My $850 cdn 92' Cutlass Ciera SL 3.3l pic heavy

[XgfXca]

Heres my car, a couple of days after I got it. I still haven't had a chance to clean her up due to the cold weather.































Shes in really good shape only 157kms on her. Ive put 300 kms since getting her only noticed a few issues. When I topped up tank with fuel it over flowed and spilled onto ground not sure if this is normal or if I have a leak in the filler pipe?. The car was sitting alot over the last few years only a couple thousand kms put on it since 2012. The transmission was worrying me as twice in the first two days i was in Drive and stopped to make a turn and as i hit the gas it was like the car went to neutral i had to put it in park and put it back in drive? Has not happened since im hoping it was just seized and needed to be run. It spent the first 22 years up in northern ontario and yes seen every winter however the PO had her oiled for the salt religiously and had the rust fixed as needed. I was lucky to get some of the receipts from over the years. It needs mostly some cosmetic items to bring her back. Everything works cruise all windows seats etc. Still waiting to try the A/C.

So things I have done or had done by mechanic as I live in a apartment not aloud to work on cars :-( but I can at my folks this summer!:
New emergency break cable- PO had it cut.
New serpentine belt
New alternator it died on me a couple days ago.
New PVC valve while alternator was off.- Never seen one in such a weird place.
New fuel filter- I can feel the difference!
New air filter-I also cleaned the air filter housing and tubes 22 years of dirt builds up!
Oil/Lube and Filter.

Note: Starter was replaced day before I got her as it died unfortunately on the way to my place.

Things I want to get done soon:

New rear drivers marker cover/light-I guess this will be a junkyard trip
New fuel door spring- I guess this will be a junkyard trip
Tune up- New plugs/wires/coils
Rad flush
Break line flush
Fix rust over passenger rear tire

Wish list:
Custom made headers- Anyone ever done this?
Maybe flowmaster 10?? still looking at options want the nice rumble sound
New working power antenna

As for rims i love the stock look brings me back to the good old days white walls and wire spokes. So I cant see changing them anytime soon. But can you even buy new white walls? let alone the stock size?

Thanks for looking,

Ian

[Ciera91]

There's about 3 makers of 185/75/14 white walls. Uniroyal,Cooper, and Hankook. Expensive to least order 85-55$ a tire. I'm actually going to get a set of the hankook's soon(55$). But 195/75/14 because most places actually have a full set in stock in that size.

[fixitman333]

nice car!
if you are looking for a nice rumble, a thrush glass pack works nice. i've had a few people ask me if i had a V8.

[thesam1984]

Shes a beaut and love the red on red... my last a body was a white 92 with blue int. Didnt have the full gauges though

[Overclocked]

Nice looking Cierra, and welcome to the forum! That car is a great value for what you paid for it... I can never understand why people buy new cars for outrageous prices, and then lose 1/4 of the value as they drive off the lot.
Not to mention the burgundy exterior on burgundy interior, I love it, you don't see that often on new cars.
As for tires, you may want to look at some "BIG O" tires as well, they could still have white wall tires in that size. I've got a new set installed of them installed on my car by the previous owner.

Please keep us posted!

[Duke George V]

Your transmission slippage is probably caused by a slow leak. The transmission pan bolts will back out over time just from the vibrations of the drivetrain. Check them, and tighten as necessary. I recently found all twenty bolts on my Century's pan to be loose by at least 1/4 turn. Then check the fluid level. This has to be done with the car running and at operating temperature. It's probably at least a half liter low, if not more, to slip when cornering.

Other than that, it looks to be pretty well-maintained. That it has such a small amount of rust is the most amazing part.

[eastmanblues]

I may have a marker for you I will have a look, I also have a bunch of stock rims from my previous let me know if you need anything as well as alternator and fuel fillers

[thesam1984]

What do you mean by PO kept her oiled to keep the road salt of her. I would be curious to know. Also my car has a funny quirk when pumping gas. If the nozzle is seated all the way in the pump kicks off every couple dollars... I have to position it out slightly to not make it click off and then I run the risk of gas spilling out

[XgfXca]

There's about 3 makers of 185/75/14 white walls. Uniroyal,Cooper, and Hankook. Expensive to least order 85-55$ a tire. I'm actually going to get a set of the hankook's soon(55$). But 195/75/14 because most places actually have a full set in stock in that size.

Thanks ill take a look its wearing the Uniroyal's now tires are still good for now

[XgfXca]

nice car!
if you are looking for a nice rumble, a thrush glass pack works nice. i've had a few people ask me if i had a V8.

Ive been watching you tube videos on these cars I like some of what I hear but I would really like to go true duels with custom made headers. For performance and sound. Not sure if possible or how much etc. From what i have read on here it will not be easy and most likely too costly to bother so Ill just do a muffler swap in the intern when the stock muffler gets a hole or two

[XgfXca]

That car is a great value for what you paid for it... I can never understand why people buy new cars for outrageous prices, and then lose 1/4 of the value as they drive off the lot.

I totally agree with you I have had two Chevys before a 95 Astro and a 95 Silverado C1500 my newest daily driver is a 2012 Chevy Cruze LTZ- Don't get me wrong love the car the safety features as well as all the nice modern nice haves but the price is outrageous when after all we just need to get from point A to B and back. I didn't need to buy the Ciera but when I took it for a test drive this same thought came to my head: Why the heck am I paying so much for a new Car?!?! So I thought what the heck great price drove nice and it will be my weekend/summer car for now. I love looking at the old cars from the 50's you will never see such colour combos and styles ever again in my opinion. Too many have lost the love for the automobile and they treat them like disposable cans of pop :-) Enjoy the drink while it lasts then crush em!

[XgfXca]

Your transmission slippage is probably caused by a slow leak. The transmission pan bolts will back out over time just from the vibrations of the drivetrain. Check them, and tighten as necessary. I recently found all twenty bolts on my Century's pan to be loose by at least 1/4 turn. Then check the fluid level. This has to be done with the car running and at operating temperature. It's probably at least a half liter low, if not more, to slip when cornering.

Other than that, it looks to be pretty well-maintained. That it has such a small amount of rust is the most amazing part.

Thanks for the tip I have checked the fluid level and all seems well however i will check under the car at the bolts and make sure everything is snug: What is everyone's opinion on transmission service? The previous owner basically had the fluid changed yearly based on the records I have.

[XgfXca]

I may have a marker for you I will have a look, I also have a bunch of stock rims from my previous let me know if you need anything as well as alternator and fuel fillers

Thanks for the help, I am in no need of extra tires or rims at this point as she will not be a daily driver for me at this point. The fuel door would be nice to fix as well hate having it just flying around back there let me know about the marker.

[XgfXca]

What do you mean by PO kept her oiled to keep the road salt of her. I would be curious to know. Also my car has a funny quirk when pumping gas. If the nozzle is seated all the way in the pump kicks off every couple dollars... I have to position it out slightly to not make it click off and then I run the risk of gas spilling out

Hi thesam1984 check up Krown rust proofing not sure if they are in the US. Should give you a good idea with what i mean. Not sure if PO used Krown but it basically keeps the metal on the car covered so that it cannot oxidize.

[eastmanblues]

What do you mean by PO kept her oiled to keep the road salt of her. I would be curious to know. Also my car has a funny quirk when pumping gas. If the nozzle is seated all the way in the pump kicks off every couple dollars... I have to position it out slightly to not make it click off and then I run the risk of gas spilling out

It means we take our cars in and have the underneath and the insides of the body sprayed with oil so it does not rust with a combo of salt and water