Hey guys, I'm new to this forum and to the Evo world as a whole. I'm planning on buying an 8 that has a whole host of problems including a supposed nonrunning engine, which I will be checking out during the transaction, and the bodywork, which is really bad due to insanely deep scratches and dents and all that. It might also need a new hood depending on how bad the dents really are. The car's interior is in pretty good condition and it's got 90k miles. This is for 5000, is it a good deal and how much will the paint and a new block cost?

 

Welcome @DevilEvo8

Sure $5K is certainly a bargain price if you have the full drivetrain including a re-buildable engine block. Paint is paint & doesnt matter whether its an EvO or not as im sure you know. So depends on what level of paint & body work youre willing to go with. One of the biggest issues would be rust & corrosion in the body. Make sure you look into the rust issue prior to buying

I say go for it if it checks out! / Cheers, Joe

 

Alright for sure, I have a friend where I live who works at a motorsport shop and he told me that sourcing won't be a huge problem due to his connections. If the engine is supposedly blown up, how much would it be to get it back on the road including the actual swap? The transmission and clutch felt very good on the car. Also, what are some "popular rust spots"? Thank you so much for the help.

 

That rear toe arm mounting area in the rear. They all start to rust there and it goes downhill really quick. My friend's car from AZ arrived rust free and after daily driving in NOVA for a few years, started developing rust in that same area. You will know if it is bad because it will start flaking off in HUGE pieces. Also be wary of any attempts to apply undercoating, usually this only masks the problem and if not done right, it will hide problem areas from being visible. Generally, the amount of rust in and around the engine bay dictates what you will find on the rest of the car.

 

Get the EvO on a lift & have it inspected for corrosion damage. As noted by Driven168, check all the suspension attachment points front & rear. Check the rocker panels & the wheel wells. Pull the rear seats out & the remove both inspection panels to expose the top of the fuel tank. I would recommend pulling the fuel pump (drivers side inspection panel) & having a peek into the tank, looking any debris.
Regarding the engine build there are so many options. Hopefully the block is OK as that will save quite a bit. As a general feel i would budget for minimum of $5K on a build

 

Welcome to the forums!