So today i went and checked out an 03 evo 8 gsr with 76,000 miles. it had hks 264/272 cams, sparco short shifter, gfb bov. i noticed when the car was running there was a ticking noise coming from right around the valve cover, it didn't sound like a head tick, but iv never heard a cammed 4 cylinder before so i'm not sure if thats normal? that, and he told me i shouldn't launch it and if i launched it hard, i would smell clutch for 2 weeks....that sounds awful to me, the clutch grabbed fine but it sounded a bit fishy to me. i tried searching these but couldn't find anything specific enough, i appreciate any help.

 

I'd say only with an extended warranty/maintenance history. I bought my 03 8 with 75k miles. I found out the hard way that they never had the 60k mile maintenance done.

 

he said all the fluids are good, maintenance is up to date, and hes going to smog it for me. and that im welcome to carfax it or talk to the shop that does the work or bring it to any mechanic i want to check it out.

 

i just found that the tick sound is from not bleeding the lifters...but its just a noise i guess and theres not bad effect but annoyance. so thats out of the way...but now i still dont get can the clutch suck that much ***? he said it has 40k miles.

 

i'd say if you're not 100% sure on it, dont bother.
it's your money, and YOU have the buying power. It's your choice.
I'd say it's pretty hard to break the stock tranny on a stock clutch, maybe get him to replace the clutch or bargin down the price cause of the clutch condition?

 

thats exactly what i was thinking. quote my tuning shop on a new clutch and ask him to remove that price, or just talk him down close to enough. so apparently that ticking is normal and doesn't matter, and the clutch is just nearing the end of its life but isn't as horrible as he said. i do really like the car...its flawless inside and out. however it has different fenders which make me wonder if there was an accident so i'll be carfaxing it today and next time i see it going to a mechanic with him.

 

He Probably said dont launch the car because its on the stock clutch, And if you dont know how to launch correctly you burn the clutch, It can happen on any clutch but the stockers burn out quicker

 

when i had the stock clutch and launched it i would smell clutch for maybe 2 days...when i got the ACT only smelt a lil for a few seconds after the launch. I got 30k out of the stock...at 75k on the ACT so far and still has A LOT to go.

 

I have a 03 Evo w/42k on the clock that also is on the stock clutch. I can vouch for the fact that if you try to launch the stock clutch, you'll smell clutch for a few days. As far as the ticking from the valve cover, my Evo also does it. My car does not have upgraded cams either.

 

Thanks for the info guys. i'm pretty sure this is the car i want and will get right now. everything seemed flawless inside and out other than those 2 things. it has 76k miles, hes asking 17,5000 but i bet i could talk him down to 16 and i'd be very happy with that!

 

I have pulled 1.68 60fts on the stock clutch and it doesnt smell either. Smelly clutches are from riding it too much. My clutch has at least 15K on it and it was in my car when I got it. I have no idea how old it was then but the car had 60K on it when I got it.

 

what would be better for the car, to slip the clutch when you launch or rev a bit lower and drop it?

 

well **** i just got a very tough decision to face. i can either take out a loan for $7,000 dollars tomorrow, i have 10k cash, and get that car which is in wonderful condition with average miles, or if i want 3-4 weeks i can pay it off cash. i'm not sure though because i'm worried i won't find another in as good shape as this one :/ and with cams.

 

17k for an 03 gsr with 76k miles and a bad clutch? that sounds a hecka lot to me

 

the clutch felt fine i was just worried i was bad when he mentioned the launching thing. it was literally in mint condition though. however only decent mod was cams.