Hi,

New here, just getting back into it after fifteen years or so since last turning a wrench as a hobbyist.

My current project vehicle is an '84 Z28. It was a daily driver for several years, but has been parked since 1999. The plan is to put it together as a project for myself and my kids, but as it sits now, it's pretty much of a pig.

I have an opportunity to buy a parts car, and this is where I can use some help. As I wrote above, it's been a while, and I'm not entirely sure what to give the seller at this point. Its value as a complete car is not much, but the parts value could be fairly considerable. Here are the details:

1992 Z28, 140,000 miles
305 TPI LB9 w/5sp trans, disc rear (unsure if posi or not), T-tops, leather interior

The Bad:
The car was put into a ditch fairly hard, and the unibody is bent (both rear quarters buckled, car is totaled). Bodywise, the gfx, front air dam, and rear bumper cover are broken and unusable. Both front fenders are bent in at the bottom, but easily fixable.

Mechanically, the condition of both the transmission and rear end are unknown, as the car isn't drivable. However, there's no discernable bearing noise from the trans at idle.
On the inside, the dash pad is cracked and both seatbacks are broken (seats lay down)

The good:
Overall, the car appears to have been taken care of during its lifetime before this kid got a hold of it. The motor is clean, tight, smoke free, and sounds great. Aside from the seatbacks, the leather interior is in excellent condition, including the headliner and carpet. Power locks and windows all work.

Body: Rear hatch w/hi-rise spoiler, front bumper cover, doors, fenders, glass, fenders (see above), and t-tops are good, as are all lights and lenses. The car also has 4 16" stock aluminum rims which the owner says are still good, but which I haven't been able to verify.

Parts-wise, I'm interested in the TPI motor/ecm/harnesses/etc..., as well as the wc trans, to replace the very tired stock LG4 305 and non-wc t-5 currently in the 84. The interior is also a keeper. Actually, although I don't necessarily need everything from this car, there isn't really a whole lot that I won't be able to use. The biggest benefit I see to buying the entire car is in having all the small parts that would undoubtedly nickel and dime me to death if I bought just the motor/electronics/fuel system alone from a boneyard.

Anyway, the guy wants $1500, and it'll cost me about $150 to get it towed to my location. I was going to offer him a grand.

I know it's difficult to guesstimate a car's value without actually seeing it, but I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has an opinion on this one way or the other all the same.

Thanks,
-Bob

<edit>
I just realized this may not have been the appropriate forum for this thread. Apologies in advance.
</edit>

 

considering all the parts your getting i would say it is a good price even better if its a grand. but you would sink 1500 in an engine build alone and most trans rebuilds are around 800+ so right there it is a winner. all extra parts from the interior and lights ect can go in classified and make back more money. i would go for it.

it all goes to how many parts you need and the value of them so i need a trans so i need a 500 -800 dollar car with good trans. if it has parts i know i can sell like a good tpi set up 300-1000 depending after polishing with wires. That dictates the buying price in my mind.

1500 is high for a parts car if it is just that mostly junk parts.

hope this helps

Jeff

 

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show up with 1200 in cash and chances are he'll say it yours

but if you are seriously looking into using the entire drivetrain and interior, then break down the prices like jeff was saying and its definetely worth it.

 

This is my opinion. I would give around 1000 max, that is if it was in good running condition and had a ok rear end. Everyone (including me) thinks their pice of junk is worth top dollar and some even think their car is worth more than book value. A junkyard would probably not give much more than $600 for it max. If anyone else would pay more than $1000 for it because they want the parts too bad to look around for a month or so to compare prices. 1500 is a rip off. I bought this complete solid TPI car for $1250. It had an engine fire and needed some wiring replaced to get it to run. I worked on it for a few weekend visits at a friends shop and spent $350 in parts. I then drove it home 250 miles where I live now. It is a good solid car. The guy you are talking to should take the $1000 or he is crazy.

 

well you said kid so i'm guessing hes under 20, first off he thinks its worth a lot more then it is but if you show up with a grand in $20's he'll take one look at the pile of cash then look at the car and go its all yours.


don't pay more then a grand for it

 

hey,

I appreciate you guys taking the time to post your thoughts on this. I have a pretty good idea how I'm going to to go now; I'll post back tomorrow and let you know how I make out.

Thanks again,
-Bob

 

you might not get ripped off for $1500, but remember that you want to make MONEY! You aren't working for free taking things apart and selling them on ebay and packaging them up for shipping. The less money you can pay the better because it's all about making as much money as possible!

 

I never did post a follow-up, so here it is - I got the car, ended up paying $1100, and then another hundred to get it towed back to my place.

The car is LB9/G92 equipped, and the drivetrain is in fantastic shape save for one bent rear axle (replacements on the way from Moser). Also, it turns out the seat backs weren't broken at all, they were both just fully reclined for whatever reason. The seller just assumed they were broken, and I never bothered to check prior to bringing it home.

Being me, I had to take it for a quick ride prior to stripping it, and was really, really happy with the way the motor ran - the thing absolutely pulls like a s.o.b, and the trans and rear (1 bent axle aside) are both good. I'm happy The clutch is a little funky, but it's being replaced anyway.

Kretos - The seller was actually the kid's stepfather, a service manager at a Chevy dealership. He bought the car for the kid for Christmas, and from what I gather, it ended up in the ditch within a day or two.

mdricken - I'm looking at it from the perspective of getting a good value in parts for my money, which I think I did, rather than turning a profit. I am selling off a few things however, and certainly won't complain if I make a few bucks back.

Thanks,
-Bob

 

Good buy!!! let me know what you are selling off of it when you do... i also have a 84 project car and i might beable to use what you might not...

let me know...

 

no chance on repairing it eh?

i see a black camaro a few blocks from me with the back of a red camaro welded into it. he probably followed the seams of the panels but you never know. id do it if the car was cherry except for the smashed rear

 

Do me a favor, send me a PM so I don't forget, and I'll give you a shout when things come up. I only have a couple of things available (posted in the classified section) at the moment, but will undoubtedly have piles of stuff once this project gets fully underway.

Thanks,
-Bob

 

Nah, it's finished. Once the unibody bends, it's all over.

Essentially what I'll end up with is the '84 chassis, with pretty much everything forward of the rear hatch of the '92 bolted into it. Basically the same idea, only minus the trip to the body shop

-Bob