FIX/REBUILD or Part Out ??

[ThunderTurkey]

I have recently acquired a beautiful red 93SC with 119,000 miles for only $400. That is almost like FREE! Except . . . the engine is making a horrible banging noise, and the auto trans SLIPS really bad. SalemBoys in Tempe, AZ wants a few hundred to tear it apart and figure out what is wrong. I'd like an opinion on weather it's better to FIX a car or just find a car with nothing wrong. Which costs more in the long run? I see a lot of SCs on eBay that sell for around $3,000 with NO problems. Or, are the problems just ABOUT to happen? Thanks for your thoughts!

[XR7 Dave]

You have to look at it from a couple different angles.

1) if you want to own an SC this is a good place to start. You can rebuild the motor yourself for about $500 and you should be able to pick up a tranny for about $200. Not counting any of your labor you now have about $1200 or so in it. Now it most likely needs a few other things, SC's always do. So you could have it done for maybe $1800, again not counting any time you put into it.

2) if you want to do it only to make money, then you have to decide if you really want all the hassle. There are easier ways to make money unless you just really like doing the work.

3) you could part it out. You will get about $1000-$1500 parting it out if you are willing to sit on it for weeks and can have it sitting in your yard/garage in pieces. You will also have to deal with a ton of emails and people who don't come through with the $$ if you try to part it out. Right now the market is kind of flooded with SC parts. Just check the classifieds. :)

[Ripper]

I got mine for $500 but the motor was good and tranny was shot.

I dont recommend buying a tranny from anyone on here unless there is a guarantee. Im out a couple hundred on a newly acquired tranny.

If you can pull the motor and trans yourself and save the labor I would keep it. But if you have to pay someone I say part it out or you will quickly exceed $3000 into it.