Thinking About Modding, Opinions Wanted
You just have to pick your poison. A modded car will not be worth nearly as much as a stock car like other have said. A modded car will be appealing to a bunch of 20 somethings fresh out of college who will give you 5k for your car that you spent 40k on. On the flip a stock car probably won't be worth much more. F-bodies aren't exactly rare cars. All the options and collectability don't mean anything to joe blow. Joe blow will just see it as a 10 year old car that isn't worth anything. Selling it to people who understand what it is will get you good money, but those people are hard to find. I have seen cars sit in the classifieds here for at least 9 months before anything even happens with them. In the end just do what makes you happy. Listening to a bunch of guys that troll around on the internet shouldn't influence your decision 
Yes, I am including myself as one of those guys that trolls around on the web ha ha.
Yes, I am including myself as one of those guys that trolls around on the web ha ha.
.While I am not easily swayed by a strangers opinion about what I should do or how I should spend my money I do value and take into consideration other opinions.
Example, when Taphee6 talked about spending a ton off money on his car it reminded me of the time I bought a brand GTI VR6. I threw ton's of cash at the thing trying to make it the car I really wanted, a base Z28 with t-tops, roll down down windows and a 6-spd, in red.
Not that he was saying that is what he did but it remended me of that.
And there has been many others in this thread that have offered good points or posted something that made me ponder something I hadn't considered.
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 90
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Fl
Thinking about modding... I understand your thought process...think this through and do what is really going to make YOU happy. All this talk of value and investment is ill placed when talking about these cars(my '02 SLP convrt is mostly stock, but is getting heads/cam/intake to go with headers and Bembos and wheels)...enjoy them in the manner and build YOU enjoy.
Unless it's red with a V12, it probably won't appreciate.
I'm old school and you can't have a car too low, too loud or with too much horsepower. That said, you can modify greatly by simply keeping the old parts and the ability to return the car to stock...the best of all worlds!
Want valueless? Try my one owner '93 TBird with a Vortech 32V (built), auto changed to a Viper 6 spd, carbon fibre driveshaft and on and on and on..oh yes, 560 RWHP...people don't even know what it is, but it is so damn much fun!!!
Good Luck
Unless it's red with a V12, it probably won't appreciate.
I'm old school and you can't have a car too low, too loud or with too much horsepower. That said, you can modify greatly by simply keeping the old parts and the ability to return the car to stock...the best of all worlds!
Want valueless? Try my one owner '93 TBird with a Vortech 32V (built), auto changed to a Viper 6 spd, carbon fibre driveshaft and on and on and on..oh yes, 560 RWHP...people don't even know what it is, but it is so damn much fun!!!
Good Luck
I understand your thought process...think this through and do what is really going to make YOU happy. All this talk of value and investment is ill placed when talking about these cars(my '02 SLP convrt is mostly stock, but is getting heads/cam/intake to go with headers and Bembos and wheels)...enjoy them in the manner and build YOU enjoy.
Unless it's red with a V12, it probably won't appreciate.
I'm old school and you can't have a car too low, too loud or with too much horsepower. That said, you can modify greatly by simply keeping the old parts and the ability to return the car to stock...the best of all worlds!
Want valueless? Try my one owner '93 TBird with a Vortech 32V (built), auto changed to a Viper 6 spd, carbon fibre driveshaft and on and on and on..oh yes, 560 RWHP...people don't even know what it is, but it is so damn much fun!!!
Good Luck
Unless it's red with a V12, it probably won't appreciate.
I'm old school and you can't have a car too low, too loud or with too much horsepower. That said, you can modify greatly by simply keeping the old parts and the ability to return the car to stock...the best of all worlds!
Want valueless? Try my one owner '93 TBird with a Vortech 32V (built), auto changed to a Viper 6 spd, carbon fibre driveshaft and on and on and on..oh yes, 560 RWHP...people don't even know what it is, but it is so damn much fun!!!
Good Luck
Btw I would love to see the T-bird. I had a '94 S/C, loved that car and I always loved different and unique rides.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,917
Likes: 676
From: Western North Carolina
I see you had a possible thought about a 911 cab in one of your other posts. Just be aware of the 996 models (years 1999+). There were problems, and expensive ones. Get a newer 997 or if you appreciate the 'air-cooled' version, a 993 from model years 1995 - 1998). The reason I went with the 993 many years ago was the old car feel (basically unchanged since the late 60's) of the 'air-cooled' and re-sale factor. You pick one up, a nice 50,000 - 60,000 mile example, for $30,000+ today and in 3 years you can sell it for the same $30,000 provided you haven't put an extra 50,000 miles on it. The 'stock' good ones are getting tough to locate. Again, best of luck to you!
IMO these cars will never hold their value unless its a stupid low mile special edition (Anniversary editions, GMMG cars etc.) I picked up my stock 98 vert with nothing wrong with it for 5K. So mod to your hearts desire. But since you asked for a strict cruiser I would do something along the lines of a short stick for your shifter ($60), stock LS6 heads/springs ($400), small cam around a LS6, LPE GT 1-1, TR cheatr ($100-400), P/P throttle body ($50), BBK longtubes and ORY ($350) and a SLP Dual/Dual or magnaflow (150-300). So high end around $1400 excluding bolts and gaskets for a reliable OEM setup that should dyno around 370-380 easily and still knock down great gas mileage. Im doing something along those lines to mine except Im doing a 4000 stall in my auto and some gears
Mine is modded every which way (not especially extreme in
the heads & cam dept and backed off on the exhaust for
drivability / tunability) and is perfectly enjoyable (unless you
like to listen to flute music at low volume as you accelerate).
