I've been looking for a project car/toy to mess around with. I wanted to go with a third gen because the first third gen I bought 7 years ago I never finished before I sold it. I've always loved these cars and even now it still bothers me that I sold the car before getting it where I wanted it to be, so here I am back on here doing my research for my next one. I have a budget of $2,500 to spend on just the car. Less if possible. I have looked on Craigslist, Autotrader, Cars, etc and there's not a lot of choices out there within 75 miles of me except for this one that stands out.... The previous owner is actually a member on here but doesn't get on here anymore. He sold it to some guy and that guy traded it in at a used car dealer. They are asking $1,900 for it + $300 processing fees.
I'm copying and pasting what is done to the car below...
As of now the car needs 4 tires. They are bald. I'm pretty sure there's 245/40/17 on front and 275/40/17 on the rear. Not a cheap tire size, but through my work I should be able to get all for tires for around $400-425.
The car also has a rejection sticker on it. He told me it was failed for some light bulbs out, high beams stay on highs and brake hoses. He said it needed about $1,000 worth of work to pass inspection.... I know he's leaving out some things. That estimate probably included 4 tires and the fact that there's no cats or muffler on the car. Has dual side exit exhaust. I work at a shop so it won't be hard for me to get the car to pass inspection....
I know this is a project car and even though it needs work, from the things I know of for sure, I still think it would be a good car for my project. I know the 350 TBI isn't the best choice but later on down the road I wanted to put something better on there. The fact that it does already have the 6 speed and some suspension mods, just those two things to me at least, seem worth it. What do you guys think?? I'm going back to the dealer next week, this time with money in my hand to see if I can test drive it, at least around the block or something. Do you think $2,200 is fair? I was thinking about offering them less? With processing fees I wanted to try to be out the door with about $1,800 just because of things I have to do right away just to get the car safe to drive(tires, brake hoses) and try to do something with the exhaust because cops where I live love to pull people and stalk on the side of the road for people.
The other owner says it's a good running car and it's not like he has anything to gain because he doesn't even own the car anymore, but I just wanted some other people's opinion
I'm copying and pasting what is done to the car below...
Quote:
i have a 91 camaro rs that has been my project as well as my daily driver. it has lots of aftermarket suspension and drivetrain parts:
-305 replaced with 350 tbi with 50xxx miles on it. ported throttle body and open air filter
-mufflers and cats removed and glasspack in place of them.
-all new kyb shocks and struts with tokico race springs.
-front controls are rebuilt with energy suspension poly rubber and new moog ball joints.
-steering is ok. gear box is loose but i have reconditioned one as well as steering linkage. just need to be installed.
-front sway bar and steering brace from iroc z. front sway bar bushing are energy suspesnion poly rubber
-founders performance front strut mounts. they are 2 inches higher than stock to compensate for the lowered ride height. they and caster and camber adjustable.
*i swapped in a t56 6 speed manual from a lt1 fourth gen with 100xxx miles on it. i used a aftermarket crossmember so it can now clear dual exhaust and long tubes.
-it has founders performance rear control arms and panhard bar with adjustable rod ends. it also has relocation brackets for the controls arms to correct the geometry but they havent been installed yet.
- it has a posi disc brake rear with 3.23 gears from a 92 z28. posi still hooks both tires. i have correct prop valve for brakes but hasent been installed yet.
- it has bmr sub frame connectors welded in since the car is a t top and has a very loose chassis without them.
-the wheels are cragar d window 17x8 and 17x9 but need new tires. powdercoated black with blue and red pinstripe.
-body isnt in great shape but i have new doors and fenders from another car that are straight and dent free. also a hood from a z28 with brand new hood louvers.
-interior is in ok shape. i replaced driver seat with tenzo r racing bucket and instrument cluster with white overlay gauges.also have dash that has fewer cracks and is not dryed out.a dakota digital speedo converter to correct the speedo reading because of the t56. and a black grant steering wheel.
- a sony head unit ad 1200 watt xplode amp with two mtx 10's.
i have a 91 camaro rs that has been my project as well as my daily driver. it has lots of aftermarket suspension and drivetrain parts:
-305 replaced with 350 tbi with 50xxx miles on it. ported throttle body and open air filter
-mufflers and cats removed and glasspack in place of them.
-all new kyb shocks and struts with tokico race springs.
-front controls are rebuilt with energy suspension poly rubber and new moog ball joints.
-steering is ok. gear box is loose but i have reconditioned one as well as steering linkage. just need to be installed.
-front sway bar and steering brace from iroc z. front sway bar bushing are energy suspesnion poly rubber
-founders performance front strut mounts. they are 2 inches higher than stock to compensate for the lowered ride height. they and caster and camber adjustable.
*i swapped in a t56 6 speed manual from a lt1 fourth gen with 100xxx miles on it. i used a aftermarket crossmember so it can now clear dual exhaust and long tubes.
-it has founders performance rear control arms and panhard bar with adjustable rod ends. it also has relocation brackets for the controls arms to correct the geometry but they havent been installed yet.
