I know a guy who has a wrecked vette that he will sell me. It is not for sale but he said he would sell it to me if I wanted it. It is a 1996 LT4 6spd black with all options. It needs a hood, windshield, fenders and front clip. The air bags did go off, and it may need some minor frame work in front. I am not going back to stock with this car nor am I going to sell it so I don't care if its 100 percent perfect. I am going to do most of the work my self or pay some one NOT A BODY SHOP, that will cost way to much. So I will get the work done cheaper not sure how cheap though. I am going to buy parts from eBay or off of another wrecked vette. It was used for racing, so the engine and trans was taken out, so I will have to get a new engine and trans for it. I am not going to buy a new engine I am going to either buy a 350 with some mods and put in it or I am going to just buy a engine out of a wrecked vette and put it in. So I am not going top dollar with this car I am just going to fix it the best I can as cheap as possible and a little at a time to make it look good again. Do you guys think this is a good idea for me to do this or no. He will sell it to me for 2k in payments and the car has 15k miles on it is all. let me know thanks

Here is a link to some pics of the interior exterior and a bad pic of the engine bay. I am not sure if the link will work but i will give it a try

http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/share....&shareName=MMS

 

If you bought it for $2k you could probably recoup the cost if you parted it out. However, trying to fix it to make it drivable will cost you alot more than buying a complete car. By your description it needs, motor, tranny, front end rebuild, air bags,etc.. I'm assuming it has a salvage title so good look trying to resell it later. I think you would be making a big mistake buying it to make it whole again. If, you want it for a parts car, fine. No way should you try to resurrect the beast. You'll drop a ton of cash into and who knows how drivable it will be or even if it will be safe to drive. Buy the best Vette you can afford, not a complete fixerupper.

 

Ok thanks but the title is clear and clean, but I posted a link for pics I am not sure how bad it really is.

 

Buy one that has a good frame, use the 2 to make one...then sell the left over parts and get some money back.

 

That car looks pretty bad. Assuming you work full time it will take years to get it drivable. I'd stay away, unless, you want a hobby that will take all of your time and all of your cash.

 

Any vehicle with frame damage (even after "repaired") is noticeable, unless AAALLOOTTT of money goes into it, and you find the BEST repair shop. When they "put the car in the air", it is noticeable where the frame has been repaired. Im my opinion, what and buy one with no frame damage for more.

I bought a 2002 Lexus GS400 with minor frame damage, repaired it, but it was never perfect after. It wasnt highly noticeable, but anyone who knows their cars could most likely tell.

Good luck though!

 

I think you could buy a complete car for what you are going to spend to make that car 100% again.

If you were going to build a drag car or a street racer IE stroker engine tremac etc it might make sense.
However, with the price of C4s so low you can spend more to fix a wreck and not get it right than the cost of a decent C4.

Good luck

Mike

 

if i buy the hood fenders windshield and front clip and engine and trans, and pay a buddy 1k to put it all together how much do you think i will have invested? The only thing i worry about it the frame which i am not sure how bad it is yet.

 

Oh baby.......open up the wallet and watch your $$$$ leave. Too much of a project for my taste.
Good Luck if you decide to go with it.

 

The unknowns will kill you in a project like this... If you got the cash and want a challenge go for it. If you are a working stiff like most of us, better pass on this one.....

 

I am starting to understand how bad this could really be. But the point is that I want another vette really bad since I sold my last one last year. I can not afford one right now the only way i could afford one is buy a project vette and fix it up. I have a connection in clevland who gets damaged vettes (no where near as bad as this one) that may need some work who can sell me one for around 2-3 k. But he dont get many 96 models that are LT4 and 6spd like this one. I figured i put money in it every week until done.

 

I know you are wanting to do this and think were being hard on you, but we are just trying to point out the pitfalls of going this route. With front end damage obvious, no engine, no tranny, probable frame damage plus you'll need new radiator, shroud, hoses, bumper, headlight assemblies, hood, a/c, a million small parts, etc., etc., it'll cost thousands to get it up and running. Add to that the fact that the interior looks really bad, why would you want this car? You can buy any number of really nice early C4's for $7k and under, maybe not with an LT4, but then again you don't have the LT4 engine anyway so why even consider it? This is not the way to go. Do yourself a favor and look around for a complete car that's ready to drive.

 

From what I can see in the pictures, I'd be surprised if all there was is a 'little' damage to the frame. It looks like you could pick one up in better shape (at least one with a straight frame) and do all the mods you want for the same amount you would end up spending on this one; and end up with a much better car

 

I agree with all these folks. My advice: stop panting, reread this whole thread, take a deep deep breath, breathe normally, put your money in the bank and save until you can buy a nice car that you want. This one will put you way in over your head in the long run. It's tempting to think you can build this, but just the price of an engine and tranny will put you near the cost of a nice late-model C4. That does not include all the "little" things that will eat you up.

 

Send a messsge to deiaggie. His car was hit in the front end back in Dec. (I think). If I remember correctly, I believe his car had some frame damage on the front end. He bought it back from the ins. co. and fixed it. He can probably give you alot more insight on doin something like this.

 

here are more pics that i took just now see if u get a better view with these. I was told the frame is just pushed over a little bit.

http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/share....&shareName=MMS

 

That is the same presumtion I got from your post. 2k is a great price, but if your intent is to rebuild, I will caution you to research the prices of your proposition before you commit. I say this because I was involved in a project to rebuild a totalled Toyota Solara. It is a 2002 with 4700 miles and all available options. Once the car was complete, and assembled as you described, we had almost as much into the car as it would cost to buy one outright... and it had a salvaged title which reduced the overall value.

Shop around for parts and prices to see the avialability before you move on this. What may be a good deal now, may bite you in the **** in 6 months.

 

Ok well put i think, i am not upset with the feedback i have received, this is the reason for the post is to get feedback both good and bad. I figure 2k to buy it and as long as i dont buy NEW ENGINE AND TRANS AND BODY PARTS. And not worry about little stuff i will be ok. I am going to buy a racing steering wheel, i dont care about the alarm system nor do i care about any air bag lights that maybe on after i get done. I may even put a used lt1 in it or a chrome 350 engine carb if i have to. I dont care how great the car is as long as it runs good and looks good i dont care about the small stuff. I think that some people think i am going out and buying new parts and paying a body shop to fix it i am not going to pay a body shop and a engine shop to fix it. That would cost about 8k to do that, i just want something to spend time and some money on and get it going in 4-5 months

 

any one know any cheap parts and engines that are around. can any one just guess on how much all the parts would be as a project if i did everything my self (which i am not but i am just looking for wild guess's with out spending money on paint and things just engine trans, and body parts to get it on the road and frame work)

 

eBay has a one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...sPageName=WDVW