Sitting for 5 Years
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 4
From: Hinckley Ohio
then do some routine maintenance and sell it, for a fair price which shouldn't be a give away
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
He's lying out his ***!Your brakes should be fine
Your gaskets should be fine once the car runs for a while
You might need a fuel pump, but you don't remove the gas tank, it comes out the top in about 5 minutes.
You need to pull the coil wire and turn the engine over for two or three minutes to get the oil circulated before starting. And then let it idle for a few minutes before driving, and then drive it slowly for a few miles. (this of course after checking all the fluids, and adding a few gallons of fresh gas, though it would be better to syphon off as much as the old gas as possible). Then you should have all the engine fluids changed.
You need to check around four or five shops and ask them what they would charge to start the car and check it out.
Isn't finding an honest repair shop in New Jersey an oxymoron?
You car is worth about $12k-$15k running and cleaned up (and I'mone of the guys here that members think bad mouth C4 prices.)
To an honest guy who works on corvettes and buys and resales it should be easily worth $8k just as it sits (figuring $2k would probably fix all the unexpected problems, and $2k-$3k for an honest profit).
Possibly you could get one of the members here to check it out.
100% with Fred. If you found the right buyer you may even get more than the $15K if its sharp. Lotsa folks dont shop here or know what other similar cars are going for. I just heard of a Navy guy locally just bought an 89 with around 80K miles for $15,800. The car was nearly perfect and highly maintained. He may have paid a bit too much but he was "the right customer" and was ready to spend more on a beemer or some other sport car so he thought he saved money. In fact that was the way it was presented. He was happy with the deal and I was happy to hear about it as everybody needs to quit down talking the values of these cars. I know they all arent collectors items but they are still Vettes and IMO thats the best American sport car no matter what generation.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 52
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Ohio
I bought a 79 that sat for @5 years. Replaced the fluids, belts, hoses, front brake pads rotors & calipers, and after driving it easy for a few months, replaced the tires. I drove it for over 4 years and sold it for more than I had in it. I don't think your Vette needs as much as you have been told.
Good luck with it.
Rich
Good luck with it.
Rich
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
[QUOTE=HlhnEast;1576648651] r. I just heard of a Navy guy locally just bought an 89 with around 80K miles for $15,800.
$15,800 for an 89, was he a drunk sailor? Let's get real here. Was it one of those Barret Jackson show car's
. I do agree the guy who told you it was worthless doesn't know his cars. However I did look at an 80 MGB that was left outside in the weather for 6 years and is was worthless. The owner said I would have it for free just tow it away. I left it where it sat.
Good luck selling your vette.
r. I just heard of a Navy guy locally just bought an 89 with around 80K miles for $15,800. $15,800 for an 89, was he a drunk sailor? Let's get real here. Was it one of those Barret Jackson show car's
. I do agree the guy who told you it was worthless doesn't know his cars. However I did look at an 80 MGB that was left outside in the weather for 6 years and is was worthless. The owner said I would have it for free just tow it away. I left it where it sat.Good luck selling your vette.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 611
Likes: 28
From: Olympia WA
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: california
This guy is totally blowing smoke. He is your typical con artist sells men that give the industry the worst image. My collector edition has only 25,000 miles on it and it previously sat in a storage facility for over 10 years while I was overseas contractiong for the military. When I returned. I had the car serviced and had a few deterorated rubber parts replaced, brakes and clutch fluid replaced, the orginal GSC's replaced a cmpleted ground up body detail and wholla!!!!its runs like a champ.
The shop that worked on it is one of the premier corvette shops in the country and THEY even said this car could be a top flight car. They were amazed of the shine of the silver paint.
Tell that guy to go take a flying leap into a pile of S#%&
The shop that worked on it is one of the premier corvette shops in the country and THEY even said this car could be a top flight car. They were amazed of the shine of the silver paint.
Tell that guy to go take a flying leap into a pile of S#%&
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 305
Likes: 2
From: Epfenbach BW
5 years won´t kill a car, but you have to keep a look on some things prior to use.
Obviously change ALL fluids in the car. Trans, Brake, Engine Oil, Coolant, maybe even Power Steering fluid and Differential Oil to be on the safe side.
The tires will most likely be toast if the car sat on the same spot for 5 years. They will have flat spots. I had this once even after 1 year sitting.
Before the first start, pull the injector connectors to disable the engine from start WITHOUT flooding it.Therefore don´t just unplug the Ign. Coil.
Let the car crank for some time and watch the oil pressure gauge.
After that reconnect injectors and it should be safe to start.....if no oil leaks develop within a couple 100 miles you have been lucky.
Obviously change ALL fluids in the car. Trans, Brake, Engine Oil, Coolant, maybe even Power Steering fluid and Differential Oil to be on the safe side.
