Found an 83 wagon

[Shagbark]

I checked every JY within an hour's drive to the East of me (about ten or so) and was disappointed to find that every Gen-1 Maxima (even the gassers) except one, has already been crushed. The one that escaped the crusher is an 83 diesel wagon. It is all there but, there is a catch. How it ended up in the JY (as told to me by the JY owner) is that, the PO took it to a mechanic because it wouldn't idle when they let off the accelerator. The mechanic told them that he didn't know anything about diesels but, he would look at it if they wanted him to but, he wouldn't guarantee that he could fix it. They agreed so, he looked it over and told them that he couldn't find anything wrong with everything that he could check and that he thought it had to be in the IP. He sent the IP to have it fixed but, when he put it back on, the engine ran wide open. Every time he started the engine it ran at full throttle, even though he wasn't giving it any throttle. He double checked everything and again, decided it was an IP problem. He calls the shop that worked on the IP, and they told him that there was nothing wrong with the IP, that it had to be something else causing the problem. Well, when he broke this news to the PO, they told him that they weren't going to pay him for making the car run worse than it was when they brought it to him. He told them that they weren't getting the car back unless they pay him because, he told them that he couldn't guarantee that he could fix it when they left it with him. The PO told him to stick the car up his rear so, after holding it for a while he sold it to the JY. The JY owner said that they started it, and it ran wide open like the guy said. He offered to sell me the car for $750 but, it has no title, and without the engine running right, you can't tell if anything else is wrong with it. I checked the accelerator cable to see if it was hung but, it wasn't. You would think that most any mechanic would have checked all the simple stuff correctly. Does anyone have any ideas what might be making this car run wide open all the time? If it's a simple fix, then this car is a good buy. If the IP is garbage then, I think he's asking to much for it. I asked him about buying some parts off of it but, he wants to sell the whole car. I'm not in a bind for a parts car and paid less $ for the diesel wagon that I drove over there, than what he wants for this one. BTW, if anyone wants this car, Just say so and I'll give you the guys number. You wont be cutting in front of me and I'd be happy to help if someone needs it. I think it's brown with gray interior. I'm color blind (seriously) and can't say 100% but, I'm pretty sure that's what color it was. The body is straight, none of the glass is cracked, The interior is average except for the dash, which is cracked all to pieces. All the lenses, buttons and switches are there. The only thing I noticed that was missing, is the last half of the plastic air intake tube that runs from the air filter, across the top of the radiator to the grill. I didn't even think to check the mileage because, when he said "$750", I knew I wasn't going to buy it anyway. I went ahead and looked it over just to see what all was there. Anyway, if anyone wants it, I'll look up his number again and give it to you. The book I got it from is at my wife's office, that's why I didn't just put it on here now. Or, if you don't want it but, know whats likely causing it to run wide open, I might reconsider it for a parts car.

Frank

P.S.
I'm not through scouring the countryside yet. I WILL find them if they are still out there .

[odie]

buy the car. you will be banned for life if you don't save it

sounds like a quick fix, something is stuck or messed up with the IP linkage probably.

sounds like the car is decent otherwise and diesel wagons are worth twice a diesel sedan which are worth twice a gasser.

[asavage]

Could be as simple as a incorrectly connected Cold Start Device, but I would think that even a non-diesel mechanic (someone who repairs vehicles for a living) would be able to figure it out, as it's external to the IP housing and can be seen with a flashlight.

I would not buy a non-driving Maxima for that kind of money, unless it was a cream puff. 1983 is a very good year for the Maxima diesel, esp. the Wagon, due to the coil spring rear suspension and the OD transmission. But there are a lot of things to go wrong with a 25-yr-old car, and that's just too much money to gamble, IMO.

We all know that the crankshaft alone is worth $382 on eBay though

[goglio704]

The lack of a title is what I find the most discouraging.

[Shagbark]

Thanks for the input guys.

buy the car. you will be banned for life if you don't save it

Had he said $350, it would have came home with me.

Could be as simple as a incorrectly connected Cold Start Device, but I would think that even a non-diesel mechanic (someone who repairs vehicles for a living) would be able to figure it out, as it's external to the IP housing and can be seen with a flashlight.

Ditto.

there are a lot of things to go wrong with a 25-yr-old car, and that's just too much money to gamble, IMO.

Ditto again.

We all know that the crankshaft alone is worth $382 on eBay though

Like all of you, that crank is worth more to me in an LD28.

The lack of a title is what I find the most discouraging

That's the icing on the cake (or lack there of) for me. This car isn't going anywhere, he told me that it wont be crushed. I'm looking high and low to see what all is in my area. If this car is all that I find, I may (will) take a long look at the linkages on my car, grab a battery, jug of diesel, flashlight, and some tools, and go take a closer look just to ease my mind about it.
Speaking of finding out what's in my area, I hope you guys are having more luck finding parts cars than I am. I hit everything to my north today, and am saddened to report that there are none. Everything has been crushed already, and I mean EVERYTHING (well almost, see below), gassers, diesels, all of them . However, I did have one bright spot today. I found a complete turbo setup (manifold, turbo, downspout, all of it) for $50. The car wasn't at a salvage, I spotted it sitting in the weeds with three or four other cars behind a metals recycling center way out in the sticks. I was thinking as I waded through the stickers that there probably wouldn't be anything left under the hood but, when I raised it up, there it was . When the guy said $50, I almost went weak at the knees . I have to go back Monday to get it because, he was only open until noon. Also, as unlikely as it sounds, one of the other four cars he had, was an 83 maxima sedan (gasser AT). It has been rear-ended but, I don't need anything back there anyway. There are do-dads and knickknacks on it that I need. After seeing how reasonable he was on the turbo, I may deal with him for this car. I know that the gasser OD-AT isn't a bolt in without any issues but, a turbo wagon with OD sure sounds good.
I hope you guys don't think I'm trying to take over the board. Just try to remember how excited you were with your first diesel Max. I have a monthly subscription site that I'm going to cancel and donate that $ to this one. No,........it's not a porno site , it's a sports site.

Frank

[asavage]

I found a complete turbo setup (manifold, turbo, downspout, all of it) for $50.

That's less than a third of what I've paid for a manifold + 300ZX turbo, never mind the inlet plumbing. You've got to buy that one.

. . . an 83 maxima sedan (gasser AT). I know that the gasser OD-AT isn't a bolt in without any issues but, a turbo wagon with OD sure sounds good.

I'm thinking that the '83 gasser OD trans will bolt up and work with the LD28 (even though there are internal differences) but the real problem is that it won't fit in the '82 chassis, at least not without cutting the tunnel.

[odie]

buy the car. you will be banned for life if you don't save it

Had he said $350, it would have came home with me.


see...already a $400 discount...that's over 50% off...if you don't drag that thing home I will...I will...well I guess choke my mouse

He want's it gone...he's only gonna get a few bucks for it crushed...$350 is a huge profit for him at this point...

You will find double that in worth while and irreplacable parts

Every time I find an old trashed diesel like this (Mitsu, Isuzu, Mazda, Ranger, Datsun, Toy, etc) I have to "justify" NOT picking it up for future use.

[kassim503]

dont let him crush it, pleassee