Convertible Vehicles - Fix her OR Walk away

I Flipped my Y2K vert a few weeks ago.

No one else was involved in the accident, and no one else was in the car with me.

I climbed out of the driver's side window, without a single broken bone.

The insurance called it a "Obvious total loss", they didn't even write up a
repair estimate.

I did receive a fair market value for the car, and bought the car back with a salvage title.

So after owning the car for ten years, it's a simple question, fix her or walk
away. I spoke with 5 different body shops, but only one wanted to help me.
The other 4 said dealing with a salvage title, getting it inspected and cleared
was too much of a pain to deal with.
I could make this a long term project, 3 to 5 years. New engine, new trans,
new rear end, new top.

Or, i could just strip her for parts, sell the carcass, and walk away.

It's just a car. Metal, rubber, plastic, glass.
Some people would say that.

I don't agree.

So vote in the poll and tell me your opinions.
Good, bad, or otherwise. Thanks.

Here are a few pics to help you folks decide.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o183/dbfry_photos/SSrabbit.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o183/dbfry_photos/front.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o183/dbfry_photos/front2.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o183/dbfry_photos/RearAFTER.jpg

That would be your call, but that looks pretty bad. Definately gonna need a front clip and depending on how hard of a hit the back took, a rear clip also. Either way the car will never be the same, if it were me I would search for a new one and let this one go.

Walk away..it will never be the same.

Thanks guys.
I'm guessing this poll will get very one sided, quickly.

Keep the opinions coming folks.....

walk away, if it has that much sentimental value, take as many salvagable parts as you can and move them over to the other car

Strip it of parts and walk away.

Strip it of parts and walk away.

What's salvageable? The rear glass and cupholder?

If that was one of <5 remaining SS 'verts on the planet, it might be worth repairing. But its not. By the time you get it finished, the romance will be gone. Get a new Camaro 'vert and keep the fond memories of this one.

Like i said in the PMs, if it was me and my car, i'd sink every bit of time and energy into fixing her. Me and my husband have had the conversation of "in theory if i totalled it and walked away, would we keep it", and the answer is always the same, if i was unharmed, i'd owe the car to make a monster again. I would not sleep right at night without my car in the garage, I don't sleep well with my car in the non-running condition she's in, but still couldn't bare to part ways. There's no logical reason for it.

if it has sentimental values i say fix it for sure.... if not i say get the good parts off it and scrap it. but it looked sweet as hell before the wreck

What's salvageable? The rear glass and cupholder?

If that was one of <5 remaining SS 'verts on the planet, it might be worth repairing. But its not. By the time you get it finished, the romance will be gone. Get a new Camaro 'vert and keep the fond memories of this one.

According from the production build numbers from here:
http://www.ls1lt1.com/forum/showthread.php?t=560

My car was originally a neutral (tan) top code 56T. ( I changed the top to black-wish i hadn't now)
Which there were only 56.

So low volume but not one of five. Your right.
This car did save my life, tho.
Thank you for your input, i appreciate it.

What's salvageable? The rear glass and cupholder?

If that was one of <5 remaining SS 'verts on the planet, it might be worth repairing. But its not. By the time you get it finished, the romance will be gone. Get a new Camaro 'vert and keep the fond memories of this one.



The tires are still holding air. Without seeing any other pictures, I didn't have to look very hard to see something that he could pull/sell.
Or, i could just strip her for parts, sell the carcass, and walk away

Take what you can and walk away. From the pictures it looks like most of the interior is good, some of the wheels. Hows the engine look? I'm sure the trans is good.

Plenty of good parts there.

I understand your love for your car I have been looking for mine(i totaled it) I cant find it but would like to have it back, I would say let her go, you are lucky to be able to part yours out how she is. I didnt have the privilege:(

Sucks, sorry to hear, she was beautiful before. The decision is all yours, I will agree though that it'll never be the same! Gl with your decision.

-SS

Take what you can and walk away. From the pictures it looks like most of the interior is good, some of the wheels. Hows the engine look? I'm sure the trans is good.

Plenty of good parts there.