I wouldn't worry about collector value.
the heads & cam dept and backed off on the exhaust for
drivability / tunability) and is perfectly enjoyable (unless you
like to listen to flute music at low volume as you accelerate).
I wouldn't worry about collector value.
I see you had a possible thought about a 911 cab in one of your other posts. Just be aware of the 996 models (years 1999+). There were problems, and expensive ones. Get a newer 997 or if you appreciate the 'air-cooled' version, a 993 from model years 1995 - 1998). The reason I went with the 993 many years ago was the old car feel (basically unchanged since the late 60's) of the 'air-cooled' and re-sale factor. You pick one up, a nice 50,000 - 60,000 mile example, for $30,000+ today and in 3 years you can sell it for the same $30,000 provided you haven't put an extra 50,000 miles on it. The 'stock' good ones are getting tough to locate. Again, best of luck to you!
I would also be interested in 964's and later the later 80's. It is one car I always wanted and liked. Something like this would be perfect.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false
I have heard the 3.4's had problems with water/oil mixing, and I have a hard time getting past their Boxster styling.
IMO these cars will never hold their value unless its a stupid low mile special edition (Anniversary editions, GMMG cars etc.) I picked up my stock 98 vert with nothing wrong with it for 5K. So mod to your hearts desire. But since you asked for a strict cruiser I would do something along the lines of a short stick for your shifter ($60), stock LS6 heads/springs ($400), small cam around a LS6, LPE GT 1-1, TR cheatr ($100-400), P/P throttle body ($50), BBK longtubes and ORY ($350) and a SLP Dual/Dual or magnaflow (150-300). So high end around $1400 excluding bolts and gaskets for a reliable OEM setup that should dyno around 370-380 easily and still knock down great gas mileage. Im doing something along those lines to mine except Im doing a 4000 stall in my auto and some gears
Mine is modded every which way (not especially extreme in
the heads & cam dept and backed off on the exhaust for
drivability / tunability) and is perfectly enjoyable (unless you
like to listen to flute music at low volume as you accelerate).
I wouldn't worry about collector value.
the heads & cam dept and backed off on the exhaust for
drivability / tunability) and is perfectly enjoyable (unless you
like to listen to flute music at low volume as you accelerate).
I wouldn't worry about collector value.
To tell you the truth there is 2 things that I don't like about the car.
1. The seats are uncomfortable and so is the seating position.
2. It isn't a fun car to drive and I'm not sure that modding it would fix that.
I do love looking at it at and think its lines still hold up well to this day.
I love the fact that the roof goes down.
I like the torque too.
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Whenever I start modding my car I'm going to be keeping all of the stock parts. I'm going with H/C/I/E because the car will be a nice day cruiser/warrior and I'm just not into FI and I WANT the car to be loud like a muscle car should. Enjoy the car however you wish. Sounds like you should go with a procharger in your situation. Plus it would be much easier to revert to stock from a procharger once you go to sell the car (if that happens). Demod the car to get the most out of it. Aftermarket parts sell easy and fast.
Man I gotta say this. If you want to go fast then mod it. But there is no end to modding. We always want more and that means $$$$
I completely entertain the idea of keeping it stock. You will never go wrong selling a stock car later down the road. Once modded, a car is only attractive to those who want a car to mod and not to mention the fact that modding does not really increase the value to anyone other than the current owner.
If you plan on keeping the car forever and you have the bug, Mod it.
If you plan on selling down the road. Keep it stock.
I completely entertain the idea of keeping it stock. You will never go wrong selling a stock car later down the road. Once modded, a car is only attractive to those who want a car to mod and not to mention the fact that modding does not really increase the value to anyone other than the current owner.
If you plan on keeping the car forever and you have the bug, Mod it.
If you plan on selling down the road. Keep it stock.
Launching!
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Carolina
I have several highly modded cars and they do have draw backs when driving around town......all of them are manuals. However, I have a C5 Z06 that has a maggie and long tubes. There is absolutely no diffence in the way it drives........until you want it to.......125 HP on tap whenever you want it.
Otherwise you wouldn't even know it was molded........and I'm a really old fart......56. My wife can still drive it. I also added a QTP cutout that can be programmed to be closed or open at different levels.
It's not cheap........but the smile on your face is worth every penny!!!!!
Otherwise you wouldn't even know it was molded........and I'm a really old fart......56. My wife can still drive it. I also added a QTP cutout that can be programmed to be closed or open at different levels.
It's not cheap........but the smile on your face is worth every penny!!!!!
One simple mod will make the car a lot more fun to drive w/o affecting parade style cruising one bit.
You have an M6. Put a 4.1X gear in it with a solid spacer. Once that's in, get the PCM adjusted to make the speedo accurate and turn off cat overtemp protection and lean out PE to right around 13:1. Makes the car tons more fun w/o exhaust noise/leaks and major PCM mods.
Yes, the electric cutouts leak, at least mine do, & in a convertible it's a lot noisier than a hardtop/t-top.
You have an M6. Put a 4.1X gear in it with a solid spacer. Once that's in, get the PCM adjusted to make the speedo accurate and turn off cat overtemp protection and lean out PE to right around 13:1. Makes the car tons more fun w/o exhaust noise/leaks and major PCM mods.
Yes, the electric cutouts leak, at least mine do, & in a convertible it's a lot noisier than a hardtop/t-top.
