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Project Cars--You Get to Vote on "Hold 'em or Fold 'em"

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  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    what do you guys think about my next restoration job

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    it is a wrecked corvette

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,031

    The floorboards are actually in pretty good shape, and thankfully, that's the truck's bad side. The rocker is rusty as well on the driver's side, but not as rusty. Also, that spot in front of the rear wheel opening isn't rust, but rather a clear plastic flap/protector that GM (or the dealer?) put on these trucks. It's gotten discolored and dirty.

    Also, the windshield is cracked, the a/c doesn't work, power window motor in the driver's door is loose. Parking brake is broken. I overheated it back in October, and while the mechanic looked it over and said I didn't do any permanent damage, it's harder to start than it used to be. It actually ran pretty well before I overheated it, and it runs well once it finally gets started and warmed up. Last time I tried to start it though, it was beyond dead...even with a trickle charger on it, the lights won't come on. I probably need to pull the battery out and have it checked out, but it's just been too damn cold and nasty to mess with it.

    One reason I haven't moved on it one way or another is that it doesn't cost me much $ to keep around $400 per year on insurance and $51 every two years to register. And enough room in the yard that it doesn't get in the way. Still, I need to, as Vicki Lawrence once said, "Sing or get off the pot!"

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    how much do ya want for it

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,031

    Hadn't really thought about it. Wanna make me an offer? ;) Unless you're fairly local to me though, it might not be worth the hassle to you, with transporting and such. You could probably find something similar that's local to you.

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    um im thinking about 3or 4 k

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    do ya live in new york. if ya dont i travel the country every summer

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,031

    I'm in Maryland, near washington DC. Funny thing, I was just in NYC a couple weeks ago. And, while I appreciate the ego boost, I don't think it's worth that much! Unless I'm that out of touch with prices.

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342

    @jordan40 said:
    i see potential in it to be a great dependable vehicle

    You see "potential" ??

    Well, go offer Andre three or four grand for it and he just might cut it loose!

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,750

    @andre1969 said:
    I'm in Maryland, near washington DC. Funny thing, I was just in NYC a couple weeks ago. And, while I appreciate the ego boost, I don't think it's worth that much! Unless I'm that out of touch with prices.

    He can just take the train from NYC to get to where you live. Of course, he may have to buy the truck to get back. B)

    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,446

    If jordan wants to pay 3-4K for 80s era big GM trucks, he needs to come out here to the west coast - he'll be able to find decent ones all day for that.

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,750
    edited February 2014

    @jordan40 said:
    it is a wrecked corvette

    That's a C6? A first I thought the wheels were after market, but I saw a picture of them.

    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,446
    edited February 2014

    Got the fintail back - triple what I was expecting when I dropped it off.

    According to my mechanic, the frozen parking brake issue was actually a rear wheel cylinder that would intermittently seize. Not cheap - 95 a pop. Brake hoses were only 17 apiece, distributor cap and rotor 40 for the pair. A mostly labor bill, as many cars can be. Seemed to be running fine when I picked it up.

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,031

    @explorerx4 said:
    He can just take the train from NYC to get to where you live. Of course, he may have to buy the truck to get back. B)

    Yeah, the Amtrak trains stop at New Carrollton, which is about 5-6 miles from me. I think if you take the local ones that stop off more, there's a station in Seabrook and one at Bowie State that are even closer.

    In retrospect, I wish I had done that when I drove to NYC. Probably could have left the truck overnite at either of those stations, and at worst, caught the MARC train to the nearest Amtrak stop, and then taken the Amtrak right into NYC. But instead, we drove. On the day that blizzard hit. Took about 7 hours to get from down here to the hotel in Newark by the airport, where we took a shuttle to the airport, a cute little monorail to the train station, and then a train into Penn Station.

    As for my truck, I see trucks like it regularly at the Carlisle shows I go to. Even showroom-new looking equivalents of my truck usually only ask about $12-16K, and you know they're not going to fetch that unless the seller gets really lucky. And, it would take a LOT more than $12-16K to get my truck looking showroom new again!

