Buying another F-Body... Am I Crazy?? (Kinda Long)

[Mark B]

OK, here is the deal. Between the time that I got my license and the age of 19, I had owned a 1991 Firebird, a 1991 RS Convertable, and a 1995 Z28 Convertable. I LOVE F-Bodys. However due to insurance rates here in NJ and the cost of maintaining an F-Body I have been unable to get another one for a couple years now. Well for the past couple weeks, I have really been missing my old cars. Of the three F-Bodys that I have had, the 1991 Firebird was probably my favorite (becasue it was my first car.) So here is my question. I HAVE LOCATED MY FIREBIRD!! AND I KNOW THAT I CAN BUY IT BACK RATHER CHEAP. The only reason that I ever got rid of my Firebird is because I hit a deer with it and the insurance company totaled it. The dammage isnt THAT bad. (The car needs a new front clip.) Anyway, I am seriously considering buying the car as a project car. I would love to be able to have my first baby back. Plus if I get this car, it will keep me from messing with my daily driver. A few people that I have told this idea to have said that I am crazy. So I thought if anyone can understand where I am coming from it would be you guys. What do you think.... Should I buy it or am I just letting my emotions get the best of me?

[Z Ya Later]

How much are they askin' for it man? I know your pain man, I can't stand the though of getting rid of my first vehicle, my 79 Jeep. Old and huge, but one of a kind.

[Mark B]

I dont know yet....They cant want too much. It needs a whole front end and the 3.1L V6 had 160,000 miles on it!!!

[Joe 1320]

Think about all the man hours you'll spend along with the money for parts and paint and ask yourself, in the end, is it really worth it? Especially since it's a V6.

[tabahr]

I can feel your predicament.

If it is cheap enough, you have the cash lying around and you have a place to put it, go for it. You don't need to insure it, or drive it.

Strip it to the chasis, and build a street monster. I wish I knew where my first car ended up. It was a 1986 V6 Camaro that I transplanted a 5.7 into. It's probably been shredded for scrap. It was fairly rust free when I sold it in 1992, but I could tell it was close to starting to show corrosion from around the edges.

[Kappa Sig]

I purchase salvage cars for a living, and here in Georgia, that car would bring about $3-400. Just trying to give you a real idea of what its worth wrecked. On a good day, I can buy that car for $200, maybe less. I'd start by offering that.

Matt

[Mark B]

Well the V6 wont be in there for long. It has 160,000 miles on it so I probably would pull that out anyway. I think that I am going to go look at it and see what kinda condition its in. Since its been in a junk yard for 3+ years, it may not been in a condition that I want it!!!

[Christopherrr]

my old daily driver a 1992 V6 Bird, I sold it for 800 bucks. Had 253K on the clock and still running fine. Have to admit, that engine was bullet proof...only had to replace the water pump and fuel pump...

200 would be my offering too...I'd start there.

[pete]

I wouldn't touch it, let old memories be. If its been in a junk yard, its been picked over, so even a $200 price wouldn't be worth it. Look around for something similar with a V-8 already, and go from there .....lots cheaper, less work, and with that you'll get it on the road or track alot quicker...... rather than a memorial in your garage.

[Mark B]

After sleeping on it, I have decided what I am going to do. I am going to try to forget that I have a slow car and try to put any extra money I have into my Condo. Mabey in a few more years, I will be in a position where I can just go buy an 02 TA or SS for a play car. I really dont have the money required to build a project car right now.(Or at least not enought to do it right.) And this way I will get some of my money back when I sell my house!!! I am sure this is a much smarter plan, but its probably not as fun. Oh well, I guess I have to be smart and wait a little longer before I can have a fun car.

DAMN!T, I really was getting excited about getting another F-Body too. I MISS my F-Bodys SOOOO much!!!

[tabahr]

Originally posted by Mark B
Mabey in a few more years, I will be in a position where I can just go buy an 02 TA or SS for a play car.
I MISS my F-Bodys SOOOO much!!!

Maybe you have reasons to keep that Prix, like the 4 doors and all.... BUT, the $$$ from that would fetch a nice Camaro or Firebird!!

[Mark B]

Believe me.... I have thought about that 100 times. But I drive my cars hard and as we all know. F-Bodys dont last when you drive them hard. I have always had mantience issues with them. My Grand Prix is trouble free so far(knock on wood) and I have put almost 20,000 miles on it. (I bought it at 64k and now it has 81k) I dont think I can use an F-Body as a daily driver unless I buy it new.

[tabahr]

Originally posted by Mark B
F-Bodys dont last when you drive them hard. I have always had mantience issues with them.

<T Sheezy step up on soapbox>
** A hem, A hem**
The reason your Prix is doing better is because it does not have enough power to really hurt itself. It is tamer and milder, has less torque therefore you are not able to break it as easily. 6 cylinders, front wheel drive. Kinky front wheel burnouts do not put nearly as much stress on components as a hard launch in a rear wheel drive v8 car.

You see, when you tell a LS-1 or LT-1 it is time to GO, you are unleashing alot of punnishment on everything..Clutch, trans, motor and tranny mounts, differential, axles, suspension... The more often you do that, well.... you get the picture.

When you tell your V6 to go.... not so much punnishment. Things will last longer, and not be under as much stress. Does this make it better? Or ....not.

I bet I could hammer on my Quad4 Buick Skylark all day and not hurt it. That little motor doesn't make enough power to hurt a fly.

Go to the track and talk to a pit mechanic about breaking things in high horsepower applications. Those guys are replacing broken parts every race.

You CAN own a f-bod and not beat the crap out of it. Really you can, it is called respect. You dont need to hammer it all the time. That is abuse in anyones book, and its no surprise if it breaks.
See what I'm saying??

T hops off the box...

[Mark B]

You are totaly right about the HP/Torque thing. I knew that already. But I am also not ready to drive a 120 HP honda civic. So I thought the Grand Prix was a nice compromise. I can romp on the throttle every-so-often and I dont have to worry about overhauling the trans. I drive my cars hard, but I dont "Beat the snot" out of them.

As far as getting an F-Body for a daily driver, since I wouldnt be able to afford a new F-Body or at least a used one from a repuatable dealer, I would be forced to buy one privately. Therefore, I would have no idea how the previous owner drove it. I always seem to get stuck with lemons when I buy privately.

[tabahr]

Originally posted by Mark B


As far as getting an F-Body for a daily driver, since I wouldnt be able to afford a new F-Body or at least a used one from a repuatable dealer, I would be forced to buy one privately. Therefore, I would have no idea how the previous owner drove it. I always seem to get stuck with lemons when I buy privately.

Buying from a dealer is no better. still sold as is, no warrenty in most cases, and you still do not know how the previous owners treated the car.

I bought my ragtop from a dealer in Texas, sight unseen. When it arrived the tires were almost flat and didn't match front to rear, one had a nail in it. The clutch was shot. It leaked oil from the intake manifold, the lid was broken off the center console compartment. The sun visors were shot and it had no foglights..

I've replaced the clutch, fixed the leak, plugged the nailhole and aired up the tires. I replaced the sunvisors and the console lid. I've installed new OEM foglights, I'm planning on some ZR-1 rims and Firestone Firehawks as soon as I can afford it. The car is shaping up well.

Whenever I buy a car I figure on spending a grand + getting it in shape. The car was only 7,500. I'm sitting pretty. Dont force yourself to settle for only the perfect car. Buy the car with low miles and the options you like at a good price, then spend some cash on restoration. This is what I call FUN!