Couple weeks ago I got my car registered, tagged, and titled so I can drive the Delta around. I knew that the car was wreaked before, no big issue. Today I get a letter in the mail from the tag and titles office of being notified of some issues on our (my mom and ours now, co-owned) 1987 Olds. I thought “WTF?”

Well apparently this car was registered in Pennsylvania before it was brought to Maryland, then back to Pennsylvania with me. Well Penn Dot was processing the title and happened to come across some info. The car is actually supposed to have a salvaged title. Yup, you heard that right. Apparently it was totaled in Pennsylvania, bought back by the owner and sold in Maryland with a regular title. Let’s just say the original owner is in some trouble...

This explains all the alignment issues and some other problems. I did notice there was another front clip welded on, so it was my first suspicion.

So now we have to go to the tag and title office and get special papers and such for the proper salvaged title. Also have to take front, back, side to side pictures for proof of it no longer being wreaked...

So, I got screwed. This explains the problems it's been having. All I can say, is goodbye Olds probably. I don't need a problem like this. There have been more issues as well and it's costing me money I don't have

Bad deal. I know hindsight is 20-20, but maybe a Carfax would have saved money.

My Cutty was owned by the Philly PD, as an undercover car for 6 months. They got it in a drug bust. If you would have seen it when I got it, you would understand.
It's OK now.

After all that work you put into it?

Just put this into perspective. I'm going on my second transmission in under 3,000 miles and I DO NOT abuse it. Can't afford that crap!

Different issue. The shop that did the rebuild should stand behind their work.

I think you should step back, take a deep breath, and look at the situation with an open mind.

Salvage title doesn't mean the car is junk, any more than an odometer reading of 100K miles means a car is worn out.

Your Dad is a body man, did he say the repairs were done improperly?

If you don't like the car, get rid of it. If you do like the car, consider working with it.

Norm

I know the transmission thing is the shops fault, but they are taking a look at it and could possably get it fixed for free anyways...

My father cussed and hollered at the shotty work done on the car. The doors on the wreaked side were not even from this car, or model. Plus they even used 1/4th of an inch of bondo just to get the bottom of the front passenger door to line up. The bodyshop before didn't even clean up their welds when they put the new front clip on. Basically a cheap job to sell the car and make a profit. So, yes, repairs were done improperly...

Being over 100K, yes it is getting worn out. I expected this, but it seems we are bringing it into work every other day for repairs, its rediculous. Some major items I'm needing are too expensive (for example replacing my bald tires, caused me to slide through an intersection and run a red light in the rain last Saturday...) I needed a car to get to school (alternative, provide your own transportation type) so it was a quick and cheap buy, and the interior was large enough to haul all my stuff. It was an impulse buy that I shoulda Carfax'd, my fault.

I like the car, yes, but it's getting costly. Not sure what I want to do at this point exactly in time.

Then I would fix as much as needed, sell it, bite the bullet. Get a different sled. Sux, but, that's cars. Cierra Wagons are cheap, with the 2.8. Plenty of room, and still an Olds!

With gas prices, I'm thinking a Geo, wonder if I can actually fit in one..

I thought the same thing a few times with my car, Ive had it for 2 1/2 yrs and put less than 6,000 miles on it. Ive also spent THOUSANDS on this car not a few hundred or a thousand or 2 but many and it is at the point where I own 2 cars because I dont use the Olds more than 1 or 2 times a month. BUT Ive kept the car and still go out to the garage and just look at it.
I remember when I first got that car and NOTHING worked, and my tires were bald too, but it became a project, I didnt rush anything just took my time and did little things here and there.
The Olds is my first car (Ive had 4 at this point)yet it is still my favorite and the one that is locked in the garage.

When you calm down you will remember why you put all that effort into the car and why you like it.
Also after a while when you drive a old car that stands out its kinda cool becuase people get to know the car (everyone knows the kid with the Oldsmobile in WH)

As far as a title change so what, had you not known this would you think any other about the car? With a body man for a dad you have a great way to keep your car in good shape and learn at the same time.
An of course it is an Oldsmobile

Oh I've been calm, I knew really the history of that car since we took off the front fender and saw a new front clip welded on. The water leak around the area also was a tell-tale sign. So I just had to laugh it off when we were talking to the tag and titles office.

