The Rev
Dedicated LVC Member
This is my first post, I've been reading here for months (you'll see why) and I just registered yesterday, it's a little long sorry.
OK here's the story.
I'd been saving for my first personal car for a while when the mechanics at my Mother's cab company says he sells cars on the side too. He asked what I wanted and I said ideally, something big, American, and powerful. Ideally I wanted a Mustang but he told me he had a great car for me, 600 bucks. A 1993 Mark VIII. Only bad side was that it needed a paint job and he didn't have any paperwork. Against my Mother's advice I bought it, figuring "well as long as there's no mechanical problems it'll be a good first car".
So I bought and paid for it in March with the understanding he'd tow it the next day knowing that it needed tires and a real good tuneup, and of course a paint job. FINALLY got it towed down here. (he had originally told me that he didn't want to drive it because it's been sitting for 2 years and he had no inspection and couldn't use dealers plates to move it)
First thing was the battery was dead, replaced that, but it had flat tires (been sitting for 2 years again) so I got air in them, but one leaks bad. Here's the bad part, all four tires have circular (i have pics if needed) locked lugnuts. And after driving it around the block I realized the brakes are horribly rusted, i didnt top out over 5 mph. A friend of mine who's dad is a mechanic (only on imports, mostly tuners) told me I need to get rotors, pads, you know, the whole shabam. That and backing out of my driveway I got a hole the size of a skittle in my oil pan, so it leaks crazy fast.
Now the need for advice:
One of the locked lugnuts is in such bad shape i have no idea how to remove it.
I bought "lugnut removers" from pepboys with no luck. Does anyone know where to get the lugnut keys? I know people have said dealers will remove them for little or no cost but remember I cant even stop the car so I can't move it.
The oil pan needs to be replaced, I bought a Chilton's over the internet and am waiting for that to come in. I don't know how to do that because I've never really worked on a car (but will have tons of time to learn in the summer) but if anyone has done it what tools are needed and is it something thats hard to do?
And besides that, after I get the locks off the tires I'd like to get some good brakes (the friend i talked about loves his brembo setup). On this car I'd like to replace the rotors and pads, what else should I replace? I know its hard to say over the internet but my friend said the calipers should be good. I want to get the slotted cross drilled, you know, good ones.
If anyone's read all of this, got any reccomendations? I'd like to do as much of the work as possible by myself (with the help of people I know) and i DONT want to go back to the guy i bought it from because i annoyed him so much over the few months i was trying to get him to tow it i think he set me up for failure (the back tires were bald when i paid for it, now those tires are in the front) and i'd like to get it up and running and then go see him to see the look on his face. But with all of this taken into consideration does anyone have rough estimates on 1) how to get the locks off, either with tools i can buy and what not or what someone might charge 2) all the things i'd need for a good brake job 3) where to buy parts for this car online, i do need the oil pan and 4) things i need to perform a tuneup (including tools, where to buy em, etc etc i'd like to start learning everything with this car)
I know it may be a little too much to ask for but after doing all this research on this car I've fallen in love with them and want to make this one as good as it can be.
PS: 110,000 miles.
OK here's the story.
I'd been saving for my first personal car for a while when the mechanics at my Mother's cab company says he sells cars on the side too. He asked what I wanted and I said ideally, something big, American, and powerful. Ideally I wanted a Mustang but he told me he had a great car for me, 600 bucks. A 1993 Mark VIII. Only bad side was that it needed a paint job and he didn't have any paperwork. Against my Mother's advice I bought it, figuring "well as long as there's no mechanical problems it'll be a good first car".
So I bought and paid for it in March with the understanding he'd tow it the next day knowing that it needed tires and a real good tuneup, and of course a paint job. FINALLY got it towed down here. (he had originally told me that he didn't want to drive it because it's been sitting for 2 years and he had no inspection and couldn't use dealers plates to move it)
First thing was the battery was dead, replaced that, but it had flat tires (been sitting for 2 years again) so I got air in them, but one leaks bad. Here's the bad part, all four tires have circular (i have pics if needed) locked lugnuts. And after driving it around the block I realized the brakes are horribly rusted, i didnt top out over 5 mph. A friend of mine who's dad is a mechanic (only on imports, mostly tuners) told me I need to get rotors, pads, you know, the whole shabam. That and backing out of my driveway I got a hole the size of a skittle in my oil pan, so it leaks crazy fast.
Now the need for advice:
One of the locked lugnuts is in such bad shape i have no idea how to remove it.
I bought "lugnut removers" from pepboys with no luck. Does anyone know where to get the lugnut keys? I know people have said dealers will remove them for little or no cost but remember I cant even stop the car so I can't move it.
The oil pan needs to be replaced, I bought a Chilton's over the internet and am waiting for that to come in. I don't know how to do that because I've never really worked on a car (but will have tons of time to learn in the summer) but if anyone has done it what tools are needed and is it something thats hard to do?
And besides that, after I get the locks off the tires I'd like to get some good brakes (the friend i talked about loves his brembo setup). On this car I'd like to replace the rotors and pads, what else should I replace? I know its hard to say over the internet but my friend said the calipers should be good. I want to get the slotted cross drilled, you know, good ones.
If anyone's read all of this, got any reccomendations? I'd like to do as much of the work as possible by myself (with the help of people I know) and i DONT want to go back to the guy i bought it from because i annoyed him so much over the few months i was trying to get him to tow it i think he set me up for failure (the back tires were bald when i paid for it, now those tires are in the front) and i'd like to get it up and running and then go see him to see the look on his face. But with all of this taken into consideration does anyone have rough estimates on 1) how to get the locks off, either with tools i can buy and what not or what someone might charge 2) all the things i'd need for a good brake job 3) where to buy parts for this car online, i do need the oil pan and 4) things i need to perform a tuneup (including tools, where to buy em, etc etc i'd like to start learning everything with this car)
I know it may be a little too much to ask for but after doing all this research on this car I've fallen in love with them and want to make this one as good as it can be.
PS: 110,000 miles.
