aco2451

First off, I don't know if this is really the best place to post this.... but I did look at all the topics and this one fits what I'm needing to post better.

So on to the topic.... I was talking to a guy and somehow we got talking about Camaros and I mentioned I was in the process of restoring a 92 RS T-Top and he then tells me that he has a 91 RS Convertible that was wrecked and has been sitting behind his garage on jack stands and has been sitting there for 3+ years and that he was considering parting it out or selling the entire car. Of course that got me interested and I decided to meet him at his house and take a look to see what kind of shape it was in.

So I get to his house and start walking to the back and the car is already better than I imagined from the looks as I was walking up looked like minor front end accident. I then start talking to the guy to get more info on the story and then the wild card comes out. In that what looked like minor front end accident his daughter hit a curb with the right front tire going about 30 mph and pushed the entire front suspension back so bad that the suspension parts broke the starter off the flywheel and the part of the sub-frame weld broke and was pushed back.

Other than that the car looks like it could be a good parts car, the interior is nearly perfect, the convertible top is in good condition and I could probably use a lot of the parts.

The guy is asking $1800 because it has a 700R4 tranny that only has 3000 miles on it. and he also thinks that the 305 tbi with 170,000 miles is worth something because it ran strong and didn't leak.

I attached some pictures I wasn't able to get a good picture of the sub-frame damage.

I don't know what all would be involved or what the cost would be to fix the sub-frame (or even fixable). I'm not going to pay $1800 that for sure but I need a little more input to make my decision and what kind of money some of you guys would pay.

any opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Adam

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

I'll just start with this. 700R4 - almost worthless. 305 - almost worthless. Are the rest of the parts worth the 1800? Maybe, if you parted it you'd probably running at about breaking even, imho.

Jason E

I would give him $1,000 for it, then find a competent shop to fix it. Anything can be fixed...but with this car, being a flexible chassis hurt by an even more flexible convertible structure, fixing it right is critical.

Worst case, you find out it cannot be fixed, in which case you part it then and get your money back. I think its something worth saving, being a convertible.

sleepsinshed

iTrader: (10)

I think you're looking at a $500-600 car there. It's essentially a roller that needs some structural work. I agree with Jason that being a convertible makes it worth saving.

aco2451

Thanks for the replies. I called a couple of body shops that are known to be good and they both said that the sub-frame would have to be replaced. so in order to fix it I would pretty much have to find a new sub-frame and pretty much take each part and swap it over. (if I wanted a convertible)

so with that being said I do have a 92 RS T-Top that I'm currently working on that has a rebuild salvage title with a good sub-frame so I guess that is an option if I could get it for a really good price ($500 - $800). The insurance didn't total it so he still has a clean and clear title.

How hard would it be to remove everything and then swap everything over?

I think it being a convertible is why I'm even considering this car. Looking at the info here on the website there was under 10,000 convertibles made in 91. so I if everything was done right then it would be worth more in the long run since there really aren't a lot of them out there.

For some reason the guy thinks that because he's put new parts in it 3+ years ago that they still have kept the value which is why he's asking $1800 for it. He's replaced the entire cooling system and has a new aluminum radiator, he paid 2200 for a new 700R4 direct from GM, new convertible top $600+

After about 45 minutes of talking and being up front with him about the 700R4 Trannys are junk unless you put it in a mid 80's cutlass and drive it like a senior citizen. and the 305 Tbi well, that's what I have now so that will do me no good and I might be able to sell that for $200 and have to deliver the damn thing. And if I wanted to spend $1800 I could find a car on craigslist that is running and structurally sound that I would have to put a lot of time and energy into rebuilding it (just keep it going)

sleepsinshed

iTrader: (10)

If by subframe you're referring to the K-member, it's an easy swap from one car to another, and they're easy and cheap to find used. If you're referring to the integral front subframe that's part of the unibody chassis, replacing that is not worth attempting. It may be repairable though.

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

As far as swapping all of the parts onto your RS to make it a convertible... it's one of those, if you have to ask, it's probably above your skill level. Buy a Vert if you want a Vert.

aco2451

Unfortunately it's not the K member it's the actual subframe. it broke a weld and was then pushed back in on its self so I think it would be a challenging repair for professional to take on, which is probably why as soon as I mentioned subframe to the collision shops they said just to get another subframe and start over.

The only reason I asked about doing the swap was because the collision shops said just to start over with a new subframe, which would mean doing a full "frame" up restoration. and I just wanted to know if it can be done without the machines that were used in the GM factories and in a person's garage doing it piece by piece.

It's not one of those things that it may be "over my skill level" (which no-one knows what my skill level is) I just wanted a answer on if it can be and if it would be worth it to save a convertible RS

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

If you cut up your car you aren't "saving" a RS convertible.

It will be so much cheaper to just buy a Convertible that isn't trashed and sell your RS.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Are nice thirdgens getting hard enough to find that a wrecked, ratty RS is worth considering? By the time you finish having the unibody repaired, and a paint job, you could have gone out and bought a nicer car with fewer miles. Shop around if you want an RS convertible, they aren't that unusual.

puma1552

iTrader: (1)

Not if he rattle cans it and slathers it with POR-15.

*tongue-in-cheek*