It could be saved!!??

[Pontiac6KSTEAWD]

Today was a good day and a bad day for the TGP. I will start with the good.. (hopefully this is in the right section)

 

So as some of you know, earlier this year, my TGP got hit by a hail storm. The car was insured with full covereage, and they decided to total it out. I have been fighting them on this tooth and nail since it happened. I plan on keeping the car, but I dont want the "salvage" title that goes with it. Thats the last thing any prospective buyer wants to see on a title.

 

Well I took it to a body shop last week that had a inhouse appraiser. He advised me that because the car was of a particular rarity, that I should have a member of the ISA appraise that car. So I met up with a ISA Appraiser today...

 

To cut to the chase, the insurance company appraised the cars value at 2900 dollars, and the hail damage amounted to 2700. The appraiser has informed me that the amount the insurance company was way off. He hasnt given me an exact number at this point, he is mailing it to me Thursday.

 

The appraisel give by the ISA Appraiser will not, and cannot, be challenged since my insurance company also uses this guy routinely. So if the appraisel is over 3800 or thereabouts, the insurance company will either have to pay for the repairs PLUS the 200 dollar fee the apraiser charged, or, give me the appraisers amount in a check for total out PLUS the appraisers fee.

 

I am hoping for repair personally.. Get a new paint job, plus a few other things. Keeping it original paint, but with some gold flake if thats a posibility.

 

Now the bad..

 

I stopped at my buddys shop on the way out to top off the fluids and what not this morning. One of their machines nailed my drivers side door and made a really nice dimple in it. They told me to take it to a dentless repair place. Did that, and they informed me the dimple is to sharp, and since the paint has been removed to the metal, it will have to go to a body shop. The dimple can be rolled out, but it will have to be paint blended. Luckily its going to the shop for other things (hopefully) and can be taken care of then.

 

Also, on the way home from the appraisers, the TGP starting running like shit. I was smelling rotten eggs, motor was missing, motor was bucking, but no SES light. I am thinking the Cat took a shit, and probly fouled out the plugs. Got under the hood, and she is sure missing, exhaust sounds like shit, and you can hear it in the motor. I also found a vacume leak at the four way port at the throttle body. Gonna have to get a new vacume system.

 

So, the TGP is running like shit, but could be on the way to the sop to look like a million bucks!!

 

Now comes the questions. If the CAT is bad, should I even bother with a high flow cat? or just go stock? I am going to keep the plugs and wires stock at this point so nothing there really. Where can I get a new vacume setup? I know some member got a new one, just wondering where he got it from, and cost?

 

(another topic that was moved to the wrong section. Yea it might be about my TGP, but the questions asked are not TGP specific. Just cause it is about a car, doesnt mean it doenst apply to other cars, or that owners of other cars couldnt answer the questions asked since they are not TGP Specific)

[Mach 5]

If your smelling rotten eggs the cat is probably shot. Does it rattle? I would personally buy a new cat from Magnaflow(they have direct fit and universal ones)

 

As for the vacuum lines I used some tubing I bought at the hardware store. It will work temporily. If its the actual vacuum block, I would take some RTV silcone sealer and stick a little bit on the edges.

[Pontiac6KSTEAWD]

Thats what I am planning of sorts. Going with a 2 1/2 mandrel exhaust from the DP back, high flow cat, probly borla muffs, maybe something else. RTV on the vacume lines.

 

The car is confusing the hell out of me, running like shit, stinky, etc the other day. Today it runs like a scalded ape.

 

Either way, this is all a winter project, for some early spring pics, and hopefully a much better 1/4 time.

[GutlessSupreme]

That's awesome man, I hope you can get everything fixed. Hail damage sucks.. STE's got some too :/ but that's the least of it's problems right now.

[Larry M]

Having had a few problems with a TGP in the past, I can mention a couple that will cause your TGP to limp back to your home or the nearest repair facility.

 

If it seemed to be running on four cylinders, or even only two cylinders, check EGR then check spark coils on front of engine. Also check turbocharger.

 

Of course, the little vacuum lines are very important. Also, consider looking in area of alternator mounting bolt and bracket for a shorted spark plug wire.

 

Just a few ideas. Hope you get it straightened out soon.

 

Glad to hear your story about the appraiser. State Farm did come within $1,700 of paying for my new TGP. I guess its not too bad since I moved into a car with 132,000 fewer miles. : )

 

Of course, a day or so after State Farm made their offer and I accepted it, the fellow who sold me the new TGP told me of an NADA website TGP valued at $9,600 in excellent condition with low mileage. Oh well, mine was certainly no low-mileage car.