The problem I'm having now is, there are more bills in the family then income. I can't have a problematic car that cost me money almost every week (and it has needed something each week over $100 ) because then I won't have enough to pay bills. It's so bad that my motormount is zip tied with 4 indutrial zip-ties. Just don't have time either... (Proff of zip-tied mount - Here)

It was partly my fault trying to get a DD that was almost 20 years old. But after I bought it something told me to sell it because it was a rustbucket. However, my father came along and suddenly it was off the lawn for sale. No longer a rustbucket, but still problematic. I would love to get everything running great again, just don't have the money.

Think what I'm going to do is just try and run it for as long as I can. I'm trying to save up enough to buy another car as a DD (one that uses less gas for sure!) and just store the Delta for a rainy day. I've had some things I want to do so who knows. Time will tell.

so that potentially takes care of one big issue


Isn't most of that bad body work fixed now?


not trying to sound sarcastic... but a Geo has tires that will wear out too


Yes…. a newer vehicle will most likely require less repair… but at what expense?

The way I see it… If you have a newer vehicle, you’re probably going to take out a loan and have to make monthly payments on it, not to mention other expenses associated with a newer vehicle like higher taxes, insurance, etc. An older vehicle will cost you less for the initial purchase, taxes, insurance, etc... but over time will cost you more for repairs. There are pros and cons to both situations.

just my $.02

In the end it's your car and you'll do what you want with it.

From the looks of that picture, the position of that mount appears to be on the front left side -- from the vantage point, if you were sitting inside your car looking out the front windshield, respectively opposite, if you were standing directly in front of your car facing in the direction towards the car. If this is the case, you are actually looking at a front transmission mount.

The motor mounts are bolted underneath the right front and back sides of the engine (with respect to the first vantage point I mentioned above).

In addition, the motor mounts have a unique shape of their own and do not have any safety tabs as this one does. The brown, rusted piece that you see curling downwards and around, which appears to be precariously clinging on to that bottom metal piece is the safety tab. This was designed in the event the rubber portion of the mount wore-out, tear, separate, and/or disintegrate, which this one obviously has, would temporarily avert a catastrophic disaster from your transmission separating from your engine, resulting in an untimely death for your car. Driving with metal-to-metal mounts is insane, but then again, sometimes we don't have a choice. I understand completely.

And finally, that dark, thin, blood-colored, streak/puddle of liquid that you see in the top center portion of the picture is transmission fluid. You typically wouldn't see this kind of fluid in such a proximity as this one is on the motor mount side of your engine.

I feel your pain, man. I've been there and done that.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune with this car... Its only a car though.

You've done such a nice job on the out side, and the inside looks great too. Trying to re-sell the car with a wrecked title is going to be a chore, but is do-able. BUT I would seriously fix the car! You've put the repairs needing to be done in your perspective, here's mine:

Right away the car needs:
1) rubber trans mount
2) tires
3) trans shop to fix thier work

The first two, can be done for a very reasonable price. Other than that , if you can bring yourself to forget the shoddy work done from the last body shop, you've fixed everything else wrong with the car!

Just another way to look at your situation Dont get so down about wheels, its just a machine.

If I may add to Aaron's suggestion, get both front and rear transmission mounts replaced.

Well the transmission work is done, but it was the shops screw-up. Something about the final drive gear, not exactly. Seems they didn't notice the mount, oh well. We will work on that this weekend.

It just seems everytime I get a sum of money the car thinks "Hey, Adam just got some money, lets break down!" Happens every single time

Oh well. I'll try and stretch the car to 200K. By then I'll (hopefully) have enough saved. But if anybody offers me anything for the car that is reasonable, it's gone

Maybe I can get my cousins 87' off him as a parts car, since he wants to get rid of it, only thing it has 167K. I just want the manual window crank mechanisms cause I hate power windows. Doubt I'll get it though.