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516

    @fintail said:
    Got the fintail back - triple what I was expecting when I dropped it off.....

    Glad to see you still have it. I almost picked up a 85 300D with 300k miles for about $800, but it was too beat up and had trouble going up the hill when I test drove it where the car's owner lived. Picked up another early 90's Accord instead for a commuter.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,119
    edited February 2014

    @fintail said:
    Got the fintail back - triple what I was expecting when I dropped it off.

    And some folks wonder why restoring a car is so expensive, and so hard to estimate. But now you're set for a few years (or months)...

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    ill buy the truck for what ever it takes. i drive a gmc sierra and i am a big gm brand fan.

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    @explorerx4 said:

    what do ya think of it should i restore it or not

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    @fintail said:
    If jordan wants to pay 3-4K for 80s era big GM trucks, he needs to come out here to the west coast - he'll be able to find decent ones all day for that.

    ive been to the west coast before all very beautiful vehicles there.

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    @andre1969 said:
    I'm in Maryland, near washington DC. Funny thing, I was just in NYC a couple weeks ago. And, while I appreciate the ego boost, I don't think it's worth that much! Unless I'm that out of touch with prices.

    How much do ya think its worth.

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    @andre1969 said:Yeah, the Amtrak trains stop at New Carrollton, which is about 5-6 miles from me. I think if you take the local ones that stop off more, there's a station in Seabrook and one at Bowie State that are even closer.

    In retrospect, I wish I had done that when I drove to NYC. Probably could have left the truck overnite at either of those stations, and at worst, caught the MARC train to the nearest Amtrak stop, and then taken the Amtrak right into NYC. But instead, we drove. On the day that blizzard hit. Took about 7 hours to get from down here to the hotel in Newark by the airport, where we took a shuttle to the airport, a cute little monorail to the train station, and then a train into Penn Station.

    As for my truck, I see trucks like it regularly at the Carlisle shows I go to. Even showroom-new looking equivalents of my truck usually only ask about $12-16K, and you know they're not going to fetch that unless the seller gets really lucky. And, it would take a LOT more than $12-16K to get my truck looking showroom new again!

    i hate trains. i live about 8 hours away from nyc i live in farmersville. but someday ill take a look at the truck when im around there

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,446

    Hey, long time. Am thinking of heading up to the Vancouver show, but don't know if I will.

    I've had the old beast for almost 20 years now, so I think I am in for the long haul. Too bad about that W123, but as you can find a really nice one for 5K, a beater is a bad idea. Sounds like it was just tired. Those 90-93 Accords and even the style that followed were very well engineered cars, still tons of them on the road in the PNW.

    I have a mild itch to find a mint late 140 - I remember back in the day, every HK zillionaire who moved to Van bought one. Might be a good place to find a nice one.

    @boomchek said:

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,446

    And why for many cars, a restoration is insanity. I try to allow one repair a year for the old car. Last year there were two, this year's is done already...I hope. But some years in the past had nothing but an oil change, so maybe it evens out.

    Guy at the shop was telling me about the 6.3 I spotted there - said the owner spent 5K on the interior wood alone.

    @texases said:

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,744

    @jordan40 said:
    what do you guys think about my next restoration job

    What year is it? How many miles? What equipment/model?
    At first glance, it looks like a lost cause to me. I'd yank the drivetrain and put it in something without major structural damage.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    I dont know the guy who sold me the car did not say. But it is completly stock. No upgrades or anything. Its a 2006-2007

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    About 50k miles

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481

    Hmmm...so retail about $20K private party...I'd say it's an iffy proposition at best. I agree, I'd find a C6 with a blown motor (not that hard to find).

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,744

    @jordan40 said:
    I dont know the guy who sold me the car did not say. But it is completly stock. No upgrades or anything. Its a 2006-2007

    Ouch. That's even worse than I thought. Not a Z06, right?? For a base model, and if an '07, that's maybe a $24k-$25k car IF IT WASN'T DAMAGED.