I just got the car back from the insurance company yesterday afternoon, haven't got a chance to look at the engine, but it might be a good 383 one day.
The rear wheels ~might~ be ok. I'll put the stockers on and get the rears checked out. The interior has normal wear and tear minus the airbags being deployed. The trans could be fine.
It's looking like popular opinion has me parting her out.

It's just a car,right?

Walk away..it will never be the same.

Merv summed it up. It'll never the same car.
I'd part it out.

I just got the car back from the insurance company yesterday afternoon, haven't got a chance to look at the engine, but it might be a good 383 one day.
The rear wheels ~might~ be ok. I'll put the stockers on and get the rears checked out. The interior has normal wear and tear minus the airbags being deployed. The trans could be fine.
It's looking like popular opinion has me parting her out.

It's just a car,right?

i dunno man. what i would do probably is get another one and then transfer most of your aftermarket parts from this one over to the next one.

at that same time you would have the chance to work on this car's engine and port it out to a 383 or something else. you do have lots of good parts on this car so like others have said get another car and move the parts from this one over. the remaining of the parts you can always part out.

i know what ur going through it sux loosing a car but i dunno when i totalled my ws6 i just knew it wasnt ever going to be the same for some reason :(

then again depending on how much the shop would charge you to fix it back up could help you decide whether you want to fix it or not.

all in all it is your car and you gotta do what it is best for you.

those are my .02 cents.

Sucks to see man but its just a car and you are safe.
I actually just reduced my insurance to Liability only because these cars are getting cheaper and cheaper there is no need to pay double for full coverage.
What I would do though is just look for a really nice roller and put your Engine/Trans in it and be done.

I understand the wanting to rebuild it and of course my opinion is well...just an opinion.

Sux man, (Blk SS vert owner here too)
but looking at the wreck I'd have to walk away.
At least you're okay.

i dunno man. what i would do probably is get another one and then transfer most of your aftermarket parts from this one over to the next one.

This should have been the third choice on the poll.

I'm gonna seriously think about doing this.

Merv summed it up. It'll never the same car.
I'd part it out.

Merv did express it bluntly. That was just what i asked for too.

Thank you Merv.
And thank you to everyone else whose taken the time to
share your opinion with me, i needed it.

Pull out as much as much as you can, and swap it over to high mileage used car.

Personally I 'd look for a high mileage v6 for cheap and swap the drive train over.

Walk away. It will never be as it was again. Strip it for good parts and use them in another car so you can maintain the connection that way.

All trying to fix it will do is taint your memories of the car and replace them with the frustration of the car not being what it used to be.

Pull the plug. Shame that such a nice car got wasted.

It's comforting to know a vert can take a rollover without flatening the windshield down, though.

I'm trying to picture how it rolled over and left so little damage on the top. Good you survived. Do you know the SLP build number?

Not trying to be a dick, but you'd have to be absolutely bat shit crazy to fix it instead of starting with another.

I'd say walk away. Lord knows we all love our cars but you did a number on that one. even if you did find all the parts to replace, the time, $$$$, work/sweat wouldn't be worth it. you may have bigger problems after it all put together and re-pained like your trunk not sealing and taking on water. bent frame in some areas. Its a goner, sorry man. get u a nice '10 SS and move on. Sorry for the loss :(

Merv did express it bluntly. That was just what i asked for too.

Thank you Merv.
And thank you to everyone else whose taken the time to
share your opinion with me, i needed it.

Trust me it won't be worth it. I saw a '07 Z06 that was rolled and it was rebuilt as a salvage title, that car rode like shit, looked like shit and was a nightmare of problems.


Take all your other parts and get another car. I'm in the process of doing that myself..transferring everything onto a nicer body, mine is trashed.

Trust me it won't be worth it. I saw a '07 Z06 that was rolled and it was rebuilt as a salvage title, that car rode like shit, looked like shit and was a nightmare of problems.


Take all your other parts and get another car. I'm in the process of doing that myself..transferring everything onto a nicer body, mine is trashed.

Getting another 4th gen and transferring my good parts over is really starting to be a popular third choice. I'm seriously thinking what a good plan that is.
I'll keep all my fond memories of the vert, without all the nightmare problems of a re-built car/frame. I like it.

I'm trying to picture how it rolled over and left so little damage on the top. Good you survived. Do you know the SLP build number?

