UPDATE on Iroc-Z

I know atleast some of you are wondering the status of my camaro.

It worked for a couple weeks and crapped out on me.

I took the advice of some 'trusting' AF members and decided to stop spending money on it. I'm going to sell it, for a high price with an OBO, since a lot of work went into it. All the car needs is either another tranny or a rebuild, which from what I was told will only cost around 500.

I dropped the transmission pan again to look at the valve body but from everyone's guess, they tell me the tranny needs replacing or just a rebuild so maybe I shouldn't even bother taking apart the valve body today? Realistically I need to start looking for a new car now, because I'm moving to college in the fall so I can't work on the camaro anymore; I need time to sell it. Any input on selling it or the tranny?

I'm going to sell it, for a high price
If it needs a new trans, you aren't going to get squat for it, I'm sorry to say. Those cars don't command a high price when they are driveable let alone when they need a major component like a transmission. Get it running as cheaply as possible, the sell it, you'll get more for it.

This isn't a project car. This is up and running, all it has is a tranny problem. And I said or best offer.

Maybe I should ask what you consider high Morley.

Well...............If it was in perfect condition Kelly Blue Book lists it retail value at about $2600.00
Considering mileage, body , Paint & collision damage, and mechanical condition, - It isn't going to bring very much.

A trans rebuild at a reputable shop that will stand behind their work will average $1000. - $1300. Sometimes more.

Paint, body & collision damage repair - done right will run anywhere from $900 and up . depending on how rough the actual car is overall.

High mileage will be a strike against its value too.

Interior condition - seat covers ripped? dirty?, stained?, worn? or in mint condition? are they original or aftermarket replacements?
headliner in good condition?
all accesories in working condition?
A/C functional with good cold air?
When i am looking to buy, I look at all of these things and consider what it will take to put it back the right way. I look under the hood for unprofessional (shade tree) mechanical work, hacked wiring, non working or disconnected components, and other alterations.

The kelly blue book value for trade in lists this car as "poor" condition and has no value for trade in .
This was considering everything else on the car was in good shape except body and paint and mechanical condition of the transmission and the mileage wasn't excessive

^Yup..

Now I am telling you to just keep the car because you'll be more disappointed for the low amount you'll get in return.. unless you really badly need around 500-1K..

Everybody told you to get rid of it and dont waste any money. :lol:

Realistically, and here we go again. The car needs some tranny work, not sure how much at this stage since I haven't taken the valve body apart, nor do I really want to. 117k miles isn't that high per se. I have receipts that amount to 3000+, 2k of that is AAA work...(do not ask). Sure the car is rough on the outside, but a good paintjob (and color) should be left up to the buyer. I'll even give them the other black primed fender.

One week ago, it was running and I was driving it back and forth to work, and all of a sudden, the tranny slows down.

Bottom line, I'm not asking you guys for 'constructive criticism', I'm asking if you think I should do anything with the tranny or sell as is.

I just checked the KBB, and the SECOND you check 'may need to replace engine/tran' it becomes poor which is no value whatsoever. That's BS

A car with a tranny problem will get you no money at all... the car running fine will always get you more.... bottom line you are going to lose money either way.... how much you lose all depends on how big of a sucker you can get to buy the car...

Lose more money, there's a difference. Welcome to my nightmare...what can I do. What should I do? Why am I doing this?????

Why am I doing this?????
I ask myself that alllll the time... you're not alone....

1st step would be to see how much it would cost to fix the car... and then work from there

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhh

Shitty situation..probably can't get much for it. Where do you live btw?

get a cheep junk yard tranny or keep it.

Shitty situation..probably can't get much for it. Where do you live btw?

I live on Long Island. When I was first looking for an Iroc-Z, I saw prices for running ones around 2500 and up, and even more expensive on ebay. I thought it was a good opportunity to buy one for 1600, and it was. The tranny problem was seriously unexpected. I need to make up lost money and I shouldn't part the car out because it's in good condition all together. Say I got the transmission, then what price could I sell it at different from now? Why does a tranny problem so much affect the price of a car?

I'm not sure what you could get for your car in your area... but take this into consideration... my friend just bought a 94 z28 loaded with aftermarket stuff... full tune up done on it.... runs great, has ground effects, system, msd ignition, sub frames etc.... 124k on it... paid $3,500

that is a AWSOME DEAL!

I live on Long Island. When I was first looking for an Iroc-Z, I saw prices for running ones around 2500 and up, and even more expensive on ebay. I thought it was a good opportunity to buy one for 1600, and it was. The tranny problem was seriously unexpected. I need to make up lost money and I shouldn't part the car out because it's in good condition all together. Say I got the transmission, then what price could I sell it at different from now? Why does a tranny problem so much affect the price of a car?
My best friend lives in deer park and mentioned a while ago about wanting to get another third gen Camaro. I will ask if he is still interest in getting one(probably not but never know :dunno: )

how much u want for it quick?

Irregardless of what you do or have done to that car it does NOT have an infinite value.
If it were to be in perfect condition it is worth only $2600.00
So it doesn't matter how much you spend or have spent on it - it doesn't increase the value. It is still worth only $2600.00

Transmission problems take a huge chunk out of that value and if that was fixed you still have collision damage visible with imminent paint and body work to be done. That still will take a huge chunk out of the value.


