Should I buy a fixer-upper?
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Should I buy a fixer-upper?
I'm looking into buying a 1991, as the title says it needs a lot of work. It blew a water hose and shut off on the guy. There wasn't any water in the oil which is good. I'm just afraid of the heads being warped.
When the car was towed it was of course towed from the front end and messed up the lower front fascia. The interior is shot to hell, lots of broken parts.
The guy is asking $1500 and is motiviated to sell.
When the car was towed it was of course towed from the front end and messed up the lower front fascia. The interior is shot to hell, lots of broken parts.
The guy is asking $1500 and is motiviated to sell.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,841
Likes: 19
From: CLT, North Carolina
You should buy a fixer upper for only one reason... you want a good C4 education. Otherwise you will end up with twenty grand in a car worth ten... if the money side matters to you that is.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,374
Likes: 86
From: Corbin KY
NO you dont want it!! Tell me where it is and I will buy it so that it does not bother anybody else 
It all depends if YOU want to "fix it up". I went that route paying 2500 for one and spent time and money to make it how i wanted it. It IS a good deal for the car, the parts are worth 1500. I would go for it.
If you DO buy it and change your mind OR decide it is not for you, let me know, I would be interested in buying it from you.
Phil
It all depends if YOU want to "fix it up". I went that route paying 2500 for one and spent time and money to make it how i wanted it. It IS a good deal for the car, the parts are worth 1500. I would go for it.
If you DO buy it and change your mind OR decide it is not for you, let me know, I would be interested in buying it from you.
Phil
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I hear what your saying, restoreing any chevy gets expensive. Although right now I more interested in it as a daily driver. I'm pretty much a grease monkey, I've rebuilt motors before.
Has anyone warped these aluminum heads?
Has anyone warped these aluminum heads?
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: Urbana OH
I'm looking into buying a 1991, as the title says it needs a lot of work. It blew a water hose and shut off on the guy. There wasn't any water in the oil which is good. I'm just afraid of the heads being warped.
When the car was towed it was of course towed from the front end and messed up the lower front fascia. The interior is shot to hell, lots of broken parts.
The guy is asking $1500 and is motiviated to sell.
When the car was towed it was of course towed from the front end and messed up the lower front fascia. The interior is shot to hell, lots of broken parts.
The guy is asking $1500 and is motiviated to sell.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,961
Likes: 707
From: WI
I'm looking into buying a 1991, as the title says it needs a lot of work. It blew a water hose and shut off on the guy. There wasn't any water in the oil which is good. I'm just afraid of the heads being warped.
When the car was towed it was of course towed from the front end and messed up the lower front fascia. The interior is shot to hell, lots of broken parts.
The guy is asking $1500 and is motiviated to sell.
When the car was towed it was of course towed from the front end and messed up the lower front fascia. The interior is shot to hell, lots of broken parts.
The guy is asking $1500 and is motiviated to sell.
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Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,946
Likes: 63
From: Marianna FL
I guess if you pay someone else to do the work and don't know what you're doing, you could end up like this. If you plan on heavily modifying the car, sometimes you can be far ahead by starting with a fixer upper.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I'm a big DIY guy, I hate to pay from something that I know how to do. Or can learn for that matter. So I can do much of the work myself.
I'm a Camaro fan an love TPI motors. So I need more people telling me why I shouldn't buy it. Again the motor over heated, cracked windshield, interior is shot to hell.
I'm a Camaro fan an love TPI motors. So I need more people telling me why I shouldn't buy it. Again the motor over heated, cracked windshield, interior is shot to hell.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Youre crazy man, youll easily spend over 10k getting it half decent and it will still need work. .
If thats your thing go ahead..Not sure if it even sounds like it could be parted out without losing.
If thats your thing go ahead..Not sure if it even sounds like it could be parted out without losing.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 88,393
Likes: 2
From: eville in
NO you dont want it!! Tell me where it is and I will buy it so that it does not bother anybody else
It all depends if YOU want to "fix it up". I went that route paying 2500 for one and spent time and money to make it how i wanted it. It IS a good deal for the car, the parts are worth 1500. I would go for it.
If you DO buy it and change your mind OR decide it is not for you, let me know, I would be interested in buying it from you.
Phil
It all depends if YOU want to "fix it up". I went that route paying 2500 for one and spent time and money to make it how i wanted it. It IS a good deal for the car, the parts are worth 1500. I would go for it.
If you DO buy it and change your mind OR decide it is not for you, let me know, I would be interested in buying it from you.
Phil
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
If you have the time and space, buy it and part it out. The parts are worth alot.
If you try to fix it yourself, you can spend a ton of time and money and still not have a daily driver. (unless you can really use a wrench)
Good luck on your dicision and get back to us and let us know what you decided.
If you try to fix it yourself, you can spend a ton of time and money and still not have a daily driver. (unless you can really use a wrench)
Good luck on your dicision and get back to us and let us know what you decided.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
How is the body and paint? the windshield and weather stripping will be around $500, tires? another $450., tranny? miles?, I wouldn't worry to much about the heads...junk yards are full of them, I'd worry about the bottom end, interior can get expensive...I'd check with a vette yard like vette2vette. $1500., sounds good...maybe to good. But if your a good mechanic and have the time...IF the body and paint are good...I'd go for it...bad body and paint and I'd pass.....that can get very expensive.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,374
Likes: 86
From: Corbin KY