Not trying to be a dick, but you'd have to be absolutely bat shit crazy to fix it instead of starting with another.

I'm just glad it didn't roll on the top.
Otherwise this post wouldn't be here.

I have the extra SLP window sticker when it was new.
It shows the vin # and a order #. I never called SLP to get the build number.
Maybe i should call and at least tell them to scratch one off the list. :(

Never been called "bat shit crazy" before. But i see your point.
Today i'll start looking for a "clean sheet" car.

I'd say walk away. Lord knows we all love our cars but you did a number on that one. even if you did find all the parts to replace, the time, $$$$, work/sweat wouldn't be worth it. you may have bigger problems after it all put together and re-pained like your trunk not sealing and taking on water. bent frame in some areas. Its a goner, sorry man. get u a nice '10 SS and move on. Sorry for the loss :(

And there is a fourth choice.
It's soooo nice not having car payments tho.
And if the 5th gen sits in my garage, it'll kill me if i don't start modding it.
Thanks for kind words, i appreciate it.

Just get a new car!!

thank god that your safe and walk away man that car will never be the same

Run! Too bad, looked like a nice ride.

if you caught you girl sucking off another guy, even if you took her back youd never feel the same about her. but it really depends how much money your willing to spend. if i were in your shoes id keep it, but i bond with my cars so about every vehicle ive owned had some kind of sentimental value

The car saved you in it's demise. Don't walk away RUN away.

if you caught you girl sucking off another guy, even if you took her back youd never feel the same about her. but it really depends how much money your willing to spend. if i were in your shoes id keep it, but i bond with my cars so about every vehicle ive owned had some kind of sentimental value

Well, ahh, hummm. Ok. Odd visual there but ok.

See i've bonded with the car for ten years. Good days, and bad days.
Plus, that car, saved my life. Well, it did what it was designed to do,
let's say that.
So, it's not a easy choice. Far from it.
Hence the poll.
Lots of folks bond with their cars/trucks, but at some point, good sense needs
to take over and say "enough, the end".
I'm very curious as to what others would do, because impartial people
here understand the value of the bond, but don't currently have it for THIS car like i do.
Did that make sense?
I am very glad to be here to ask these questions, and i'm glad you and other people share my view that the car
"for karmic reasons" should be fixed. But my view is skewed.

The car saved you in it's demise. Don't walk away RUN away.

Well said. Thank you.

build another one from the parts you could save...good thing you walked away..

Whats the story behind it? How did you roll it?

My vote is find another car and transfer parts over from the wrecked one. You'll get over the emotional attachment after a while.

I agree with Paper Doll, but I also agree with The Merv, even if you rebuilt it to the very last bolt, it wouldn't be the same. I vote take all the salvageable performance parts and save them for a new F-Body. I understand the bond you have, same with me and my vert, I don't think I could part with it either.

Purchase another f-body and transfer parts. At least part of the car will remain with you.

I need a piece of your vert top if you part it out. PM me thanks.

I agree with Paper Doll, but I also agree with The Merv, even if you rebuilt it to the very last bolt, it wouldn't be the same. I vote take all the salvageable performance parts and save them for a new F-Body. I understand the bond you have, same with me and my vert, I don't think I could part with it either.

You see the issue perfectly.
Paper doll is right.
The_Merv is right as well.

Option 3/ transplanting to another 4th gen keeps popping up.
:bang:

PArt it and Get another car you can fall in love with!

Or get a buddy in the Auto body buis and a hand full of money!

I think you would always have issues unless you did a total
frame off restore!
I guess it all depends how long you want to spend on it money too!

Hey i Lost a 73 vett totaled killed me to lose it but
All said and done was for the best!
sorry for the loss man!:emb:

Well...you say that you owned this car for 10 years, maybe its time for a new love......At this point, you really do not have much of a choice. In the end, if you decide to try and fix it, you will probably ask yourself......WHY did I do this.............WHY....it will be a money pit and as others have said, it will NEVER be the same. I would you all the best in your decision and glad to hear that you were not hurt. The accident looks pretty bad...

i would salvage whatever parts you can from it, but don't try to fix it.
you might want to take a few items from it for sentimental value... like a steering wheel, shift knob, or the rear sail panel (if you can clean it up).
i've lost a few cars that i grew attached to and wish i had saved something from them.

i hear you on modding a 5th gen... 5th gens are nice, but vettes or ls1 fbodies (with cash to spare for mods) are nice too.

