Looking to buy a 00 Park Ave Ultra 3800 SC

[n0dih]

I am looking at a Emerald Green 3800 SC Park Avenue Ultra with 78K on it that "is owned by the 87 year old lady" according to her 60 year old son selling the car. Car is very clean and appears to be well taken care of. They claim the car doesn't see much more than trips to church and around town and not often on the highway. No warning symptoms that I could see, and I do know the 3800 Series "C" engine very well. Never played with a SC 3800 though.

Any things to look for good/bad? oil pressure hot is in the 60-67 psi range off idle. Nothing seems bad to me. Power is smooth, but my LT1 Fleetwood will cream it down the quarter mile (I do PCM tuning, so that is something I am anxious to work on! I miss positive pressure....).

It runs ok, power isn't stellar, but smooth, you can't ever tell when boost comes in like my 301 Turbo V8 did.

It has the chrome wheels (and new tires), quiet, rides well, lots of options (no sun roof , but looks like it would be a nice daily driver which is what I need and be able to put 35K miles a year on it....

Thanks!

[palermocorey90]

there a great car, i would do it. just check all the fluids. you dont want it to be like my riviera, that was owned my an old man the oil came out like jello, well kinda watery jello but still not the way it should. i was say just look it over take it for another test drive, look everything over very carfully

BTW if it has the old person smell it will need to be shampoo'd. my car has the old person smell i need to replace the interior LOL

[n0dih]

Oil looked good, will have to check the others. No olg fogey smell at all (good point!!)

I was mentioning to my wife that I would like to go up for another test drive and maybe bring my ramps to look underneath. The claim is no accidents or issues. Nothing looked like it to me.

I am mixed about buying a "Buick" and have the old fogey feel. I am a performance type, and although my 94 Fleetwood is a Cad, it has the LT1, Factory 3.42's and big bars, same Impala SS spring rate (just taller), runs low 15's in the quarter all factory. And can tow 7000 lbs.... But 250,000 miles and it needs some time off the road to get some TLC and I need better mpg..... I drive 35K a year.

Originally Posted by palermocorey90

there a great car, i would do it. just check all the fluids. you dont want it to be like my riviera, that was owned my an old man the oil came out like jello, well kinda watery jello but still not the way it should. i was say just look it over take it for another test drive, look everything over very carfully

BTW if it has the old person smell it will need to be shampoo'd. my car has the old person smell i need to replace the interior LOL

What are good mods? How hard is it to get this car into the 14's? At what point will I start to sacrifice reliability? I want power, but still need to try to keep mpg....

[palermocorey90]

not to hard, im just converting S2 now, but lets see, i would do FWI,3.4 pulley, tuner, PLOG, ZZP down pipe. and you should be in low to mid 14s

[01gtprocket]

How much is the car?

Do yu have a freind that has a scnner like a scanmaster or a lsm1?

I would scan the car before buying it.. Bec if some crazy reason the kr is alot then the motor might be shot.. Low miles doesnt matter if the person didnt take care of it.. Just my 2 cents

[n0dih]

I have MXScan I can use. Isn't the knock count reset at each startup?

Can these cars tolerate 87 octane if someone was to use it consistently? Reason I ask is someone who is 87 years old may or may not pay that close attention.... And in this day in age, with gas prices in the stupid range, what will people do?

Originally Posted by 01gtprocket

How much is the car?

Do yu have a freind that has a scnner like a scanmaster or a lsm1?

I would scan the car before buying it.. Bec if some crazy reason the kr is alot then the motor might be shot.. Low miles doesnt matter if the person didnt take care of it.. Just my 2 cents

What sort of life do the FPR's and fuel pumps have? Can they support much power mods?

[bruce]

SOunds like a great car to me...although thats what i drive and I'm 20!! Check my sig to see what i ran in the 1/4 with the boat...I spent less than 500$ to nurse mine back to health and add some performance stuff on it.

Bruce

[kevandkaye]

I run 40 miles each way up and down I-65 5 days a week and average 28 - 32 MPG all day long with the 3.5 pulley and still get a somewhat respectable 15.03 1/4 time. If you have bought the car, let us know how you fare with tuner programs.....

[01gtprocket]

yu need a scanner to check for kr..

Try to find somone on here that might besble to scan it for yu.. I live in ca so im way to far..


Its just to be safe..