hey gentlemen,

ive got a problem. i own a 85 vette, i mean i love it but its becoming to be a pain in the neck because of the condition i bought it. I was dumb to buy a vett with the work it needed but i picked it up for 2500 and it was running no body damage and interior was ok. Fast forward 2 years later...ive spent 7500 so far and ive about had it.....the car drives strong. but it needs a bunch of things...the interior needs to be redone, the roof isnt fittin on right and makes water leak in...all the weatherstripping everywhere needs to be replaced...the motor mounts need to be replaced, the shocks, the u joints, the tranny mounts, all need to be replaced...the car will need a complete paintjob. So I need advice....do I either keep the car and drop atleast another 5k to fix everything i just listed. or what i was thinkin was.....to find a vette with a blown motor/tranny...and drop my engine/tranny in that vette....but i would need that vette to be in good conditon...(no body damage and basically good throughout...and i could pick it up for 1k)....im so lost...my 1st vette, i dont dont dont want to sell it for 4k and loose so much money.......some1 help!!!

 

My personal opinion is this. Finding one that only needs a motor and tranny is a good option. ( as long as that's all it needs) Some will say that if your numbers don"t match it will ruin the future price of your vette. My opinion is with the price of the C4 as it is, it is going to take many years for the C4 to go up in value anyway. It will go up but it's going to be a while.

You bought this car to drive and enjoy and that's what I would do. That actually is what I do. I try to limit my miles but I am not going to let a profit of less than 5 or 10k get in the way of my million dollar enjoyment.

Just be sure the one you get, if you decide on this route, doesn't need everything you say the one you have needs.

Good Luck

One more thought. You can then always part out the rest of your current vette to make up the cost of replacing it.

 

I am a sucker for projects so keep that in mind: You have so much invested now it would seem s waste to trash it all and start over. I'll wager if you find a Corvette that needs a trans and engine it will not be in any better condition that what you now have. Little money to be saved there. Finish your project and you will have the car you want done the way you want.Yes it ain't gonna be cheap but you started down that path a long time ago.

 

In economics there is the concept of sunk costs. Basically whatever you have spent becomes irrelevant. The only things that matter are salvage (whatever you can get out of the car) costs, and future costs. Or to put it like my mother used to, don't go throwing good money after bad, or sometimes you just have to take your lumps...either one. If you have spent $7500 (assuming $2500 initial, and $5000 incremental) and are at this point, frankly you need to do things differently. MY recommendation would be to sell the car for whatever you can, write off any loss to experience, education, recreation , or whatever, and next time spend a little more up front, or at least be a little more aware of your limitations. Everyone has been at this point sometime in there life, some of us more than once.

 

take what you get add the $5000 you might spend and maybe a another 2 to 3k and move up to 92 - 96 vette.

 

Ive got way more then that in mine over 8 yrs......

 

I feel your pain man, I bought my 3rd 'vette (also an '85) 2 months ago for $1,000. I just couldn't pass it up... sounds like we are in the same boat. Maybe take a brake from it for a while. You obviously have a real passion for this car as far as you have gone with it already. Take your time and watch for sales on good quality parts. Take before and after pictures to help keep you motivated on it's progress when you do get started again. Set goals... do you want this to be a show car or a driver? Some of the things you listed yet to be done don't require a lot of work - and you could soon mark them off the list of things to do. Remember it's starting to warm up and you can spend more time outside with the car. I love project cars ... since they aren't making any more 1985 Corvettes think of it as your are saving one. There is lots of helpful / valuable advise to get from this forum... keep up the good work on it - you will be in love with it that much more when it's finished.

 

Do you wrench on it yourself? If you don't your next one will cost more. Use it as a education and change out the parts yourself. It can be a lot of fun and satisfying to fix things yourself. And even some Maaco?sp shops can put a 10 foot paint job on it. One thing at a time and you will have a ride you will enjoy that is over 20 years old.

 

Get rid of it, youll forget all about the money when its gone and you get something in better shape.

 

 

Sounds like you aren't convinced of the value of the car for dollars per smile. If that's the case take your lumps and get something that is closer to what you want.

This is a hobby, which means you'll lose time and money on it, the question is where you draw the line.

 

It comes down to how much you really like the car (or how much the car likes you). Sometimes the vehicle is just not a keeper. I've got a '03 Kawasaki that since owned has been a real pain the butt. Every month, something is wrong with it. Its a great bike but it just pisses me off so much, I am about to dump it for a loss and take the money from it and put into my vette. Just do what feels right.