Sorry, that car's done... sure was beautiful before. :cheers:

If the SS means that much to you,then fix it.

i would salvage whatever parts you can from it, but don't try to fix it.
you might want to take a few items from it for sentimental value... like a steering wheel, shift knob, or the rear sail panel (if you can clean it up).
i've lost a few cars that i grew attached to and wish i had saved something from them.

i hear you on modding a 5th gen... 5th gens are nice, but vettes or ls1 fbodies (with cash to spare for mods) are nice too.

A memento from the vert might be a good idea.
After working on the car for the first time yesterday, and finding oil in the coolant lines, it might just be a good time to say goodbye.
:barf:

If the SS means that much to you,then fix it.

Thanks, it did mean alot. I'm sure your beautiful WS6 means alot to you
as well. That's a good looking car.

A memento from the vert might be a good idea.
After working on the car for the first time yesterday, and finding oil in the coolant lines, it might just be a good time to say goodbye.



defiantly keep something. it might be hard to look at now, but when you get a new car you'll look at and have fond memories. a couple of years ago my freshly re-built original motor, complete with mostly forged internals, ms3 cam, stage 3 heads, etc etc etc seized and EVERYTHING was trash from the oil pan to the heads, when i say everything, i mean it, every piston, every lobe on the cam and so on. it sat hopelessly without an engine for about a year and this is what I keep on my desk. it was hard to look at for a while, but after i got a new engine and broke it in, i started smiling at it...it still smells like the mixture of gas/oil/coolant that was created when the thing popped, that was about 2 years ago to the month.

defiantly keep something. it might be hard to look at now, but when you get a new car you'll look at and have fond memories. a couple of years ago my freshly re-built original motor, complete with mostly forged internals, ms3 cam, stage 3 heads, etc etc etc seized and EVERYTHING was trash from the oil pan to the heads, when i say everything, i mean it, every piston, every lobe on the cam and so on. it sat hopelessly without an engine for about a year and this is what I keep on my desk. it was hard to look at for a while, but after i got a new engine and broke it in, i started smiling at it...it still smells like the mixture of gas/oil/coolant that was created when the thing popped, that was about 2 years ago to the month.

^That's a nasty paper weight.
I hear you on keeping something, i'm looking at the car differently now.
A few more pics of the damage.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o183/dbfry_photos/passFront.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o183/dbfry_photos/teardown.jpg

I'm finding ALOT of good parts on the car, TB, water pump, brake master cylinder, LS6 intake, coil packs, ABS module, shocks, springs....
I'm glad i haggled with the insurance company for the car back.

so i gotta ask - how did you flip the car?

^That's a nasty paper weight.
I hear you on keeping something, i'm looking at the car differently now.
A few more pics of the damage.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o183/dbfry_photos/passFront.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o183/dbfry_photos/teardown.jpg

I'm finding ALOT of good parts on the car, TB, water pump, brake master cylinder, LS6 intake, coil packs, ABS module, shocks, springs....
I'm glad i haggled with the insurance company for the car back.

transfer alot of your goodies over to a new one :D
btw - is that a 454 SS truck? if so those are very nice. i miss my dad's old one :(

transfer alot of your goodies over to a new one :D
btw - is that a 454 SS truck? if so those are very nice. i miss my dad's old one :(

I'm looking for a "clean sheet" car. I'm in no hurry.

No, the truck is a Vortec V6. A friend of mine has a firehawk and felt bad for me, so he got me a reeeeeeeally good deal on the truck.
A one owner '96 with 150k.
Non-smoker too.

Kinda glad it isn't a 454. I need a gas saver truck in this town.Hahaha.

so i gotta ask - how did you flip the car?

Operator error.:emb:

Sorry to hear about your wreck man. My camaro got wrecked not too long ago and I'm in the rebuild process right now. Everyone told me to sell mine but I couldn't force myself to do it. Granted, the damage wasn't near what yours was, I just couldn't part with my baby.

