[23baseball3]

So I joined this forum probably a year ago, I can't remember, but that introduction I posted was nothing but a pipe dream and a cry for making dreams come true. Now that I actually have my license and my car, it's time to get serious. So the car I picked up for a wallet-burning $350 is a 1995 Buick Skylark Custom Sport Coupe. I named her Joan because of the styling cues on the car (the pointed nose and grille is supposed to be reminiscent of a '39 Buick) and Joan is one of the most popular names in 1939, so it seemed fitting. The car has no rust apart from a two inch patch of surface rust just in front of the rear wheels on both sides on the rockers. I'll attend to that soon, but the car came from PA where I understand rust is basically forbidden, so underneath the car is immaculate. The issue is the head gasket; the car overheated on the old lady who owned it and her husband put it up for sale that day. Two weeks later and a Uhaul tow dolly, the car is sitting in my garage.

So from my understanding, the car will need (at the minimum)
-Head Gaskets/Intake Gasket
-Water Pump
-Thermostat
-Flush the oil system
-Bleed the cooling system

But most of us know that when the head gasket goes then the heads either crack or warp, so more than likely those will need to be sent to a machine shop. My dad and I can do the rest of it though.

So for future mods, I was thinking that I keep the appearance of the car mostly stock, because it's ridiculously clean and I think it's a beautiful car. So I'm thinking I'll:
-reduce the weight if I can
-block the grille partially from the inside (though overheating scares me because of how prone the 3.1 is to doing so)
-Make a front air dam out of something attractive and clean
-Inflate the tires to sidewall max

I might try a scangauge or MPGuino but I'm really kind of unsure how they help much (nor do I know which one I can use on my car). Any other mod suggestions just let me know. I have lurked for awhile but never really done anything. And now that I have a decently nice car, I don't want to ruin the appearance, though I know the least of most ecomodder's concerns is just that. I'm glad to be on this site and I'll maintain my fuel logs and keep posting.