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I knew this day would come! A week ago I spun a bearing. Looks like a rebuild will cost me about $8K. Got thinking that maybe it's worth more parted out? She has 148K on her. So many parts have been replaced through the years of ownership so except for the motor the car is in excellent shape. Many parts aren't that old. Here's the hard part I bought her 24 years ago and have resisted several opportunities to sell or trade up, it has a lot of sentimental value to me! I'd like others thoughts and suggestions on this.
I was quoted $3800 to machine and rebuild the bottom end and put together the top end as well with LT4 heads, cam and intake that I already have. Paid $2700 for the LT4 parts. Totals $6500. I know there will be another grand or two on top of that by the time it's completed.
Looks like a beautiful Ruby! Considering the condition, all the work you've put into her, and the sentimental attachment I think the answer is clear... rebuild! You'd probably regret not doing it.
Could you part the car out for more money than you could sell it for? Maybe, but since you wouldn't fix it and then sell it that doesn't really matter. Plus, what's your time worth? Parting out a car is no fun and it's a lot of work... you have to disassemble a whole car, take pictures, create listings, deal with buyers, find boxes, and ship parts. Some of the desirable parts will sell quickly, then you'll be stuck with a lot of the more common and larger parts that will sit around your house forever until you finally pretty much give them away.
Your 40th is now 30 years old. You've maintained her and cared for her for 24 of those years. And she's obviously served you well for you to have hung onto her for all that time. Don't quit now. I would think it would be most satisfying to do the rebuild and keep her on the road!
You could go to Mirrock Corvettes site, look at what he is selling the parts for, the parts that he is offering free shipping on, the parts he has reconditioned and then realize that you are in competition with someone who knows what they are doing parting out a C4 Corvette, and has been in the game long enough to know what he is doing, has the place that parts can set around and wait until (IF UNTIL) they are sold.
You basically have to undercut the folks who are in the business of dismantling C4's and selling the parts. Then do you live in the country, or a HOA where you won't be allowed to work on it outside and have the shell sitting, until, as was said above, your spouse, the neighbors, the city force you into ditching it.
At least with the engine rebuilt and back in the car, its worth $8,000.00 (my buddy sold a beat up 90 for a little more than that).
With the LT4 top end, it changes it into a better car to drive. Being a 6-speed, you don't have to worry about overwhelming the transmission.
My vote that is if you have the wherewithal to have it done, do it and add the rest of the LT4 parts (ie: timing chain, injectors(unless you have the LT4 injectors already)) etc.
Otherwise, you are probably more ahead to sell the LT4 package and sell the car as is for what you can get out of it.
The danger with a "used" engine, is that even if it has a warranty, if you have to pay someone to put it in and it launches a rod through the side of the block, the labor to put it in and take it back out is thrown away. If the OP is paying someone to take it out, rebuild and put it back in, its on them.
You never know with a used engine. Especially if you don't hear it run, or know how many miles are really on it, etc. plus, all the OP really needs is the shortblock in order to use his LT4 top end. Why pay for parts that are going to be difficult to get rid of ?
Go out and look at the prices of LT1's on eBay. There is this one with 30,000 miles on it. But he will have $350.00 in freight, have a transmission he doesn't need and already is halfway to a rebuild.
90 day warranty, maybe some of the members who have been in the business can attest to whether or not MABBCO is a reliable rebuilder. they have upgrade options and its a 4 bolt main, most used LT1 engines are 2 bolt main engines.
Is that 8K you removing and installing it? Or have it done? If paying for someone to remove and install then yea-that is in the ballpark for basic rebuild. If not then 8K should be with a lot of quality forged parts. I don't think a lot of folk have kept up on the cost for a real machine shop to rebuild a block. The last time I thought the shop was good-turned out they ground into the water jacket when they clearanced for the stroker crank and then just put block filler in the bottom-so got coolant in the oil when it inevitably leaked-along with a bunch of other cheap crap done. I just dropped 13K on mine-that includes a Dart SHP block, Callies forged stroker crank etc.
My vote is to rebuild it and keep it. For as long as you've owned it and that you know what has been done to it and how well it's been taken care of you are ahead of the game on most of what is out there for project cars. That's too nice of a car to part out. I know the miles can be an issue to a lot of prospective buyers but I think a well sorted higher mile car is a better choice than a garage queen that likely has all kinds of leaks/fuel system problems just waiting to bite you getting it back out there as a driver. Is there any other upcoming repairs that are looming or is the engine the only issue? To me that is the perfect driver that you can put miles on without feeling guilty about racking up the miles. Still a very good looking car and a desirable model to begin with so it deserves to continue residing in your garage.
Do you think you can buy a better one for 8K? Probably not so I vote to fix it but I think I would shop around a little for a good mechanic that could do it for less.
I would also fix the car. Its absolutely gorgeous. The cheapest alternative would be to purchase a known good LT1, freshen it up with new gaskets and a new opti, plugs, wires, belt, hoses, vacuum lines, etc. You can buy a known good LT1 for $1200-$1500 and have a couple buddies come over and help you install it. If you're not mechanically savvy, I'm sure there are reputable shops in your area that would install it for a reasonable price. This would be the cheapest route and would get you back on the road quickly and reliably. I have installed a few known good used engines over the years in various cars and have had no issues.
Otherwise, remove the engine and take it to a reputable engine shop for a rebuild. This would be the most expensive route, but also the most thorough. I rebuilt the engine myself in an 84 flood car back in 2013. I had the block and heads machined properly and had the valves lapped and inspected. I bought a new crank with bearings, new rods, pistons, rings, Comp Cams camshaft, push rods, lifters, oil pump, pickup tube, drive gear and shaft, and all of the gaskets. Once the machine work was done, and with parts, I had a little over a grand in it in parts. This is 2013 and I have a good hook up on parts so I saved quite a bit. The machine work was about $400. Then I assembled it in my garage and installed it. I had a blast and the car ran and drove great once again!
Its really up to you and how much you want to spend and what the car means to you.
$8000 is a lot for getting it running to its stock level.
A used engine can be bought pretty cheap especially if you consider the Caprice and Z28/TransAm engines. You can put your heads, etc on those motors too.
To simply repair the spun bearing, you can get a crank kit with bearings and full engine gasket set for about $400.
With some inexpensive options to get it running good again, it would be a shame to scrap out a nice car.
05-25-2023, 11:48 PM
Fix or part OUT?
