V1 My current choices Auto or Manual

[Brian74]

Don’t buy a donor from the dealer. Facebook, auto trader, craigslist, offer up (where I found my $300 donor), letgo, auctions, street corners...There are donors everywhere for dirt cheap.

I prefer a manual. Buy what you prefer and will enjoy; its your build.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Sorry did not mean anything regarding harness in respect to the doors, I thought the front to rear aspects of the harness would be longer on a four door.

Coupe and sedan have the same wheelbase. No difference in the overall length of the harness.

 

[ctuinstra]

Coupe and sedan have the same wheelbase. No difference in the overall length of the harness.

Good point.

 

[Jareth]

Thanks guys, only been on here a few days and cannot get over how helpful everyone is.

 

[Lonny]

A good deal on a clean titled clean car usually means something is wrong with the drivetrain or electrical that is not easily seen.

With a salvage car, it was likely running and driving before it was wrecked. The money you save is from the value the car lost due to it being wrecked not because it has hidden problems.

 

[comegetjoe]

With the raised prices, the craigslist 'cobalt' is a great deal.

 

[Jareth]

So I have my donor the one with the Automatic, between the time I first saw it on Craigslist and the time I called to see it the price was dropped to $4,000. When I arrived the was one of those moving pods in the driveway. The guy had been trying to sale it for weeks and it has come down to the wire for him to move across the country. I had cash in hand and basically stole it for $3,000, he was happy to have it sold. I quickly found a U-Haul to tow it home and 2 hours latter had it sitting in my driveway.

Now I have to save some money so I can order the frame.

In following pic you can see my 68 Camaro peaking out of the corner of the garage, she is not happy. I tried to explain to her that she was not being replaced, that she was just getting a new friend.

Shame I don’t want to use these seats, they are in great shape

Guess I’ll register it and drive it while waiting to purchase the kit.

 

[Goblin Graber]

That sure is a nice donor! It almost takes the fun out of stripping it. Ripping and tearing at the interior with zero regard to breaking plastic clips was fun. I would think all that is sellable to someone.

 

[Rttoys]

Sweet. I agree with Graber, almost too nice to rip apart, but that’s half the fun.

 

[Lonny]

I would put it for sale until time to strip it for 5k. If it doesn't sell no loss. If it does you can find another for 3k or less and have some extra Goblin money.

That is a nice car. Awesome find.

 

[Ark :D]

Agree with Lonny, you could profit on that car pretty well.

 

[Rttoys]

Could do that too.

 

[Mayor West]

That's too nice to turn into a goblin. Flip it and buy a salvage one like Lonny said.

 

[Jareth]

I hear what you all are saying but sometimes I read about the issue that some have with the higher mileage parts it makes me relieved to have such a clean donor.

I have driving it a lot and it’s been running great which makes me excited that basically almost everything is moving from the donor to the Goblin. I’ve even seem to be getting 34+ MPG so I’m curious what that will translate into when you drop half the weight?

.

 

[Rttoys]

It translates to 20mpg in the goblin because you can’t keep your foot out of it.

 

[Jareth]

True that

 

[k.rollin]

It translates to 20mpg in the goblin because you can’t keep your foot out of it.

True story. The poor aero probably doesn't do us any favors either

 

[SmsDetroit]

No differences between the sedan and coupe for our purposes (though parting out a turbo sedan will get you eviscerated by the Facebook kiddos).

We don't use anything from the door harness connectors onward.

Guess what I’m parting put. lol

 

[Ark :D]

Guess what I’m parting put. lol

I'm so mad at you. I can't believe you'd part out a turbo sedan, you MONSTER!

(I guess when you're a young lad, just starting out, a turbo sedan is special like a Lamborghini? Idk)

 

[ATMironov]

I picked up a rolled SS/TC with 4,000 original miles and the interior was in great shape.
I' have currently sold $3,200 worth of parts (minus $550 for shipping)

You can definitely recover some money from selling off well maintained interior pieces.
Good luck!