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I have been a member here for a long time but haven't had a Vette lately.
I just picked up a doozy but should be an interesting project. I bought a 2004 Spiral Grey on black coupe with 22k original miles. The caveat is that it was flooded in spring of 2024 in West Virginia-maybe the prior owner is in here?
The car isn't running right now. It had fresh water up to about the crank bolt on the outside and maybe 1.5-2in in the floor boards (power seats still work 100%). After being at the salvage auction for almost a year it showed up and still had a hot battery and only a few things don't work. The car is in really nice condition albeit pretty dirty from sitting.
This weekend I am going to pull the seats and carpets and clean / lubricate everything and pull the BCM and fuse panel to determine if either needs to be replaced. Then go from there. I am also going to troubleshoot the no start as I can hear some clicking but not sure if it is activating the starter relay. or maybe the starter is bad.
I fix salvage cars for a hobby, did a salt water flood Mini Cooper S last year I have been driving ever since. I am hoping this one won't be TOO bad to get going.
Good luck with your project. Most people would advise against a flood car, but it seems like you know what you're getting into and know what you're doing.
Good luck with your project. Most people would advise against a flood car, but it seems like you know what you're getting into and know what you're doing.
Thanks! I'm not too scared, I have fixed a few but this is the first C5. This thing was someone's baby and barely got driven. My biggest drawback is I have no shop/garage so I am working outside in the gravel or borrowing pavement which can be challenging with such a low car.
Thanks! I'm not too scared, I have fixed a few but this is the first C5. This thing was someone's baby and barely got driven. My biggest drawback is I have no shop/garage so I am working outside in the gravel or borrowing pavement which can be challenging with such a low car.
~B~
Good luck, you’re just in time for the heat and humidity. You are a hearty soul 👍
I bought a flood car. 2016 Ford Taurus Interceptor. 3.7L AWD, Had 30k miles, now at 93k, Never had an issue, bought it for 10k out the door a few years ago.
I lost a 2002 vert to saltwater flooding during hurricane Ian a few years ago. While in my garage the water was almost up to the roof. Insurance covered the loss but I had no interest in recovering the salvage. CoPart came and got it but I could never find it in their auction site. Was a six speed with 62,000 miles. I have some experience with flood cars (aka swimmers) but would not work on one from salt water. Way too many electronic parts were required even if the drive train was salvageable. Good luck with your project.
I got a lot done to the car today but at the same time didn't get it running which was my goal.
I removed the BCM (had water to the second plug on it) and the interior fuse panel. There was no visible corrosion on anything, just dirt. I cleaned everything and replaced all of the fuses and relays. I reinstalled the units and the car did less than it did before I worked on it. Typical. The DIC says no communication with the BCM.
I went ahead and ordered a reflashed replacement BCM from Dino's and a used fuse box from eBay.
I took out the seats and front carpet, cleaned the inside of the car really well, cleaned the seats and tracks, and power washed the carpet which is now drying outside. While the seats are out I think I will put some sound deadening insulation on the floors and tunnel since I have a box here I am not doing anything with.
After that I washed the car, it is really in good shape-just a couple of spots that need to be touched up.
Good luck with your project. It will be a challenge to get her back and running again. I certainly admire your willingness to under go this project. Sure glad that you have experience in this type of restoration. Beautiful color combination.
Some progress this weekend. I had some Amazon generic Dynamat type material from another project so I put it on the front floorboards, figured it can't hurt and the carpets were out anyway.
I got the carpet, seats, and trim back in and interior cleaned.
The reflashed BCM and used fuse box came in today so hopefully I can install them this weekend, go thru the BCM learning procedure and see if it will start!
I got in my new (used and reflashed) BCM and a used fuse panel this week and installed them this evening. I went the Dino's BCM learn procedure and it fired right up. It runs, drives, stops just fine and the AC is ice cold.
It is angry about a couple of things, has some codes for the ABS/Traction control and says the speed is limited to 80 and for some reason it thinks the car has mag ride (it doesn't) and has a lot of errors for that so I have to see if that can be coded out somehow. No check engine light and everything on the car works except the passenger window which is clicking but not rolling down for some reason.
This is a huge step. I am going to get the trans and rear diff fluids changed and work on the minor issues while I wait for an appointment for the rebuilt title. Grand total to fix the car to this point is less than $600.
Old Member *new* C5!