 

There's something to be said for rescuing a lost cause !
Making it whole again and doing most of the work yourself is good therapy for whatever .
The heck with stock make it a custom if you want. Otherwise its a lost soul !

 

You're in for $5K already... Finish it your way on your own terms and enjoy it! If you buy a newer one it's just going to continue to depreciate anyway. You're either going to pay to restore yours or buy it already done. You're going to spend the money either way.

 

BTW, I never saw a c4 that needs motor mounts.
I would re-evaluate the entire car, and get a second opinion.

 

forget it

 

I appreciate all your guys info....

ive read some keep...some sell....but still i havent made a decision

i LOVE the car....i mean when i see some stupid honda revv up next to me while im in the vette i can jus laugh and rev my engine....but thats not the sole reason......the thing is time and money play a big factor with this car....i initially wanted to get this car up and almost show worthy but then i decided jus to get to my liking....of course i would love to get everything chromed and fancy so i could show it off...but i dont have the money....but if i go to sell it im guna lose BIG....and i say to myself and to those who suggested i get rid of it and get a 92+.....id sell it for what 4-5 if im lucky....and then im gunna have to search around for a 92 vett (cuz i dont want newer than that i love my c4 brothers) and probably spend another 5 to get a good one.....i cant see that happening....now for those of you who said not to keep it stock....that was an option i was thinkin of going.....and i might because its cheapest...but then going to carshows i hear sh*t from the collectors about how its NOT stock.....and for those of you who decided i should keep and just go all the way since im 1/2 way there anyways....i dont know........i was really considering maaco...jus to get a fresh paint job on the car so i can be motivated to work on it more...the effin thing leaks water in the interior when it rains...i mean imagine how aggggravating that is!!!!!.........i live in Massachusetts so vettes over here are sold for more than what they are worth....not in my case tho......ugh...im soo confused...if i only i could find a vette that needed an engine/tranny and every else was fine...i would so part out my vette and make up the cost..........

and for the guy who said motor mounts...yes it does need them...infact im going to take a picture to show you how the engine is resting on the frame and the wheel is destroyed the frame.

and for those who jus left one liners "get rid of it" ....be sympathetic wouldya

 

Consider that if you decide to sell your current 'Vette and buy another one, you may discover a whole new world of problems. You have identified all of the ones in your '85, so you understand it; sort of like a mechanical relationship and it sounds like you've developed a rather large one quote you "LOVE the car". You've considered your options and know that if you sell it the loss will be huge and you live in an area where Corvettes sell higher than the norm.

If you wanted one that might retain its value some unidentified moment in the future with matching original parts, for judging, etc...I think you picked the wrong base to start with. It can still be a fantastic show car, but honestly why worry about some unforeseen resale value if you're the one who's enjoying it? It leaks water, so what? You've now joined the realm of the convertible world without the convertible top!

I say keep it. Remember that cars are banks; you'll always put money in them and you picked a Corvette. There's a reason why high performance is attached to high maintenance. Keep working on it. You'll gain invaluable experience along the way and you'll be that much happier with the finished result.

 

Make a decision, make a plan, initiate said plan, don't second guess yourself and don't look back. Do what your gut says to do and you will be fine.

I still say buy a vette that needs a motor and tranny but make sure everything else is fine. As far as the water leak, it depends on how bad it is, most of them do leak some.

 

first, i would again like to thank all of you who have shared their thoughts and ideas on my problem....this is the BEST forum i have ever been apart of....

with that being said.

I have decided that I am going to keep with it. I know this sounds like a corvette owner no no...but im going to get my paint job at maaco for now...just so i can a fresh paint job on it....and then when the times comes get the thing fully stripped sanded and repainted. As for my other problems....well the motor mounts are going to be tough, and im not sure how im going to fix them....shocks im determined to replace myself...they cant be too hard right?.....and u joints/tran mounts...i mite have a mechanic do that......

does anyone know where to find nice weatherstripping for my year vette....or would it be cheaper jus to have it done by someone?....im also thinking of atleast having the motor redone ... not so much suped up jus rebuilt and fix everything wrong with it.....as a refresher...anybody know good places that i could send my motor to?

thanks again all of you
glad to be apart of corvette forum

by the way lol, my real name is domenic!

-domenic