Looking at a flood car
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 979
Likes: 102
Looking at a flood car
Need advice and thoughts. Looking at a black 2004 z06. The title is clean but it did have flood damage from Hurricane Sandy 5 years ago. It looks great, doesnt smell, everything works and it only has 59k. The seller wants 17k. The frame, suspension and undercarrage looks good with no signs of rust. Ive seen worse here in MN than this "flood car." If I wasn't mechanically inclined I wouldnt even think about it. Ive built a few cars and this will be no different. The motor, trans and diff will be built this winter. All the fluids were change and the brakes were upgraded. Its got the high end bolt ons (Corsa, ARH). Car runs strong.
I cant find a 04 black z06 close to me in this price range and Ive been looking for months. This is the car I want and am looking for.
If it needs a new body and engine harness I dont mine doing that.
It would be nice if the report said how the damage came about or how much and were it was on the car.
Thoughts?
I cant find a 04 black z06 close to me in this price range and Ive been looking for months. This is the car I want and am looking for.
If it needs a new body and engine harness I dont mine doing that.
It would be nice if the report said how the damage came about or how much and were it was on the car.
Thoughts?
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 71
Likes: 28
From: Fargo ND
My 03 convertible is a flood car. It was in a flood in 2006. 2009 it did end up having to have the engine/trans replaced due to internal rot. The previous owner had all the work done and I have close to $18,000 in receipts. For that price I would walk away. Side note I paid 12,000. Just food for thought.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,220
Likes: 473
From: Olive Branch Mississippi
Winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
2018 Corvette of Year
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
2015 C4 of Year
I bought a 2001 C5 in 2002 that was a flood car. I drove it for about 4 years trouble free. I sold it to a guy I worked with. He still has it and it's been a good car. I bought it from a used car dealer that sold Flood cars only. He new how to fix them correctly. The guy is still selling Flood cars today.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 394
From: Rocky Mountains
17k seems too high.
It's got a clean title but was in a flood ? It's not a salvaged title ?
I don't know man. I see clean, no story Z06s for 20k and less pretty frequently. If it was flooded, even if it ran fine, I'd want a steeper discount than that.
It's got a clean title but was in a flood ? It's not a salvaged title ?
I don't know man. I see clean, no story Z06s for 20k and less pretty frequently. If it was flooded, even if it ran fine, I'd want a steeper discount than that.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 979
Likes: 102
Correct. The thing is I want an 04 and it must be black. I'd rather not fly across the county either. Most 04s I've seen are 23k and higher. It's even harder to find black. Like I said i don't mind replacing a few wiring harnesses if I have to.
the flooding happened almost five years ago. You would think the bugs would have shown up by now.
Last edited by Podium; Jun 25, 2017 at 11:45 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 71
Likes: 28
From: Fargo ND
Sounds like your mind is made up. If you want it then get it and enjoy the car.
Correct. The thing is I want an 04 and it must be black. I'd rather not fly across the county either. Most 04s I've seen are 23k and higher. It's even harder to find black. Like I said i don't mind replacing a few wiring harnesses if I have to.
the flooding happened almost five years ago. You would think the bugs would have shown up by now.
the flooding happened almost five years ago. You would think the bugs would have shown up by now.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 979
Likes: 102
Sorta. I'm also going to look at an 01 tomorrow. No floods lol. 48k miles at 20k probably will get that one.
my main worry with the 04 is frame rot but I reasd that the c5 is galvanized steel? Don't know how that would resist salt water. Frame is my biggest concern
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,482
Likes: 343
From: Long Island New York
I have seen what salt water does to cars firsthand, lost my car in Sandy. I would never purchase a car that was hit by saltwater, only a matter of time before corrosion appears, especially how sensitive these cars are with electrical/ grounding connections.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 394
From: Rocky Mountains
Too bad you have no way of knowing how bad it was. I think there is a difference between a foot or two of water that might of seeped past the weatherstripping around the doors, vs complete submersion. Either way though, I wouldn't risk this car unless you got it for much less than 17k. Just me, but I'd rather jump on a plane to buy one 1000 miles away than swap out a wiring harness and worry what else might get screwed up EBCM etc.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
This is just my personal opinion. I live near the ocean in New England. I too have seen what salt water can do to a car, and that is not from flooding. I wouldn't even consider a flooded car from Sandy. That storm not only moved a lot of water, but a lot of silt and sand. To me, flying cross country to get a car at the same price without that history is a much better investment than risking it on a car with a flood history. Hope you find what you are looking for 
Last edited by vettenuts; Jun 26, 2017 at 07:15 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 979
Likes: 102
I asked him to lift the carpet and take a picture. There were coins on the floor and they looked rusted together. He also is firm at 17k. I'm passing. After researching, salt water really fs cars up! Not worth the risk. Thanks for the conversation guys!
I'm going to look at a 2001 black z in an hour. Car fax is good. Car is clean and has only 48k.
I'm going to look at a 2001 black z in an hour. Car fax is good. Car is clean and has only 48k.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,285
Likes: 1,515
From: Oviedo Florida
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
Rust now or later count on it> No thank you to flood damage.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,275
Likes: 24,568
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I asked him to lift the carpet and take a picture. There were coins on the floor and they looked rusted together. He also is firm at 17k. I'm passing. After researching, salt water really fs cars up! Not worth the risk. Thanks for the conversation guys!
I'm going to look at a 2001 black z in an hour. Car fax is good. Car is clean and has only 48k.
I'm going to look at a 2001 black z in an hour. Car fax is good. Car is clean and has only 48k.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 711
Likes: 76
From: Atlantic Pa
Most people don't understand that the floor of a c5 is layered balsa wood and there are wires and relays running all through the car . You'd have to be crazy to buy a flood c5 car . I've bought a truck from New Jersey by the ocean that turned out to be a rust bucket in just a couple years to the point the frame was getting thin and it was a newer 2500 hd . Water and salt are horrible on cars
Last edited by Lexybird; Jul 2, 2017 at 08:06 PM.