    Has it been declared totaled? If so, now we're talking MAYBE a $15k car after its fixed up.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481

    I'd be surprised if it wasn't totaled. That's a boatload of damage and we can't even see the suspension bits. If it were me, I'd bail on it for sure. But you know, if you're a scrounger and can mooch used parts and do all the basic assembly work yourself and your brother in law is an auto painter who moonlights on weekends, and you need a hobby--well, why not?

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516

    @fintail said:
    Hey, long time. Am thinking of heading up to the Vancouver show, but don't know if I will.

    I've had the old beast for almost 20 years now, so I think I am in for the long haul. Too bad about that W123, but as you can find a really nice one for 5K, a beater is a bad idea. Sounds like it was just tired. Those 90-93 Accords and even the style that followed were very well engineered cars, still tons of them on the road in the PNW.

    I have a mild itch to find a mint late 140 - I remember back in the day, every HK zillionaire who moved to Van bought one. Might be a good place to find a nice one.

    This year I'll be in town for the show and will go, probably as few times. My 4 year old son is turning out to be quite a bit of a car nut, which of course I'm happy about so I think I'll take him once too.

    Yeah the W140's are hovering around the $4-$8k range. A local dealer just had one with only 27000 verified kms (16k miles). They were asking about $8-$9k for it if I remember. Funny enough I saw it at the public auction website and was going to go but didn't have the time to go.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,446

    4 years old now, how the time flies. He's just at that age where he can start to enjoy your toy cars.

    Early 140s are to be avoided unless the wiring harness and often AC evaporator have been done - both are big jobs. Later ones don't have the wiring issues. I'd want a 97+ car. A 16K mile car would be pretty crazy.

    @boomchek said:

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,446

    Speaking of 80s GM trucks, here are a few from a 30 second craigslist search:

    Kind of reminds me of Andre's

    If you like red

    Odd

  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454

    The '84 diesel would make a good camping/boating rig. Enough covered storage for gear and a nice bunch of shelving for sorting and cooking on. Probably doesn't crank below 50 degrees though.

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481

    @Stever@Edmunds said:
    The '84 diesel would make a good camping/boating rig. Enough covered storage for gear and a nice bunch of shelving for sorting and cooking on. Probably doesn't crank below 50 degrees though.

    A crude and nasty thing--the noise and vibration would drive you crazy on a camping trip.

  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited February 2014

    My favorite was the used TVA 4 door truck a canoeing buddy got at auction down in Chattanooga back in the day (~'75). It could haul 5 of us and our boats on top, and had all those cubbys for pfds and throw bags and the like. My kayaking nephew likes his Avalanche for similar reasons.

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516

    @fintail said:
    4 years old now, how the time flies. He's just at that age where he can start to enjoy your toy cars.

    He's been enjoying toy cars for a good part of 2 years now. In addition to the 1:18 scale models, he loves building cars out of Legos. I got him a Technic tow truck set for Christmas (well, I really got it for myself) and he seems to love the mechanics of it.

    On the low mile S Class, I'd almost be worried that it hasn't been driven enough. I hope the previous owner(s) changed the seals, gaskets, and any other rubber components that could have driven up by now.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,446

    There's definitely a risk with too few miles, and idle time. If the car was exercised monthly throughout its life, it might be fine, but if it sat in a garage for 15 years, the recommissioning will be a job. Old MBs of that age seem to be best around 50-60K miles on up, when any kinks (HVAC especially) can be worked out.

    @boomchek said:
    On the low mile S Class, I'd almost be worried that it hasn't been driven enough.

  • gsemikegsemike Member Posts: 2,414

    Not much going on in the dead of winter but...

    newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/cto/4314374161.html
    Nice truck with optimistic price

    newyork.craigslist.org/stn/cto/4292575820.html
    Interesting car but probably rough in person

    newyork.craigslist.org/wch/cto/4321330953.html
    Sorry man, These aren't there yet

    newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/cto/4312507027.html
    So he wants to trade his hardtop for the same car in a convertible straight up. That's not how it works and he must be a joy to deal with.

