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-   -   Car is F'd, what to do? (https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-modifications/1393175-car-fd-what-do.html)

Nightrage Mar 3, 2011 07:46 PM

Car is F'd, what to do?
 
My engine went about 3 years ago. I got it fixed last year and now, the water pump went, the throwout bearing is done (I can't even get the clutch pedal down), it needs brakes and tires and I have no money. It seems like every time I fix something, something else breaks. I've owned it for 6 years and something relatively major happens every year (already did the water pump and opti once before). What should I do? Should I sell it is, should I fix it, then sell it? Part it out? I'm at a loss. I don't have the space, tools or mechanical knowledge to fix this stuff myself. I have no idea how to drop a transmission or align a clutch. What would you guys do in my situation?

AChotrod Mar 3, 2011 08:07 PM

Get a manual and dig in! Its only nuts and bolts

robsquikz28 Mar 3, 2011 08:14 PM

either fix it or sell it...YOu have no $, so sell it

05HD Mar 3, 2011 08:15 PM

Well, everything breaks down eventually. It is time to decide if you want to be one of those people who gets a new car every 3 or so years because they are afraid it may break or keep this one and learn how to fix it. F-bodys are some of the simplest cars to learn to wrench on so if you are ever going to learn, now is the time!

Nightrage Mar 3, 2011 08:47 PM


Originally Posted by 05HD (Post 14586430)
Well, everything breaks down eventually. It is time to decide if you want to be one of those people who gets a new car every 3 or so years because they are afraid it may break or keep this one and learn how to fix it. F-bodys are some of the simplest cars to learn to wrench on so if you are ever going to learn, now is the time!

I don't really have the space and I can't take a tranny out while the car is in the street. I'm not afraid to give it a shot myself. It's already broken, I'm not going to make it any worse than it already is. I just don't have a place to do it.

05HD Mar 3, 2011 09:02 PM


Originally Posted by Nightrage (Post 14586617)
I don't really have the space and I can't take a tranny out while the car is in the street. I'm not afraid to give it a shot myself. It's already broken, I'm not going to make it any worse than it already is. I just don't have a place to do it.

You don't have any car guy friends with garages? Maybe they even have some tools and experience in exchange for some beer? Should be a Saturday project as long as somebody has a little experience working on cars and y'all don't get too carried away with the beer...

I have helped people pull transmissions, engines and rear diffs out in the street in the past as well. It isn't the most pleasant place to work but it is possible in a jam. Hell, I helped a friend change a head gasket in a random parking lot in Texas after we drove from south Florida (and had to fix the damned car to make it back). So, no space to work on it isn't a good excuse if you are properly motivated!

mrchyzy16 Mar 3, 2011 09:45 PM

putting a little money into it is better than a car payment

Blue85350 Mar 3, 2011 10:29 PM


Originally Posted by mrchyzy16 (Post 14586964)
putting a little money into it is better than a car payment

this, its why i bought an lt1 car and still have my thirdgen from before. like AChotrod said, its all nuts and bolts.

confuzzled Mar 3, 2011 11:22 PM

I've done a fuel pump more then once in the street, along with a water pump, pulled engine and transmissions in the dirt. I've seen a guy do a engine swap on a GTP on a busy street man. If you have the drive it will get done, these cars are pretty damn easy to work on as long as you have some patience.

But if you do decide to part it out i'll take that upper center console off your hands ;)

sempire Mar 4, 2011 08:17 AM

When i bought my car it was just falling apart, everything needed replacing, so I went on replacing things. I figure it's cheaper to replace things and let the car run good for another 100k rather than give up and get something that everything needs replacing in the next 50k.

Nightrage Mar 4, 2011 08:26 AM

I can't even get the car to start, so I'd have to do it in my driveway. I don't know any gear heads, so I'm on my own. I guess it's worth a shot. If I fixed it with $500 worth of parts, I'd get much more back when I go to sell it. I can't keep this thing any longer. It seems like I drop at least $1000 a year into this thing, just to keep it running. I want something where I can just turn the key and go, knowing that the car is going to start every time I want it to. Thanks guys. I guess I'll give it a shot.

qc97z Mar 4, 2011 08:42 AM

I'm with AC. Every time people are amazed that I know so much and have so much experience, and they say "how do you do all this stuff?" I give them the same answer every time - A car is nothing but a bunch of nuts and bolts.

If you were interested in selling it, I'm sure a TON of guys on here (including myself) would be interested in picking it up from you and fixing it. The problems you have with it right now are minor.

WhistlingZ Mar 4, 2011 11:42 AM

I did an entire piston swap, while leaving the block in the car in a weekend once. Was my first time ever taking anything but exhaust manifolds off the car. I got a book, asked a friend who had a 'shop' class once to help and we did it. Pistons/Rods came out Friday night, dropped them at machine shop saturday morning, picked them up Saturday morning and car was running Sunday night.

They keep saying it and I will repeat it.. It's just nuts and bolts..

Learn on it man, just do it and have some patience.

jasonisdn Mar 4, 2011 11:51 AM


Originally Posted by Nightrage (Post 14586230)
My engine went about 3 years ago. I got it fixed last year and now, the water pump went, the throwout bearing is done (I can't even get the clutch pedal down), it needs brakes and tires and I have no money. It seems like every time I fix something, something else breaks. I've owned it for 6 years and something relatively major happens every year (already did the water pump and opti once before). What should I do? Should I sell it is, should I fix it, then sell it? Part it out? I'm at a loss. I don't have the space, tools or mechanical knowledge to fix this stuff myself. I have no idea how to drop a transmission or align a clutch. What would you guys do in my situation?

what state do you live in? maybe some guys local to you will offer a space or some help, you never know

airfix Mar 4, 2011 10:03 PM

Sack up and fix the pos!

the_merv Mar 4, 2011 10:20 PM

Pull ur skirt up and tear into it..:)

Originally Posted by 05HD (Post 14586430)
F-bodys are some of the simplest cars to learn to wrench on so if you are ever going to learn, now is the time!

Idk about easy..more along the lines of learning what swivels & extensions you will need to get to stuff..and that's after you get done swearing at it, finding the tools you threw, drinking a beer/jerking off to calm down & clear your head.:)

airfix Mar 4, 2011 10:26 PM

Hahahahaha, once you get headers there easy. When you look and other cars it makes the lt1's look like a walk in the park, especially if you have pretty much everything deleted under the hood.

Nightrage Mar 8, 2011 04:09 PM

Is this something I can do on my own? Can I use a jack and lower the transmission that way? I can't stomach working with other people. They get in the way too much and create more problems than they're worth. I don't care if it takes me two weeks to do this. I just want to make sure I don't actually need someone else to help with lifting or maneuvering parts.

My main concern is that my driveway isn't flat. It's not at a very steep angle, but it's still not flat. I'm trying to figure out the safest way to get this thing up in the air and pull everything out. Will jack stands do the trick? Should I try to hunt down some cinder blocks? I don't know how high I need to get this thing off the ground for the transmission to clear, or how to hold it up there in a secure position, but I'd rather not have my car drop on my face. I don't think my fiance would be too happy about that. That's my biggest problem. Everything else isn't an issue. I either have or can get all of the tools I need.

speedracer2536 Mar 8, 2011 05:11 PM

Just use jack stands with a wide base.. DONT USE CINDER BLOCKS

the_merv Mar 8, 2011 09:56 PM


Originally Posted by speedracer2536 (Post 14609968)
Just use jack stands with a wide base.. DONT USE CINDER BLOCKS

:mullet:


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