You would have A LOT of work ahead of you if you were to keep yours. I think your best bet would be to transplant what's salvageable (engine, trans, etc) as people are saying. O and sell me that air filter in the first pics ;) Good luck with whatever do man and keep us posted on your decision!

Sorry to hear about your wreck man. My camaro got wrecked not too long ago and I'm in the rebuild process right now. Everyone told me to sell mine but I couldn't force myself to do it. Granted, the damage wasn't near what yours was, I just couldn't part with my baby.

You would have A LOT of work ahead of you if you were to keep yours. I think your best bet would be to transplant what's salvageable (engine, trans, etc) as people are saying. O and sell me that air filter in the first pics ;) Good luck with whatever do man and keep us posted on your decision!

Thanks for the kind words, and i'm sorry to hear of your loss.
The common answer here lately is to do what you said, transplant to
another car. And believe me i'm looking.

Sent you a PM about the filter.

I was in a similar situation, just not as bad. I sold the the LT1 after a crash and I now have an LS1. My friends and I put so much blood, sweat, & tears into that T/A it's ridiculous. I'll always miss it, but I took the opportunity to upgrade. My advice is to go and find the cleanest camaro you can. Be picky and don't get set on one car! Get something that won't disgrace your old camaro.

Friend if your attached to the car you may not want to hear this but you could seel the parts and get something else or buy a similar whole car and switch any parts you want of yours. :eek2:
Either way you would probably be further ahead. There is a lot of damage and you would have more money into the car then its worth on the market.

I would absolutely walk away from that car. It will never be right again and from my experience with a couple friends that had a similar situation, you will end up having way more money into it in the end than even quoted. With all the great deals on cars out there now, you will end up with something even nicer. Plus, you can make a few bucks on the side parting that one out :)

Glad you are ok :)

Jason

Thanks, it did mean alot. I'm sure your beautiful WS6 means alot to you
as well. That's a good looking car.

Thanks for the comment.Yeah,I like my WS6.

I would absolutely walk away from that car. It will never be right again and from my experience with a couple friends that had a similar situation, you will end up having way more money into it in the end than even quoted. With all the great deals on cars out there now, you will end up with something even nicer. Plus, you can make a few bucks on the side parting that one out :)

Glad you are ok :)

Jason

Thanks, i appreciate the good advise.
I didn't want to walk away from the car at first, my only thoughts were
how i was going to fix her, make her a little faster, and get her back on the road. It's readily apparent that the majority here feels it's gone. Done.
Which counts for alot, you folks have more the just a passing fling with
these cars. If she had a chance at a come-back, i have no doubt you guys would have pointed me in the right direction.

Still looking for a "clean-sheet" car......

I'm looking for a "clean sheet" car. I'm in no hurry.

No, the truck is a Vortec V6. A friend of mine has a firehawk and felt bad for me, so he got me a reeeeeeeally good deal on the truck.
A one owner '96 with 150k.
Non-smoker too.

Kinda glad it isn't a 454. I need a gas saver truck in this town.Hahaha.

nice. that truck looks pretty sweet from taht one pic :)

The front and rear of the car are bent. Walk away from it. If it were just the front, or just the rear that would be one thing. But the whole car is twisted.

Someone else mentioned it too... if you decide to part out there are a couple vert pieces Id be willing to buy as well.

just find a nice roller like you are looking and put everything you can into it

my brother wrecked his ta and he got it fixed it was never the same then he ended up buying a roller same color and transferred eveything into the roller and it looks so perfect now

what does a roller mean?

Straight body & subframe.

just find a nice roller like you are looking and put everything you can into it

This seems to be the popular "third" choice i should have included in the poll.
I'm still working on the car, finding alot of good parts! I pulled the Kooks headers off last week, and believe it or not, with the front end crushed in like that, the passenger header only "kissed" the k member! George and those guys make a DAMM solid header, that's for sure!

Yeah, i'm still looking for a "clean-sheet" car. I'll keep this thread updated when i find something.:thumb:

Well i pulled the engine and the trans yesterday.
I see ALOT of good parts here, and i've almost decided to make the next car
a bit of a sleeper. Bigger cubes, mild cam, toned down exhaust.
So i should have a good bit of parts for sale real soon.
I'll keep you guys posted.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o183/dbfry_photos/OUT.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o183/dbfry_photos/OUT3.jpg

Hate to say it, but I'd walk away

what springs are those?

what springs are those?

