99 Differential swap price?
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2
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99 Differential swap price?
I'm looking at a 99 with a bad rear end. What does it normally cost to replace one? I see ones on eBay for 200-500. The car is a 99 with 134k and has a salvage title from the past. Guy claims the previous owner hit his garage? Car looks fairly clean, but it's 150 miles away. Said he'd take $4500 for it. It an automatic. Has abs/traction control lights on the dash lit up.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,294
Likes: 482
From: Brea CA
Stay away from this one. Too many expensive known issues.
Unless you are looking for a project car that you will keep for a long time.
The ABS issues with out knowing the codes is a red flag, the ABS computer is not repairable for 97 to 2000's. This is due to a material that was used during manufacturing to seal the components.
To your original question about the diff, a shop would charge around $600 to $1000 to change it out if you brought the diff. There are 2 diff gear ratios for the automatic, 2.73 and 3.15. The 2.73 is the standard and 3.15 the performance. The 3.15 is the more expensive diff.
Gary
Unless you are looking for a project car that you will keep for a long time.
The ABS issues with out knowing the codes is a red flag, the ABS computer is not repairable for 97 to 2000's. This is due to a material that was used during manufacturing to seal the components.
To your original question about the diff, a shop would charge around $600 to $1000 to change it out if you brought the diff. There are 2 diff gear ratios for the automatic, 2.73 and 3.15. The 2.73 is the standard and 3.15 the performance. The 3.15 is the more expensive diff.
Gary
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Are these expensive cars to repair? I've never had a Vette. Owned several f-bodies and a few vipers. Least with the vipers the repairs were somewhat cheap, other than 2k for a rear end replacement. Priorities change and I got married so expensive cars went away. No abs or traction control isn't a big deal.
I figure if I can have under $6000 into it I'd come out ahead. Then whatever minor repairs it needs along the way.
I figure if I can have under $6000 into it I'd come out ahead. Then whatever minor repairs it needs along the way.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 357
Likes: 9
From: Aston (Philadelphia) PA
I'd walk away from it. But to answer your question to swap/repair the rear, the entire rear subframe/suspension must be dropped, exhaust dropped, center tunnel plate removed, the motor tilted back far enough to clear the rear trunk well hump. In short, its not a fun job. ABS modules on those cars go for $1,000 to $2,000 depending on the type, a rear diff purchased and installed is easily another $1,000 with labor. Figure that all in and you're at at least $7,000 for a salvage title C5 with almost 150k miles on it. You can buy clean titled C5s with similar mileage all day for 10 grand. What else is wrong with it that he isnt telling you about? Best of luck with whatever you do.
Mike
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 34,479
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From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Your first time doing the repair, yes it will seem like a bit of a pain because the process is new to you.. But the truth is I said dropping the diff and trans out of one of these cars is as easy as it used to be on older cars and I've done both. Recently.
A trans and diff For an auto are actually pretty cheap. If you can find an inexpensive source 4 used parts these things can be fairly inexpensive to work on. However I think the problem is after you get going on the car you find that you're not satisfied with the piece of junk you bought and you want it to be nice. It's all that elective stuff that will ultimately cost you all the money.
That said I tend to agree with the poster above who mentions getting a decent car to start with for a little more money and a little less headache. I just went through a pretty big nightmare on my own car where doing some work and an unexpected problem arose and added about 5 to 6 weeks to my down time. Mine might have been a rare case but it can happen.
A trans and diff For an auto are actually pretty cheap. If you can find an inexpensive source 4 used parts these things can be fairly inexpensive to work on. However I think the problem is after you get going on the car you find that you're not satisfied with the piece of junk you bought and you want it to be nice. It's all that elective stuff that will ultimately cost you all the money.
That said I tend to agree with the poster above who mentions getting a decent car to start with for a little more money and a little less headache. I just went through a pretty big nightmare on my own car where doing some work and an unexpected problem arose and added about 5 to 6 weeks to my down time. Mine might have been a rare case but it can happen.