  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,892

    Some unusual stuff there, gsemike.

    Chevy truck--you mean they made those that weren't butterscotch-and-white or light-urine-green-and white? ;)

    Grand Prix--I always liked those cars, but I like the '69 and '70 with four headlights better. I thought the instrument panel of the '73 was a big improvement, but the exterior a big letdown compared to the '69-72.

    Benz--I really don't know much of anything about those cars. It's a nice-looking car I think.

    '73 Caprice hardtop...the only thing remotely in his favor, IMHO, is that the hardtop Caprices actually had a 'Caprice' interior, while the Caprice convertible used a vinyl Impala interior. I still don't think that'll change anybody's mind. ;)

    Thanks for posting.

    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,119

    Re the Benz: "6 CYL WITH RARE 4 BBL CARB"

    And that's a good thing?

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    @qbrozen said:
    Has it been declared totaled? If so, now we're talking MAYBE a $15k car after its fixed up.

    yes it was declared totaled. and i am rebuilding it.

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    @MrShift@Edmunds said:
    I'd be surprised if it wasn't totaled. That's a boatload of damage and we can't even see the suspension bits. If it were me, I'd bail on it for sure. But you know, if you're a scrounger and can mooch used parts and do all the basic assembly work yourself and your brother in law is an auto painter who moonlights on weekends, and you need a hobby--well, why not?

    my hobby if finding cars people say it is not the worth of time and show them off

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    i have another project car

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    tell me what you guys think it is a 2009 corvette 6.2L V8

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481

    Mercedes 280C --that's about the right price for a decent 'driver'.

    Grand Prix -- maybe in 5 years it'll be worth that, but not now.

    I predict 70s full size cars are going to become more valuable but it'll be gradual.

  • jordan40jordan40 Member Posts: 109

    @MrShift@Edmunds said:
    Mercedes 280C --that's about the right price for a decent 'driver'.

    Grand Prix -- maybe in 5 years it'll be worth that, but not now.

    I predict 70s full size cars are going to become more valuable but it'll be gradual.

    yes it will be gradual

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,446

    Not to me - I'd only want FI on any of those cars.

    @texases said:
    Re the Benz: "6 CYL WITH RARE 4 BBL CARB"

    And that's a good thing?

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481

    Those carbs are German re-makes of a Carter and are not very good.

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,031

    @uplanderguy said:
    Some unusual stuff there, gsemike.

    '73 Caprice hardtop...the only thing remotely in his favor, IMHO, is that the hardtop Caprices actually had a 'Caprice' interior, while the Caprice convertible used a vinyl Impala interior. I still don't think that'll change anybody's mind. ;)

    Yeah, I always thought that was a bit of a sham, as well. I always wondered why they kept the Impala interior when they moved the convertible to the Caprice line for '73? One possible reason might be that the Caprice interior was pretty darn nice, and might have stolen some of the thunder from the LeSabre, Delta 88, and Grand Ville convertibles.

    As for those big Chevies, 1973 is my least favorite year for them. I thought they looked really good in 1971, and 1972 is probably my favorite year. But for '73, I just don't like the way the headlights are spaced out, and seem to "float" in the grille. I do like the Impala, with its latticey grille, a bit more than the Caprice's more vertical, eggrate grille, but still don't care for either one. They both just seem too, well, pimpy, for my tastes.

    And I like how, starting in 1974, they tried to differentiate the Impala and Caprice more.

  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,892

    I like the '74 better than the '73--wheelcovers, grille, taillights--but I hated how in '73 and '74 they made the side molding go over the front wheel opening. We had a '74 and I still don't like that...they often looked a little crooked or 'bent' over the front wheel. And when you could get vinyl in a Caprice coupe or sedan that was a true Caprice interior, I don't know why they didn't offer it in the convertible. Don't know if they thought it'd be too close to the B-O-P convertible interiors or not.

    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
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