- it has a posi disc brake rear with 3.23 gears from a 92 z28. posi still hooks both tires. i have correct prop valve for brakes but hasent been installed yet.
- it has bmr sub frame connectors welded in since the car is a t top and has a very loose chassis without them.
-the wheels are cragar d window 17x8 and 17x9 but need new tires. powdercoated black with blue and red pinstripe.
-body isnt in great shape but i have new doors and fenders from another car that are straight and dent free. also a hood from a z28 with brand new hood louvers.
-interior is in ok shape. i replaced driver seat with tenzo r racing bucket and instrument cluster with white overlay gauges.also have dash that has fewer cracks and is not dryed out.a dakota digital speedo converter to correct the speedo reading because of the t56. and a black grant steering wheel.
- a sony head unit ad 1200 watt xplode amp with two mtx 10's.
As of now the car needs 4 tires. They are bald. I'm pretty sure there's 245/40/17 on front and 275/40/17 on the rear. Not a cheap tire size, but through my work I should be able to get all for tires for around $400-425.
The car also has a rejection sticker on it. He told me it was failed for some light bulbs out, high beams stay on highs and brake hoses. He said it needed about $1,000 worth of work to pass inspection.... I know he's leaving out some things. That estimate probably included 4 tires and the fact that there's no cats or muffler on the car. Has dual side exit exhaust. I work at a shop so it won't be hard for me to get the car to pass inspection....
I know this is a project car and even though it needs work, from the things I know of for sure, I still think it would be a good car for my project. I know the 350 TBI isn't the best choice but later on down the road I wanted to put something better on there. The fact that it does already have the 6 speed and some suspension mods, just those two things to me at least, seem worth it. What do you guys think?? I'm going back to the dealer next week, this time with money in my hand to see if I can test drive it, at least around the block or something. Do you think $2,200 is fair? I was thinking about offering them less? With processing fees I wanted to try to be out the door with about $1,800 just because of things I have to do right away just to get the car safe to drive(tires, brake hoses) and try to do something with the exhaust because cops where I live love to pull people and stalk on the side of the road for people.
The other owner says it's a good running car and it's not like he has anything to gain because he doesn't even own the car anymore, but I just wanted some other people's opinion
Here are my thoughts on the exact same car. Saw the ad on a Craigslist search a week or so ago. Would never pay the 1900 plus whatever seeing as how last year I purchased my vert with all orginal everything except paint for 4 grand. Car only had 68xxx miles. That was a deal in my opinion. Car your are looking at has some things going for it with the 6 speed swap and all but that's high mileage so not the greatest thing ever. I thought about going to whatever place it's at with 1000 dollars cash in hand and see if they really wanted to sell the thing. They are trying to sell it for somewhere around the lowest price nada guide said it should retail for. But in my opinion it's not a solid car. More of a basket case. Also just my opinion the dealer or whoever has it should at least get the car road legal, but they know what it would cost and know it wouldn't bring them anymore money. So with all that said its a good car for around 1000 and would be a good car to thrash. That was my plan thrash the thing just for fun. Then start rebuilding as a race car but street legal.
He said it needed $1,000 worth of work and the shop would do it all for $800 but he didn't want to do it. I don't know if you saw earlier pictures of the ad or not, but it used to list for less than $1,900 then the price went up. I'm not trying to make this a daily driver. I may only drive it a couple days a week. For the price range I'm looking for there isn't much out there. Found 2 other ones, but both wouldn't run. One needed a fuel pump and I forgot what the other one needed. As long as it drives, then I can take care of the rest..... Doesn't appear to have much rust on it. Body doesn't really bother me. My first third gen had 3 different color shades of primer and rusted wheels.. I think I'm sounding like I'm having to talk myself into buying this car and don't think that's good... lol
http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/3890932619.html
For that money I would buy this. He'd probably take less its been listed for a while.
For that money I would buy this. He'd probably take less its been listed for a while.
Member
It really depends how much you want to put into it and what your goal is. I saw this also on autotrader, and passed after looking at pics. He says 1k to pass inspection, but how much to get it where you want? Pass side door FX is missing, No door panels in car. What else is not shown in the pics? So after purchase, tires, inspection, you are in for over 3k. Doubt that when he went to a 350 he did it right. So there is an added expense.
I just bought a 91Z with 18k on it. 100% original. Did I over pay? Probably yes. But it does not need $1.00 worth of work. Its your choice, as to what your goal is with the car, and how much you need to put into it to get there. I also have a 91Z convert project that I thought was a good deal. But I am in another 4k in parts to get it where I want, and more to go. BTW, the cost snowballs quickly.
I just bought a 91Z with 18k on it. 100% original. Did I over pay? Probably yes. But it does not need $1.00 worth of work. Its your choice, as to what your goal is with the car, and how much you need to put into it to get there. I also have a 91Z convert project that I thought was a good deal. But I am in another 4k in parts to get it where I want, and more to go. BTW, the cost snowballs quickly.