Yeah I know I should post this over in some car group, but I know you guys better.
So anyway, I just helped my friend buy a car. It is a 77' Pontiac Bonneville Brougham, 4 door, 301 cu.Inch engine, power everything. Black exterior, with the most hideous beige/tan/gold/black striped upholstery I have ever seen. Looks like a liesure suite from the Sopranos. My friend loves it.
We got it for $550 from a local guy off of eBay.
We went up on Friday and checked it out, drove it around a bit and put a $30 deposit down since we were getting paid today for a contract job.
Went up today and paid the remainder, took possesion of the car and went to drive home.
The car got about 15 miles before it died, luckily at an off ramp next to a gas station. It seems the radiator was empty, so I figure the thermostat or water pump were toast, and since we hadn't driven it that far before it didn't show. After the engine had cooled down and we refilled the radiator, we couldn't get it restarted. I don't think we blew the headgasket, and the engine still cranks, it just won't start.
I am a bit pissed that the bozo selling the car bothered to wash it and top off the oil, but never filled the radiator, but I feel like it was also my fault for not checking it myself.
The car is in very good shape over all, and I do not feel that bad about the whole incident yet. I had it flatbed towed to a shop near my home so we can find out what happened.
So anybody have any comments on 77' Bonnevilles? My friend wants to convert it to Diesel so he can run bio-diesel in it.
I am wondering if anybody has a good recommendation for a diesel engine that would fit in such a car. I was thinking an engine from a diesel pickup truck would work, as long as it has an automatic transmision.
This one only has the 301 engine, but I know that it had the option for a 455 V-8, so it can hold a BIG Block engine.