I've had an interesting couple of days, thought you might get a kick out of them. About a year ago I bought a 98 GTP coupe, black with every option but a sunroof. I loved the car when I first got it, but truthfully I got it to get my gf through a rough time until she could afford to buy a new car. Needless to say, she beat the **** out of it, and it started to show it, mechanically, but it did have about 150k+ miles on it. I ended up spending quite a few dollars on the car all new Pioneer door speakers (stock were blown), Walbro fuel pump, fuel filter, plugs, wires, new coil packs, coolant flush, tranny flush 3 times over, resonator delete(it was rusted out), w body store 3 inch offroad downpipe (cat was bad), o2 simulator, air filter, powerslot rotors (front) and bendix brake pads all around. Most of this stuff was routine service that had been avoided by the previous owner, but other things broke. I did all the work myself except for the resonator, so it wasn't an astronomical expense. Then the car got bashed up by my girls dad backing into it. He ended up coming off some money to fix it after we had a heart to heart about it (to put it mildly). My good friend is excellent at body work, so I payed him to fix the car, every blemish on it, and paint the whole thing. It turned out great, especially since he painted it in my garage.

Now that brings you up to date on the car, I was tired of messing with it, and the A/C didn't work (dark leather and FL weather don't help much), and finally the car was in perfect mechanical and cosmetic condition with the exception of the A/C. I expressed interest to a couple of my friends that I was kicking around the idea of selling it to get a truck. I then heard that my friends brother (who I really don't care for) wanted the car. He was going to sell his truck and pay me the $5000 that I was asking. I told him I would trade him straight up for his truck (he was asking $6500 for it), HE SAID YES!! He has a 2001 GMC Sonoma Extended Cab with ZQ8 suspension and every avaliable option. So we traded, overall the truck was in great mechanical condition, but he didn't respect the truck very much and the body needs major work. The only catch was the bed was ported for speakers, but there was no speakers in it, so there is a 2'x3' hole cut through the cab and it looks like ***. So my friend got to work on the body, it looks bad now because it is primer spotted like a dalmation, but not for long. When I buy a billet grill, hood, and front bumper the whole truck is getting painted. I've already put speakers back in it (4 pioneer 12s) put all new door speakers (mtx components, and coaxials) in it and a cd player (pioneer 7700). I found out the truck had been wrecked though, there was a hole and rip in the front bumper, and one of the wheels was so curb checked it was dented. The guy lied to me because I specifically asked about that, and he told me the wheels were in perfect condition, and the truck had never been in an accident. Not to mention the tires are also shot. He sold me the truck with 14" knock off spokes on it (which looked ridiculous) to hide the fact that one rim was bent and had a hole in the side wall of the tire. So I bought a new wheel and 4 new tires, which cost me around $500.

Now for the GTP, it was perfect when I sold it to him. I get the call yesterday that the car is broken down, he said it just shut off on him and wouldn't start back up. I told him to let me know what its doing when he finds out, because I would help him fix it, I felt bad about it. Well, he tells me that the starter is engaging but it won't fire the car off, and when he cranks it, none of the pulleys are turning on the motor. I thought it sounded like the starters bendix wasn't coming in contact with the flywheel, so it wasn't turning the motor. He said no big deal, and that his mom was paying to get it fixed. I told him I felt horrible, let me know what was going on and I would help out in any way possible. He told me not to feel bad, because he was completely satisfied with the car and knew it wasn't my fault.Then yesterday afternoon I got the call, it wasn't the starter, the crank was broken in half . I automatically felt like ****. I called my friend who has 3 3800s in his garage to try and work something out for him. My buddy proceeded to tell me that the GTP has been through hell and back over the last week. He said everyone in our group had been talking about how hard he has been on the car, he had just about smoked the tires off of the front, he was peeling out everywhere. Calling people out to race him, speeding out of control everywhere. And the clencher, he had wrecked it into a curb at 70 trying to go through a round about way to fast on the night of the broken crank.

I feel so bad about what happend, but after hearing this I wonder if he was to blame, or if it was just the car. I initially wanted to pay him for it, but my gf told me not to, because he lied to me about the condition of the truck and I had to spend X amount of dollars to get it roadworthy again. And that I was completely honest with him on every aspect of the car. My conclusion is, I'm going to give him an L36 short block to help out, but I'm not going to pay him. He is pissed, but hasn't pointed the finger at me once, so I think he might know more than I do about how everything happened.

Sorry to run on, but thats the WHOLE story

what a *****. i wouldnt even give him any help if it were me and i found that out. i didnt help my friend out when he wrecked my bonneville. i just said give me the keys and the title. and i took it back. and kept the money.

Chase,

Call it even and wash your hands of this guy and stop feeling bad for stuff that'* not your fault.

Yea man, i've never even heard of a SER 2 L67 doing that. He must of attempted an oil change and forgot to put oil back in.

how....i mean seriously HOW DO U BREAK A CRANKSHAFT? that is NUTS! i mean, i broke a crankshaft once on an 86 calais but that thing was crap....but a 97 GP? OMG, tell this guy to go **** himself!

Update - I talked to his little sister at a car show on Sunday, she said when it failed he was doing over 100 down 8th street (45 mph) for like 15+ miles. Also the car is at the dealership, getting fixed for the low price of $4000. I don't feel bad for him, but I do for his mother because she is paying for it. But, then again I have to laugh because I only paid $4k for the car.

Broke a crank eh? hmmmm

Move on and fix up the new truck.