The tires will most likely be toast if the car sat on the same spot for 5 years. They will have flat spots. I had this once even after 1 year sitting.
Before the first start, pull the injector connectors to disable the engine from start WITHOUT flooding it.Therefore don´t just unplug the Ign. Coil.
Let the car crank for some time and watch the oil pressure gauge.
After that reconnect injectors and it should be safe to start.....if no oil leaks develop within a couple 100 miles you have been lucky.
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Sicklerville NJ.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16
Hey Gentlemen,
I am the original owner of a 94 that has been sitting in my garage for about 5 years. My interest has gone elsewhere and I'm thinking of selling it. I contacted a guy up here in NJ that buys ,sells and works on vettes. He came up to see the car and tells me that A) the gas tank needs to be removed and cleaned. B) The valve covers need to be removed and primed with oil before starting. C) The calipers are probably ceased. D)Gaskets are probably shot. E) Tells me the car is worth basically nothing even though it has only 15k, is in mint condition and is completely stock. The wipers have only been turned on twice and the interior still has the new car smell. I feel guilty just letting it sit here but I know I will not use it in the future. Is this guy telling me the truth? Should I try to sell it "as is" or should I spend the money to get it running again? Where is a good place to list the car? Any good honest mechanics in northern NJ? What would you do? Thanks for your help. BH
I am the original owner of a 94 that has been sitting in my garage for about 5 years. My interest has gone elsewhere and I'm thinking of selling it. I contacted a guy up here in NJ that buys ,sells and works on vettes. He came up to see the car and tells me that A) the gas tank needs to be removed and cleaned. B) The valve covers need to be removed and primed with oil before starting. C) The calipers are probably ceased. D)Gaskets are probably shot. E) Tells me the car is worth basically nothing even though it has only 15k, is in mint condition and is completely stock. The wipers have only been turned on twice and the interior still has the new car smell. I feel guilty just letting it sit here but I know I will not use it in the future. Is this guy telling me the truth? Should I try to sell it "as is" or should I spend the money to get it running again? Where is a good place to list the car? Any good honest mechanics in northern NJ? What would you do? Thanks for your help. BH
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,318
Likes: 243
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
This is smokin' deal -> http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4s-...speed-15k.html
If I only had the room for one more car this would be it.
GLWS...
If I only had the room for one more car this would be it.
GLWS...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 828
Likes: 103
From: Olney MD
What's a C4 worth that's been sitting?
I wouldn't be too quick to call the potential buyer a crook. He's trying to view this as a business transaction, and get compensated for any labor and parts.
If I was buying it, I'd value my labor at $0 per hour and plan on buying parts on sale. So I might be willing to pay $4k to $6k figuring that it's a hobby and keeps me off the streets.
I bought my own C4 last year for $5k and it was running! (140K miles, so it's not the same situation).
Is your car worth 'nothing'? NO, but it's not a $10 K car either. Like others have said, the buyer will have to spend some amount of money to get it running, and perhaps big chunks later on to keep it running.
If the OP doesn't have the time or inclination to do the restoration work that many have suggested, he's going to have to take a hit. How bad, only the 'market' will decide. He might get lucky and find someone who likes a challenge. Or he might want to get rid of it before the end of the week, and settle for $2-3 grand.
Or this may be a big fantasy. I'd sure like to see pics!
If I was buying it, I'd value my labor at $0 per hour and plan on buying parts on sale. So I might be willing to pay $4k to $6k figuring that it's a hobby and keeps me off the streets.
I bought my own C4 last year for $5k and it was running! (140K miles, so it's not the same situation).
Is your car worth 'nothing'? NO, but it's not a $10 K car either. Like others have said, the buyer will have to spend some amount of money to get it running, and perhaps big chunks later on to keep it running.
If the OP doesn't have the time or inclination to do the restoration work that many have suggested, he's going to have to take a hit. How bad, only the 'market' will decide. He might get lucky and find someone who likes a challenge. Or he might want to get rid of it before the end of the week, and settle for $2-3 grand.
Or this may be a big fantasy. I'd sure like to see pics!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 828
Likes: 103
From: Olney MD
Five years
OOPS- I didn't see the link to the pics. That car does look nice!.
If it was running, it would be worth some money. Maybe even $10k to the right buyer.
But I still agree with those who have had to fix multiple problems with non running cars. In this case, I doubt there are any mouse nests in it, though!
Good luck to the OP.
If it was running, it would be worth some money. Maybe even $10k to the right buyer.
But I still agree with those who have had to fix multiple problems with non running cars. In this case, I doubt there are any mouse nests in it, though!
Good luck to the OP.
