Car is F'd, what to do?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2011
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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?
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 1
From: CT/NJ
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!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6
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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!
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 1
From: CT/NJ
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!
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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
But if you do decide to part it out i'll take that upper center console off your hands
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.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2011
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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.
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.
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.
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 135
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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.
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.
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?
Pull ur skirt up and tear into it..
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.
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.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2011
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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.
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.