Car in perfect Condition - $2600.00
less Transmission Repair - <$1200.00>
less Paint and Body Repair - <$900.00> (could be more depending on the car its self )
That only leaves a value of $500.00 or less

you asked why a tranny problem drops value so much... if I am looking for a car, unless I am specificllly wanting a project, im probably looking for a car that I can DRIVE HOME! I am not going to want to drop a few grand on a car and then have to hire a flatbed to carry it hom cause the tranny is shot, and then have to find a new tranny. Oh and since I live in a TownHouse area, I cant even change my own oil, I have to go to a shop for that, so I am definately not gong to be allowed to swap a tranny out, so now I have to hire a shop to swap it for me. Plus I took a chance on the suspension and motor by buying it in an undriveable condition, and there is a chance there are issues that will show up only when on the road. (not saying that is true on yours, just in general.)

So if he KBB on a good condition car is 2600, new trans is 1000, shop rates are 65 per hour at 4 hours min = 260, renting a flatbed to transpot a 89 iroc 46 miles was just quoted to me as 605 if it is picked up NEXT MONTH on the 5th! mind you this was just the first place I found on the net but Im using it for my example. so what s the total now with out the car price? We are up to 1865, and that does not include the car. and I am not even going into the paint and body.....

If i were you I would just bite the bullet, buy the cheapest tranny and sell it. you will REALLY lose if you try to sell it with out a good trans.

Agreed, you can ask for as much as you want but to have a undrivable vehicle that needs additional work and be asking book is very very very unrealistic but best of luck.

Fix trans and keep maro :iceslolan -or- part it out :grinno: . If it's really in as good condition as you claim it is... keep it, otherwise you will lose your ASS.

Why does the trans affect the value so much??? You're kidding right? :lol: The whole point is you're selling a car that's supposedly in great shape, and one of the main components that makes it do it's job is about to die! Maybe if you didn't fix the trans, and haven't fixed the paint - there's other rthings you haven't fixed either, be honest with yourself... that's the way anyone looking at your maro is going to see it. You saw the KBB listings, but keep in mind it's only worth what someone is willing to pay. Given that there are probably a good number of cars similar to yours for the same price that DON'T need trans work and are probably also modified in some fashion, you're in a poor position to command a high price for your vehicle.

I wouldn't be able to sell a car that wasn't driveable unless it sold as a project car, and project cars are worth fractions of a roadworthy (read inspection passing & mechanically sound) counterpart :grinyes: . You can't honestly expect to pass your vehicle off as being intact, the red fender is a dead give-away:lol: . Unless you're one HELL of a bullshitter :smokin:, and could care less that you're about to screw someone :evillol:, your options are limited. :frown:

Bottom line is we tried to tell you that you were stomping down the wrong road when you embarked on this endeavor. Now you have to choose from the alternatives you had originally said were unacceptable... lose money or keep it. I am in no way trying to bust your balls, and I'm sorry you found yourself in the spot you're in, but good luck.

i might buy it, how much u want? And where do you live?

i can relate so well to this situation that it makes me feel bad reading it, lol

Yeah but I think most of us aren't into flipping maro's for profit.

Sure mine is costing me a nut and a kidney, but I was aware of that when I walked into it... and I really do feel bad for the guy (and eveyone who's having issues). The issue here is he wouldn't listen when we told him he wasn't going to make money on this.

ALLRIGHTALLRIGHTALLRIGHT, everyone calm the $%* down. I'll sell it in driveable condition.

After ours of waking up and screaming for no apparent reason, after work I went to the local junkyard. I saw a white firebird as soon as I went in, guess what, working condition, 700R4. They quoted me a really good price and I went to get cash, and paid $250 in full. How's that? Picking it up tomorrow.

I hope whoever is reading this thread is learning from my mistakes.

oh..i meant i felt bad for the car, poor girl.
just kiddin quick, good luck with the bird.

I forgot to ask, what do I do with the tranny that needs the rebuild? Hold onto it? Is it worth anything?

yeah its worth stuff to a trans shop but not much to you.. ask a trans shop if they'll do a install if you give them the old one :D

lol, they prolly wont but hell, its worth a shot...

I think an automatic trans shop will buy the case from you... not a bad move if you can sell them the old one for a couple hundred and install the newer one yourself. You might have saved your ass on that move, good one!

I just picked it up today. What's better was that the mechanic said it had a rebuild recently. Things are looking up. Now to get the other tranny out.

I just picked it up today. What's better was that the mechanic said it had a rebuild recently. Things are looking up. Now to get the other tranny out.
to get the old one out, start up the car, put it in D slam gas and go from D to R with the gas held down and it will fall out soon enuf,LOL. by the way do NOt do that!

OMG!! its funny but a few years ago I was gong to help my Brother-in-law do a tranny swap. He asked me the easiest way to get out the old tranny as it was a 196X truck. I told him to drive about 20 miles an hour and slam it into reverse to help "Break" the bolts loose. I got a call about 20 mins later from him... "Um, Mike? I slammed it in reverse like you said, but I think I was going about 30-35. I think the tranny blew up! what do I do now?"

You just never know untill AFTER you give advise like that..... :)