I know this should probably not be posted here, but the C4 and C5 FI Forums are the only ones where I typically hang out.

I have an acquantance that has a 96 CE LT4 6spd that is wanting to dump the car. I took the long ride over to look at the car (at the border). It is fairly clean with only the front bumper having been repainted. It has since been tapped again, and shows the usual stress marks on the R corner. 2nd gear syncro is gone, and the clutch seems to be close to the end of its life. Crack in the R side of the windshield. R side window out of adjustment. Seats are quite stiff (need to be aloe'd). It smokes just a tad on start up (he says a qt every few months, he drives it a lot). Small exhaust leak on each side. 3 new tires??? The car has 160K miles. It looks very clean underneath. The paint is in very good shape. The car ran good, and seems stock except a K&N.

I have had one of these 96 CE's before, but it was fairly rough and was the LT1. I said if it would have been the LT4, I might have tried to keep it.

Any thoughts on the value of this item, with such high mileage? All of the items mentioned above would be no issue for me to fix. THe only issue is that the mileage is there to stay.

This might be a future HC/N2O car, or a driver for my son who is now 15 (he will need a decent car in a few years).

Any thoughts on the value?

Thanks,
Aaron

 

Sounds like a decent project car, one that can be straightened out over a litttle time but still be driven. Not sure how the vette market is where you live, but here in VA that car would not bring over 14K. More than likely about 11-13. That mileage is killing the price for most folks, but for those of us with the desire and a little know-how that can be a great vette

 

I went and test drove the car this evening. Me and the owner have discussed the sale for some time, but I had yet to drive it. It drives great (very strong motor, totally stock except the K&N), EXCEPT... 2nd gear is basically impossible to get without serious gear grinding. Completely forget about downshifting. If you drive and wait about 1-2 seconds in the neutral gate, the tranny will go into 2nd without noise (only on the upshift).

The owner states that the clutch was going out a while back, and he kept forcing it into gear, and it "progressively" got this way. The clutch has been replaced, feels OK. He had thought that replacing the clutch would solve the grinding issue. It did not.

Anyone have any experience with replacing the 2nd gear syncronizer? It must be in sad shape. The owner said he was quoted ~$2K to repair the tranny. Do they sell the syncros seperately? From the parts I have replaced on my ZF in the '87, not many parts are available from GM.

Wasn't there a chap on the forum (ZF Doctor) that offered parts? Anyone have contact info?

The car rattled to no end with interior creaks and rattles. Maybe I am just too picky, as I tend to investigate and fix the rattles in my cars before they accumulate.

Aaron

 

I would think with those miles and issues. I would not pay over $10,000 Good Luck. You should be able to get parts for the tranny.

 

a few things to consider. a rebuilt tranny was $2k(?), new windshield, bumper, paint, clutch, eventual motor rebuild, exhaust, labor to fix noises, and various other things may run around $6-7.... Other vettes with over 75k on the clock are going for $11-12 range... subtract the above amount and there you have it.

I wouldn't give more than $7000 for the car. Once you have the investment in parts to make it as good as one you can score for $15k... you've already spent $15k. Unless he is willing to sell that cheap, I wouldn't mess with it. I bought mine with 28k on the clock and only gave $17k for it. Food for thought.

 

You can still get brand new ZF tranny's really cheap...GM has been dumping their lot of them. Or you could contact Bill at ZFDOC.com and have him replace the 2nd gear synchros, either way you should be able to have it fixed or replaced for under $1800...that's the price of a new one at the moment if I remember right. Then of course that's the perfect time to replace the clutch.

All-in-all I would say that 10-11K is a fair deal for both sides.