Issues with previous burnt car?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 340
Likes: 3
From: Ontario
Issues with previous burnt car?
Looking at a friend whos selling his 65 that had an engine fire last year and burnt the whole front end and interior. Is there anything I need to be extra worried about in purchasing a burnt car?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
You might have trouble getting a cowl and firewall. And if the bird cage got burnt that's trashed too. Parts car. Sorry
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 340
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From: Ontario
Never dealt with a burnt car before, thanks for the reply. Would the heat from the fire really ruin the birdcage also? Thought it would be fairly solild with metal.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Clayton NC
Just because the front end was burnt that shouldn't be much worse than a front end replacement.. Just saying.. If the birdcage is in good shape carry on and rebuild it...
David
Team Owner
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Hitch if the firewall and cowl are burnt were would you go to get one. There not for sale all the time
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Clayton NC
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,142
Likes: 9,451
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
He said the interior caught fire with it. So I only assumed that did too. I could have over stated what can be done. Any car can rebuilt with enough money
And your right I never built a mid year. Just not with my money.
And your right I never built a mid year. Just not with my money.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,576
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From: Sarasota Florida
Sorry but I have to disagree.... These cars can be rebuilt from almost nothing. So just how many midyears have YOU rebuilt? Not your Father but you?
Just because the front end was burnt that shouldn't be much worse than a front end replacement.. Just saying.. If the birdcage is in good shape carry on and rebuild it...
David
Just because the front end was burnt that shouldn't be much worse than a front end replacement.. Just saying.. If the birdcage is in good shape carry on and rebuild it...
David
I agree with both...I seen a 427 435hp 67 Vette burn the birdcage and the cowl it was rebuilt and looked as good as new...However, that was a 427 435hp car...
Im not sure if its worth rebuilding or not...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,182
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From: Pendleton IN
Without at least pictures, no one here can accurately access what you are dealing with. Any multitude of things could be issues at this point.
Why not just buy a decent driver and go from there? Much easier and probably cheaper in the longrun.
Why not just buy a decent driver and go from there? Much easier and probably cheaper in the longrun.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
You don't say if it's a coupe or rag-top. The panels will distort with the heat as well. So a new clip, wiring, everything on the firewall and engine bay, gauges, interior, straighten the birdcage, donor firewall, windshield with all hardware and stainless, possible floor reglassing, etc,etc,etc! Cheaper and less agro to buy a driver.
Unless you got it for next to nothing, with a good title.
Unless you got it for next to nothing, with a good title.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Inverness FL
St. Jude Donor '07
just driving down the road one day and poof... (and no comprehensive insurance...
) fire was so hot that it turned the FI into a puddle of aluminum and softened the upper a-frames so that they just folded over the shock towers.bought donor car and swapped firewalls, bought new upper a-frames and coil springs (no other changes to frame or suspension), new aluminum valve covers and FI unit. used rest of the engine as is (ran for 30 more years before being put out to pasture in an engine cradle in the garage...
)
when finished...
it can be done, did it all myself... still have the car 30 years later
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Bornem
I recently acquired a 64 with 327/365hp engine. Engine was not perfect, but good enough to do some 2 minute test driving (before deciding to buy). Then, once the car at home, I decided to check the engine first. Took off air filter, started the engine, no problem. Then after some minute or so, I saw fuel pouring out of the holley carb on top of the fuel bowls, and at the accelerator pump, dripping plenty over the exhaust manifolds. Now, if I had driven the car for 10 minutes rather than 2, or if I had neglected to verify the engine, it would have been a fire for sure. I tried to restore the holley since, but finally decided to go for a brand new edelbrock. The holley is by design just too inviting for leaks to my taste. That phenomenon is even described in some C2 history books. To the holley 'believers': I am not saying it can not be made leak free, nor that it is a bad carb, just that the design of the side bowls and bottom pump with gaskets is a risk area.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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Army
Bill - I don't know of many that would have tackled rebuilding your '62 after looking at your first two post-fire pictures. It looks like a terrorist attack. Good on ya fella.
BTW - any carb can leak if not properly installed and maintained...my "professionally" restored dual quad Carters started an engine fire a week after I got them off eBay due to faulty assembly.
BTW - any carb can leak if not properly installed and maintained...my "professionally" restored dual quad Carters started an engine fire a week after I got them off eBay due to faulty assembly.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Central Arkansas
Yes - are you mechanically and body work inclined/experienced and a do-it-yourselfer? If no, then be very worried. That isn't something you can farm out to a restoration shop unless it's a very rare car or you are related closely to the Sam Walton clan.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 505
Likes: 1
From: exton pa
just driving down the road one day and poof... (and no comprehensive insurance...
) fire was so hot that it turned the FI into a puddle of aluminum and softened the upper a-frames so that they just folded over the shock towers.bought donor car and swapped firewalls, bought new upper a-frames and coil springs (no other changes to frame or suspension), new aluminum valve covers and FI unit. used rest of the engine as is (ran for 30 more years before being put out to pasture in an engine cradle in the garage...
)when finished...
it can be done, did it all myself... still have the car 30 years later
Bill
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 340
Likes: 3
From: Ontario
Thanks guys, I'll try to get some pics. Price would be around $4000. I figured frame and title would be worth that alone. It was/is a numbers matching car, shame to let it be scrapped or parted out.