Strano's !:nod:
One of the best mods i did was the one inch drop with Strano's and Koni's.

Lots of good parts for me to sell here.
I think i'm going to part this vert out, i don't want a twisted almost fixed car.

More pics of the tear down.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o183/dbfry_photos/DSC03364.jpg

I wish I knew how to do shit like this...

save what you can and walk away !she is pretty bad

I wish I knew how to do shit like this...

I wish i didn't HAVE to do this.....
Dissecting a car you've enjoyed for over ten years is not something
you look forward to. Believe me.:bang:

Don't just walk away. Run.

It'll never ever ever be the same again no matter how much money you poor into her.

EDIT: Looks like you made the right decision. :thumb:

Don't just walk away. Run.

It'll never ever ever be the same again no matter how much money you poor into her.

EDIT: Looks like you made the right decision. :thumb:

Thanks Sharpe, this was not an easy decision to make.
But you folks helped alot!!:nod:

So, are you going to transplant anything into a new car or just part everything out and start from scratch? I'd have to save something of the car as a momento. I still have a few bent pushrods and valves from the '72 Trans Am I had back in college. Not exactly usable parts, though. More like garage art. :lol:

So, are you going to transplant anything into a new car or just part everything out and start from scratch? I'd have to save something of the car as a momento. I still have a few bent pushrods and valves from the '72 Trans Am I had back in college. Not exactly usable parts, though. More like garage art. :lol:

I think i'm just gonna part everything out and start from scratch.
The idea was suggested early on to buy a roller and transplant all the aftermarket goodies to the "new" car. And this was a solid option, i should have listed it as the third choice in the poll. I did look at the a few "clean sheet" cars, and everytime i did, i had the idea it needed to be different from the vert, like more of a sleeper. The vert was obnoxious.

So i'll make a vert part out thread next week, sell as much of the good parts of the car-so they can live on in other cars, and tow the carcass to the yard to be crushed.

So far i've saved the keys, the front grille ( bent in three different directions ) and the hurst shift knob. I'll keep my eye out for one other momento to save from the vert for "garage art".:D

Ok,
My vert is being parted out.
I'm going to get another car and start from scratch, i want a sleeper this time.
Please see my sale thread here:
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/parts-classifieds/1276634-2000-camaro-vert-part-out.html

I'd like to sell the vert top complete first, so if any you vert guys need a full top, send me a pm and lets get you a top!:nod:

If not, i've got a few people needing top parts i'll separate it out.
Thanks for voting in this thread, you guys/gals offered good advise,
and i appreciate it.

Time to get a T/A Vert ;)


DM

I was hit by a drunk driver in my old vert that i loved. I parted it out and made out like a bandit on the ins co settlement. Bought my newer 02 SOM vert and have not looked back since. Fond memories tho and it is missed.

I hear ya on the emotional part. Its replacement will do the same for ya i think.

Sorry about your car Mike. You did the right thing by parting it out. You'll make a few bucks and can get on with your next project. Beleive me when I tell you that "money pit and it will never be right " is the defination of rebuilding that vert. Don't look back just move on bro. Ive had mine for 10 years now and it has 210,000 miles on it. Me and the Y2K Blue Z28 are leaving to do the long haul on the 2010 power tour on thursday...:burn:

Walk away. Got a question would you send me the K&N FIPK to 38128 :)

I did almost the same to my old camaro. I was torn on what to do, my 1st camaro and I'd sell my GT88 383 Camaro to have my old one back just due to the memories and the love for it. But I did the next best thing. Bought another that needed a engine, trans, and interior. Swapped it all over. Felt almost the same, but not exactly. Sold it to buy and build the monster I have now. My old ones were 3rdgens and this new one is a 4th gen, so its a completely different car. No matter what you do though, no other car will fill the gap, but neither will fixing that one. I'd get a shell, transplant it all. Just IMO though.

No matter what you do though, no other car will fill the gap, but neither will fixing that one.

Well said Sir! :thumb:


The car is still being parted out, and it lives on in other cars right now.
That's something i can live with....:nod: