Fixing a wrecked c6
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Fixing a wrecked c6
I´m thinking of buying a wrecked car and rebuild it as a project: It´s a 2005 c6 that has done 22000 miles. I´m trying to work out a budget so what do you think the parts for restoring this car would cost?
Pro
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 585
Likes: 0
From: Ocean County NJ
You did not tell us enough about the car - price, status of title, your intended use, damage not visible in the pictures, etc. Before you invest a considerable amount of time determining the parts needs for this restoration, you should scour the vehicles presently offered for sale. You would be better served find a deal on a car that has not been wrecked.
Rebuilding a car with a negative history hurts resale value.
Rebuilding a car with a "salvage" history isn't worth it unless you are tracking the car or just intend to drive the car until it has NO value.
Clearly, that car needs a bumper, most of the passenger side body parts, new dash, two airbags, and a bottle of adhesive remover as that wood dash kit has to go (I'll kick in the adhesive remover). Do yourself a favor - spend 10 minutes in the parts section or on an auction site. Add up those parts, put a value on the time you will spend doing this job and I think you will agree that the time you spend doing the rebuild will be fun but not worth it.
Rebuilding a car with a negative history hurts resale value.
Rebuilding a car with a "salvage" history isn't worth it unless you are tracking the car or just intend to drive the car until it has NO value.
Clearly, that car needs a bumper, most of the passenger side body parts, new dash, two airbags, and a bottle of adhesive remover as that wood dash kit has to go (I'll kick in the adhesive remover). Do yourself a favor - spend 10 minutes in the parts section or on an auction site. Add up those parts, put a value on the time you will spend doing this job and I think you will agree that the time you spend doing the rebuild will be fun but not worth it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 0
From: HOUSTON TEXAS
Run forest run..
You did not tell us enough about the car - price, status of title, your intended use, damage not visible in the pictures, etc. Before you invest a considerable amount of time determining the parts needs for this restoration, you should scour the vehicles presently offered for sale. You would be better served find a deal on a car that has not been wrecked.
Rebuilding a car with a negative history hurts resale value.
Rebuilding a car with a "salvage" history isn't worth it unless you are tracking the car or just intend to drive the car until it has NO value.
Clearly, that car needs a bumper, most of the passenger side body parts, new dash, two airbags, and a bottle of adhesive remover as that wood dash kit has to go (I'll kick in the adhesive remover). Do yourself a favor - spend 10 minutes in the parts section or on an auction site. Add up those parts, put a value on the time you will spend doing this job and I think you will agree that the time you spend doing the rebuild will be fun but not worth it.
Rebuilding a car with a negative history hurts resale value.
Rebuilding a car with a "salvage" history isn't worth it unless you are tracking the car or just intend to drive the car until it has NO value.
Clearly, that car needs a bumper, most of the passenger side body parts, new dash, two airbags, and a bottle of adhesive remover as that wood dash kit has to go (I'll kick in the adhesive remover). Do yourself a favor - spend 10 minutes in the parts section or on an auction site. Add up those parts, put a value on the time you will spend doing this job and I think you will agree that the time you spend doing the rebuild will be fun but not worth it.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
I just rebuilt an '05 with similiar damage. My frame was straight but the engine cradle was damaged and some suspension stuff. Both bags were blown etc etc. What I didn't count on was the oil filter got knocked off in the wreck and the motor continued to run without lubrication so a complete rebuild of the engine was needed.
There were about a bazillion "nickel and dime" things that I needed that I didn't originally budget. And as you may or may not know, Corvette parts generally aren't cheap and are sometimes hard to find used. Ever heard of seatbelt pretensioners? Me neither, but $250 later I have. The bottom line can snowball in a hurry with a few unplanned expesnes.
With all that said, yes I have as much in mine as I could have went out and bought an unwrecked one for. But I have the pride of knowing I rebuilt it all myself and I have the experience under my belt. Is it worth it? Only you can make that decision but for me it was definetly worth it.
There were about a bazillion "nickel and dime" things that I needed that I didn't originally budget. And as you may or may not know, Corvette parts generally aren't cheap and are sometimes hard to find used. Ever heard of seatbelt pretensioners? Me neither, but $250 later I have. The bottom line can snowball in a hurry with a few unplanned expesnes.
With all that said, yes I have as much in mine as I could have went out and bought an unwrecked one for. But I have the pride of knowing I rebuilt it all myself and I have the experience under my belt. Is it worth it? Only you can make that decision but for me it was definetly worth it.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,136
Likes: 212
From: Long Island New York
I just rebuilt an '05 with similiar damage. My frame was straight but the engine cradle was damaged and some suspension stuff. Both bags were blown etc etc. What I didn't count on was the oil filter got knocked off in the wreck and the motor continued to run without lubrication so a complete rebuild of the engine was needed.
There were about a bazillion "nickel and dime" things that I needed that I didn't originally budget. And as you may or may not know, Corvette parts generally aren't cheap and are sometimes hard to find used. Ever heard of seatbelt pretensioners? Me neither, but $250 later I have. The bottom line can snowball in a hurry with a few unplanned expesnes.
With all that said, yes I have as much in mine as I could have went out and bought an unwrecked one for. But I have the pride of knowing I rebuilt it all myself and I have the experience under my belt. Is it worth it? Only you can make that decision but for me it was definetly worth it.
There were about a bazillion "nickel and dime" things that I needed that I didn't originally budget. And as you may or may not know, Corvette parts generally aren't cheap and are sometimes hard to find used. Ever heard of seatbelt pretensioners? Me neither, but $250 later I have. The bottom line can snowball in a hurry with a few unplanned expesnes.
With all that said, yes I have as much in mine as I could have went out and bought an unwrecked one for. But I have the pride of knowing I rebuilt it all myself and I have the experience under my belt. Is it worth it? Only you can make that decision but for me it was definetly worth it.
I would also be concerned about gremlins that pop up down the road after a bad whack.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 11,216
Likes: 178
From: Pensacola Florida GO GATORS!!! www.rlsebring.com www.c6c7vette.com
St. Jude Donor '17
I rebuild 3 or 4 late C6's a year and make money. From my experience, I just jumped in and started rebuilding them. I would almost say that if you have to ask you probably don't need to do it.
I think as a onesy and your first one your probably not going to be ahead of the game simply because you have no experience in looking for parts and doing the labor. Not meaning anything by it other than this is a car that can eat you alive then spit you out.
If you have done at least one then I'd say you have a good chance of doing good with it. If you plan on making any money on the car you cannot let them sit around too long. Right now they are depreciating rapidly.
I had 4 08's 5 months ago and I'm down to 2. One is a keeper for the time being and the last one I am about half way thru it and it's value today is down about 6K from when I bought it.
I've learned not to buy so many at one time. The old saying hit "One more good deal and I'll be Bankrupt".
Anyway that's my story. Take what you will. Search rebuilds on the forum, they're been a couple of thread the past few months with a lot of comments concerning this topic.
I think as a onesy and your first one your probably not going to be ahead of the game simply because you have no experience in looking for parts and doing the labor. Not meaning anything by it other than this is a car that can eat you alive then spit you out.
If you have done at least one then I'd say you have a good chance of doing good with it. If you plan on making any money on the car you cannot let them sit around too long. Right now they are depreciating rapidly.
I had 4 08's 5 months ago and I'm down to 2. One is a keeper for the time being and the last one I am about half way thru it and it's value today is down about 6K from when I bought it.
I've learned not to buy so many at one time. The old saying hit "One more good deal and I'll be Bankrupt".
Anyway that's my story. Take what you will. Search rebuilds on the forum, they're been a couple of thread the past few months with a lot of comments concerning this topic.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo NY
You did not tell us enough about the car - price, status of title, your intended use, damage not visible in the pictures, etc. Before you invest a considerable amount of time determining the parts needs for this restoration, you should scour the vehicles presently offered for sale. You would be better served find a deal on a car that has not been wrecked.
Rebuilding a car with a negative history hurts resale value.
Rebuilding a car with a "salvage" history isn't worth it unless you are tracking the car or just intend to drive the car until it has NO value.
.
Rebuilding a car with a negative history hurts resale value.
Rebuilding a car with a "salvage" history isn't worth it unless you are tracking the car or just intend to drive the car until it has NO value.
.
I think you have to consider all options, price out the cost of the parts and the labor, and the price of clean one with similar mileage and options
Yes a rebuilt/ salvage car is worth less, but it also cost less to own and easier to obtain, half price or less intial cost 13,000 instead of 26000, then pay for the rest of the car as funds and time allows. What some people dont realize if you buy a vette a clean title one with out oney for lets say 30,000 and ur financing it, you lose on depreciation of the car and all the money spent on interest so in 5 yrs your 30,000 car cost you 35,000 and is worth 25,000, you lost 10,000,
While a salvage car may in end the cost you 22,000 but you can always sell in for more than 12,000, you cost of ownership is less and you net loss or depeciation is less.
For all the experts talking about salvage / rebuilt, cars values and so forth do some research.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 18
From: Anderson SC
I rebuild 3 or 4 late C6's a year and make money. From my experience, I just jumped in and started rebuilding them. I would almost say that if you have to ask you probably don't need to do it.
I think as a onesy and your first one your probably not going to be ahead of the game simply because you have no experience in looking for parts and doing the labor. Not meaning anything by it other than this is a car that can eat you alive then spit you out.
If you have done at least one then I'd say you have a good chance of doing good with it. If you plan on making any money on the car you cannot let them sit around too long. Right now they are depreciating rapidly.
I had 4 08's 5 months ago and I'm down to 2. One is a keeper for the time being and the last one I am about half way thru it and it's value today is down about 6K from when I bought it.
I've learned not to buy so many at one time. The old saying hit "One more good deal and I'll be Bankrupt".
Anyway that's my story. Take what you will. Search rebuilds on the forum, they're been a couple of thread the past few months with a lot of comments concerning this topic.
I think as a onesy and your first one your probably not going to be ahead of the game simply because you have no experience in looking for parts and doing the labor. Not meaning anything by it other than this is a car that can eat you alive then spit you out.
If you have done at least one then I'd say you have a good chance of doing good with it. If you plan on making any money on the car you cannot let them sit around too long. Right now they are depreciating rapidly.
I had 4 08's 5 months ago and I'm down to 2. One is a keeper for the time being and the last one I am about half way thru it and it's value today is down about 6K from when I bought it.
I've learned not to buy so many at one time. The old saying hit "One more good deal and I'll be Bankrupt".
Anyway that's my story. Take what you will. Search rebuilds on the forum, they're been a couple of thread the past few months with a lot of comments concerning this topic.
I also rebuild C5 & C6 Vettes. If it's your first rebuild, chances are you may end up in the red on it unless you have some connections. I own a salvage C6 (theft recovery) and, for me, it's great. It's paid off, it rides, drives, and looks like a factory fresh car, and I rebuilt it from nothing so I know every inch of the car.
While it's true these cars can be had for a fraction of what they cost normally, you may want to do extensive research before you make a move. It's not for everybody, but you can come out on the other end of it with a nice car for cheap if you know the right people with the right parts. Good luck!
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
This first place is where I got mine. They were good to deal with. The second place is local to me and a friend bought a '02 Z06 from them and has been very happy.
http://www.showmewrecks.com/
http://www.74auto.com/
http://www.showmewrecks.com/
http://www.74auto.com/
