[Nebbuchanezzar]

ATM, it is my GF's car, I was going to buy it from her and have fun working on it but it is having BIG problems now...everything I have noticed that I can remember is:

Ignition gets hot [the actual key is hot after driving even]

engine misfires

earlier today, I changed the spark plugs and they had oil all the way up the wire even

I flushed the radiator, and had to do about 6 chemical washes and it is STILL rusty

at minimum, the head gasket is blown. the engine is now just drinking coolant and burning it off...there is not one single leak from this car, yet I have had to top off the coolant 5 times since I flushed it less than 2 weeks ago. it even started creating a noticeable vacuum, sucking the entire top radiator inlet hose closed

the fuel gauge in the cluster is TERRIBLY inaccurate, after filling up, it takes a few minutes to show a full tank, and fluctuates a lot!


I will not even come close to saying I know what I am doing under a hood, but I am comfortable enough to get in there and get dirty and learn and have enough common sense, and a Haynes service manual always by my side. Basically, what I am wondering is: if I were to still get this car, what would you expect to pay to get it running well?

As I said, I just changed the sparks, but probably will again if I fix it, just to make sure, I flushed the radiator, but it is still really rusty, so I may want a new one, the battery is new, I just cleaned the terminals and had the oil changed. The brakes were serviced not too long ago, but even then, it was because they were in really bad, dangerous shape and we had just enough done to be safe. and there are new headlights in it too.

If I get the car, I would want to at LEAST replace as many gaskets/seals as possible, all hoses, wires, belts, filters and fluids. the engine really needs a rebuild I am sure. I am fine with this costing a good bit, because I want to have a little fun and don't really need to get anywhere my bike can't take me, lol!

What are your thoughts? about how much do you think this may cost, and is it worth it, or just go look for something else that may be $5k and running well already, and make that run better?

[2win2rbo]

Unless you love fixing things, it is better to buy one that is mechanically mint. Fixing those faults would take up too much time.

[Nebbuchanezzar]

yeah, i know...I am kinda looking for a fun project, but it does make more sense to get something in better condition...what if I got this for free, or just a few hundred?

[uibalnme]

The only way that car would be worth your time is if you can get it for less than $1000...alot less.

The oil on the plugs could just be the tube seals leaking. That's an easy fix. A new valve cover gasket, and a new set of tube seal, and you'll be good there.

Disappearing coolant without a coolant puddle under the car = blown head gasket. May also be the cause of the misfiring.

The fuel gauge problem is most likely the sending unit in the tank. Swapping that out should cure the gauge reading problem.

If you're going to dig into that car for the head gasket, you may as well do the following too:
- change valve stem seals
- change timing belt
- change water pump
- change oil pump
- clean EGR system
- clean throttle body and IAC valve

I'm sure there's more, but others can chime in for those.

Basically, do YOU think the car's worth it? It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, it's up to you.