I've had my '85 GSL for 2 years now, and I bought it not running in hopes it would be a simple fix. I'm not to keen on the problem, but that's not the focus of my question.

As of lately, I've been questioning the situation with the car and if it's really worth fixing. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to get rid of it, even if it doesn't run. Below is a link to all the pictures I have taken of the car. I tried to get the best angles of everything on it. I would like to know what you all think about it and what kind of condition it is in.

(Hopefully this link works.)
http://photobucket.com/albums/v297/EYP0097/85%20GSL/

 

it doesn't seem too bad at all, i think that front pan can be completely removed, looks like your cats may have been hollowed out, in which case you should remove the rats nest, and all of the emmisions crap.

also check under the bins behind the seats, they are known too rust out, if those are fine, then your car is proably allright. if it runs fairly rough, you may find that removing all the emmisions will greatly improve the way the motor runs.

edit: also scrap the AC

 

Underneath those two bins is fine, and I did find quite a few wires unplugged.

I wish it did run fairly rough, because it doesn't even crank.

 

Interior looks great.

I had a Hell of a time getting an Auto Started. Normaly when they give me trouble I just pull start them, but that is not an option with the auto.

 

All I know that's wrong with the interior is the steering column cover, power window controls, center console cover, and of course that shifer handle.

I bought the Haynes Service Guide so I could get a better idea of how to make ends meet with this car.

 

Pen,

Hey you got a good starter car there. Stick with the project the rust I see is no major problem maybe a couple hundred bucks at a weld shop will fix you up right. As for the Haynes manual, read it, then read it again, Sleep with it on top your head, and then once you have memorized every word store it on the back of the toilet to read everytime you gotta relieve yourself. This project will be a walk in the park if you take the time to read the manual all the way through, and I mean dont just skip a few pages like the engine rebuild part. Read it all no matter what because you never know what might relate to each other.

 

The only reason I was feeling discouraged was because I've been short one money lately (not now though) and the day I bought a brand new starter, I went to Pep-Boys. They told me it was the last one for an automatic transmission in the eastern states for any of their warehouses. Granted he could have bullshit me, but I ended up paying an outrageous price on it I do think. Something like $225. Body wise, I know with a paint job, it's going to run about $2k to $2.5k because there isn't a panel without a dent.

 

Tell us what it is doing and we can give you pointers.

 

The only time I've gotten it to make any progress was the time the starter was working, but not in a good way. The key was in the ignition, but not engaging it, and as soon as I hooked the power to the battery cables, the starter turned on. As long as power was hooked to the cables, the starter would keep going.

 

Sounds like either a problem with the ignition switch, starter solenoid (stuck), or you hooked the starter up wrong. The batt + cable should go on the side of the solenoid without a wire on it. The other large terminal will have a wire the runs to the starter's body. The smaller wire is the trigger from the ignition switch.

 

Tomorrow, pending the weather because I lack a sufficent garage, I'll probably put it up on jack stands and see what I get to. I'm not sure what's what under there, but that's why I got the Haynes book for me. I'll let you know what happens, thanks for the info.

Next weekend I have a friend coming up to give me a hand. I believe he's a member on here too.

 

Ok, here's what I'm looking at under there.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Picture031.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Picture032.jpg

The two plastic ended wires fit together, but also the socket end of the two also fits on that tab on the starter...

The wire you were reffering to from running from the small solenoid to the big piece, there isn't one. Could it be pre fabbed inside the casings?

 

It won't let me ediy my messages...yeah, I didn't know what I was looking at in those, but I didn't realize the wire on the starter was hidden on top of the starter out of site. But yes, I know I sounded stupid.

 

Put the wire from the starter body to one of those large terminals. The battery cable goes to the other large terminal. The black wire with the white stripe goes to the tab on the solenoid. I am not sure about the blue and white wire. It is not a part of the starter circuit.

 

Thank you greatly. I won't have time to do this for another 4 days which is due to work to fund this car.

I just thought it was odd that the two plastice ended wires fit together.