your opinion wanted on my potential purchase

i have the chance to get a 1993 buick roadmaster loaded but it supposedly has a lower end knock. car is fairly clean blue with wood sides and a tan interiorni think it is 8 pass seating . interior is clean but has a rip in the drivers seat. $5oo what do you think ? how tough of a job is an engine change in one of these ?

You probably can't go wrong for $500. Sounds like the body and interior other than the seat are in decent shape. I haven't R & R'd a wagon engine (only removed), but don't think it would be a bad job. You said it "supposedly has a lower end knock". It could be something else. They are notorious for exhaust manifold leaks that can sound like a knock.

Tom C.

If its rust free then grab it for 500 bucks.

the guy says now the lowest he will go is 600 but the body is clean no big dents just some of the rubber strips are laying in the back. wierd thing is he said the fuel pressure dropped and then the motor started knocking

How does he know the fuel pressure dropped? I wonder if it has an oil pressure gauge and doesn't understand what he's looking at....

If the fuel pressure drops, they'll usually refuse to start or they will stall/not run faster than idle.

Fuel pumps are common repair item on these things. It's a pain in the butt job, but WAY easier than an engine replacement.

If it's rust-free (or nearly rust-free), I don't think you can go wrong at that price.

My $.02: offer the $500 again and don't be afraid to walk away if he says no.

Should be rust free, I believe 59 wagon man is from GA.

Tom

If you are going to swap engines, put an LQ4 in it with the corresponding trans and fuel pump. The cost will be similar, and you will get an 145~155 HP increase. There are some wiring changes, but it is not that difficult, and the performance is exceptional. With a few aftermarket parts, and a tune, you can get 445 HP without much trouble. It will still run on regular gas as well.

If the interior color is not the camel color, it is a one year color, so it might be a little difficult to find parts for.

As mentioned above the fuel pressure can not be checked unless you install a 91/2 FW (LO3/5 engine) fuel line, or one from a 93 FW. They both have Schrader valves on the lines.

They are all 8 seat cars.

It's a small block chevy,. easy to change,.

He's local to me (inside 30 miles) and I've seen the car he's talking about listed on CL for the past few weeks.  Scrap value on these cars loacally is about 500-600, so even if it is the motor, you can't lose (just strip piecy parts and junk).  Yes, it could be the exhaust manifold bolts.
Mine sounds pretty bad until they heat up and then it quiets right down (Chris will attest as it was like that when he got it, lol).
 
I believe it's 22 bolts including the four holding the hood on. At least on the LT1 cars...can't imagine more on the TBI