View Poll Results: What would you do
Fix and keep
20
60.61%
Fix and Sell
12
36.36%
Sell as is
1
3.03%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 33. You may not vote on this poll
Help with an argument
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 95
Likes: 11
From: Columbus Georgia
Help with an argument
So my 96 Vette broke a valve spring the other day, and my father is telling me to fix it, but I am thinking about putting it up for sale as is. I like the car, but am doubting the option of fixing it and then selling it or just selling it as is.
Stats are 96 LT4 Corvette, cam recommended by Lloyd Elliott (226/232 .574/.570 110 LSA), and Borla mufflers. Other than that it is stock. Interior shows its age and I was planning to put new carpet in it before this happened. Also was going to replace the rims because the chrome is flaking off.
It made 341 rwhp, and 317 rwtq on the dyno, I think with a full exhaust and heads and intake work it would be a 400 horse car easy. It ran like a raped ape.
I was thinking of selling around the 10k to 12k range when it was running.
What would you do?
1. Fix and keep
2. Fix and sell
3. Sell as is
Stats are 96 LT4 Corvette, cam recommended by Lloyd Elliott (226/232 .574/.570 110 LSA), and Borla mufflers. Other than that it is stock. Interior shows its age and I was planning to put new carpet in it before this happened. Also was going to replace the rims because the chrome is flaking off.
It made 341 rwhp, and 317 rwtq on the dyno, I think with a full exhaust and heads and intake work it would be a 400 horse car easy. It ran like a raped ape.
I was thinking of selling around the 10k to 12k range when it was running.
What would you do?
1. Fix and keep
2. Fix and sell
3. Sell as is
Last edited by vetteson; Nov 8, 2015 at 06:43 PM.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 579
Likes: 120
From: Grapevine TX
I voted fix and sell just because the tone of your post sounds as if you're becoming disillusioned with the car. Definitely fix it, whether you decide to keep or sell. A poorly or non-running car will knock your sale price way more than what it'd cost to replace one valve spring. One question though, you say it's stock except for the cam, did you replace valve springs along with that or are you running the stock springs? It's my understanding the stock springs won't handle the amount of lift provided by that cam. If you are on stock springs you should replace all of them, not just the one that broke.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 288
Likes: 10
From: Proctor WV
I see by your plate , you're from the buckeye...Fix it Winter is coming, You have plenty of time. Broken spring, don't help a sale ( not that big of deal to replace a valve spring, with the right tools) Would say that rest of springs need replaced in the near future...Mileage? Your beating the "ol" girl ain't....ziggy
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 95
Likes: 11
From: Columbus Georgia
Sorry, yeah I put a set of Patriot Gold Springs, Comp rockers, and Comp studs in there when I did the cam. Had bearings put in the motor about 25k miles ago due to my oil pressure not staying as high as it should
Ziggy I am not up North anymore, I am down in North Carolina. It doesn't get that cold here, probably can't drive the car like 2 months out of the year instead of six like back home.
Ziggy I am not up North anymore, I am down in North Carolina. It doesn't get that cold here, probably can't drive the car like 2 months out of the year instead of six like back home.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 30,427
Likes: 1,609
From: Outside the Quick Stop N.J.
Unless money is no object to you it is a no brainer to fix it and then decide what to do. As others have said, broken cars are just about worthless. I am in a similar boat now with one of my cars and can relate to your feelings, but sometimes you just have to step away for awhile and come back to it later. Winter is coming, so put it in the garage and make it project. In the spring drive it again and then make up your mind.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 127
From: Ashland Alabama
I guess it depends on how people look at things but to me selling a car because it has a broken valve spring is like selling a car because it has a flat tire.
Its not even a big deal to change.
Its not even a big deal to change.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,381
Likes: 66
From: SF bay area C.A.
C4 of the Year Finalist
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 326
Likes: 20
Broken valve spring cause damage? Or did the valve not drop?
No way I'm paying over 6000$, hell probably less, for a car that needs work, lt4 or not. 10-12 won't happen in its current condition
No way I'm paying over 6000$, hell probably less, for a car that needs work, lt4 or not. 10-12 won't happen in its current condition
Last edited by trilkb; Nov 9, 2015 at 02:44 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
First I would ask you this:
If the valve spring never broke and it still ran awesome, what would you do with this car? That will answer the "sell or keep" part of your poll.
As others are saying, definitely fix it, there is no question about this.
You're talking maybe $150 to fix it yourself, or about a few hundred dollars if someone else fixes it for you... but the difference in sales price will be thousands, not to mention your loss of power in the negotiations.
If the valve spring never broke and it still ran awesome, what would you do with this car? That will answer the "sell or keep" part of your poll.
As others are saying, definitely fix it, there is no question about this.
You're talking maybe $150 to fix it yourself, or about a few hundred dollars if someone else fixes it for you... but the difference in sales price will be thousands, not to mention your loss of power in the negotiations.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 202
A stock valve Spring. I can see breaking. you broke a patriot GOLD?? your going to need to explain. what you did. To break one of these VS. Sorry- 10 - 12K will not happen unless. you run into a spoiled TYCOON. looking for a 96 C4.
Last edited by THE 383 admiral; Nov 9, 2015 at 05:12 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
I'm with the rest. Selling it broken you will be lucky to 5500 more likely maybe 4k. A 20 year old broken cars aren't in high demand. I would replace all the valve springs. If they are the original ones more will fail. You don't want to take a chance of dropping valve. You might think about the retainers and valve seals too. I would fix it to keep it then decide what to do. IMO to get 10k+ for a non ZR1 C4 needs to be super clean, low miles, everything has to perform with no "hick ups".
Last edited by Kevova; Nov 9, 2015 at 03:27 PM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 326
Likes: 20
As for the rebuild/fix part, we really need to know what else happened with the "broken valve spring" If retainers/locks fell apart and valves hit pistons and now theres pieces of springs and retainers/locks in the oil system thats a whole nother world of problems, if you broke a coil on the spring and everything stayed together then its not near as bad and I think you should fix it. IF its the aforementioned well....your going to take a serious hit to your asking price.
Last edited by trilkb; Nov 9, 2015 at 05:43 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,064
Likes: 89
From: Kingwood Texas
