vp ss questions

[Garth]

ok, im hoping for a insight of other members, this is the story

im in the middle of a rock and a hard place

2 months ago i purchased a vpss commodore, payed 8.6k for it, (prob more like 9 when you add stamp duties and stuff like that) now this vp ss was in imacluate condition, not a single speck of rust on it, not a stone chip anywhere, has been looked after all it's life. now, this where it becomes interesting

i didnt do a complete under body check, or a complete running gear check, i started it and drove it, and all apreard to be in order.

now, while driving it, (more like moving it from one yard to the next yard) i noticed a sound which sounded like a rear bearing or something, now, much to my discust and complete disapointment with myself i drove the car the next day, straight toa burnout comp. as a result, i blew the motor. dont ask what i was thinking, i obviously wasnt thinking was i.

upon inspection of dammage done i spoted thenext problem, leaking power steering rack, link pin bushes missing, sway bar bushes half hanging out, buggered lower control arm, warped rotor, that is jut a few, came to the conlusion that entire front end needs re-building.

now, over the corse of the last 2 weeks, the car has been a thorn in my side, the place it's at is charging me storage fee's each day of 25 a day, they are claiming they are unable to sorce a new block, but 2 day's later they change their mind, im about to give up on them, actualy i have, picking car and left over of motor up within the next few days and putting in storage.

now, this is the delima, im at doors end what to do with this car, im in the mind right now to take to it with a blow torch, (which i have been known to do before) but 3 horus later im thinking i should keep it, re-build motor, and re-do entire front end rubbers, and suspenion components, and braking system.

any idea's guys, i know i havnt done my checks properly, and im kicking my self for it, why i did it, i dotn know, just rushed into it.
ive been talking to a member on the forums on the phone about this quite a bit, hopefully today's little discusion i had with him will eventuate into something,
cheers
garth

p.s. honest answeres, cut sick at me if you want,

[shaggerz]

mate it was exactly the same with me and that schmick-as looking VN. (key word being LOOKING lol).

After losing the full 3 grand I paid for it, plus the time, hassle, and even more money I spent on it, I wish I had kept it and rebuilt it. I reckon you'll regret it later if you don't do it up.

Then again, if you have nowhere for it and are being charged for storage, its a bit of a tough decision. You kind of need to come up with the dosh sooner rather than later to prevent that ongoing cost.

Can always keep it in my garage

[genIIIbandit]

you are right, u should have checked!!!! U r not the only 1 to blame but. If I was u, I would b visting the person who sold u the car, and giving him/her a mouthfull, what sort of dog sells a car in that state, let alone for 8.6k!!!!!
Feel sorry 4 u bro, at least if you rebuild her, u'll have a top condition car, that u will know inside out. Do it rebuild it, and make it the sickest thing around, good luck!!!

[str8up]

If you have enough coin i reckon u should fix her up and have a smick vp. If the body and condition of the car is exceptional, it would be good to keep another good looking vp ss on the road. You dont see many around that are in good nic.

[getafix]

Bushes and suspension components are cheap, especially if you've got the motor out to replace anyways. Replace it, or fix it, not by the guys charging you a fee, or only if they will discount the cumulated fee so far from the final bill. VP SS's are tops, a five litre block isnt exactly hard to source. Just beg/borrow/steal and get it all done in one shot and love the car again.

[STEALTHY™]

If you wanna sell it as it is, you know who to call!

[1991_Vn2nV]

Any car sold over $5,000 INCLUDING private sales, comes with a 3 month warranty. The person that sold you that car is liable for it. Approach the seller and if they arent willing to help pay, seek legal advice.

[shamus]

Any car sold over $5,000 INCLUDING private sales, comes with a 3 month warranty. The person that sold you that car is liable for it. Approach the seller and if they arent willing to help pay, seek legal advice.

umm.... yeah right.....

[NOGEN 3]

bought mine 4 9g's, 5 years ago n 2 mths later, the rear welsch plugs (steelies not brass)cacked mselves n empties oily water all over the clutch n filled the starter up with water, both requiring replacement. Luckily, since then, haven't had any real dramas, only the ignition module. Motors pretty worn out (346xxxks) but i've only just paid it off so now I can start fixing things I'm not happy with. I checked mine myself aswell, shoulda got RAA(NRMA 4 u guys on east coast isn't it?)2 check it fully but was gunna cost $100(not cheap if u dont end up buying it, but cheaper than buying the car n having 2 fix a whole lotta probs, I spose...)

[MaNiac_VP]

Garth aren't u getting a bit old for burnout comps

Seriously the front end damage sounds about standard for a VP of that age, don't let that get you down. I went through all the same shit, just ripped it all out and swapped. Prett cheap if you can do it yourself. The cheap shit they use from factory doesn't last much past warranty.
Getting a block shouldn't be too much of a problem, wreckers down here in Melb will do a swapover with 5lt for about 1800, about another 1,000 for the front (how bad is the steering rack?) and the car should be fine. Do you know exactly what went bang in the engine???

Blow torch ain't a good idea unless its on the previous owner...

[MaNiac_VP]

BTW 8,6 for a mint condition VP SS is cheap, some Ive seen here are still going for 10 grand and most need a respray.

[greenfoam]

grr my steering rack leaks pretty good in mine, I might just hit the wreckers for one and then have a go at rebuilding mine

[jack.mc]

Any car sold over $5,000 INCLUDING private sales, comes with a 3 month warranty. The person that sold you that car is liable for it. Approach the seller and if they arent willing to help pay, seek legal advice.

Good luck with that after entering it in a burnout comp!

[Garth]

as for what went bang, to this day the jury is out, the motor guy where the car is untill 2morrow has rung me 4 times and told me something different each time, it's like a day's of our live's drama.

power steering rack is shot to the shit house, the tye rod arm, (the bit with the boot on it) is bent on drivers side, as a result u nable to get straight steering, all rubbers on front end are either worn, missing, or only half there.

now, just to describe the car a little bit better, it's a vpss, auto, the paint is beautifull, the interior is beutifull, it has 22,000km on the clock, (im starting to question that amount of k's) and it's been fully optioned from the factory floor.
i pick the car up 2morrow arvo (well the old man is for me) ill be able to tell you more about the block and what went bang over hte course of the weekend. i have a mate comming over to look at it with me, after i look at it, the motor in it's current striped state will be going up to a member of this forums mechanic. where he can look at it for me, price it up, tell me what the go is, and hopefully re-build it.

[Frd_thmsn]

Tough decision .
If the suspension has that much damage as you mentioned, it must surely have done more than 22,000 , unless they were a bloody hard 22,000.

The question you have to ask is if I spend another 3,000 or so am I going to have a car worth my total investment of $10,000 ?.

My gut feel is not, but I have no sentimental attachment to the car.

I know you have invested a lot already. So how much could you sell it for in its current condition.?

I have made some bad purchases in my time, like a HQ panelvan many years ago, that I had spent over $20K on in total and could only get $2K when sold. Sometimes you have to cut your losses before you sucked dry.

Try and work out how much you have to spend to bring this car up to the same condition as the body.

[The1985divo]

well just goes to wether you want to still kepp her, i blew my motor a month ago and have her back and she is like new....shes got "22000" on her, well supposedly, but think this way when she is back she'll be like new if she looks new she will be near on

[AirStrike]

Garth, some of the GMH dealers down her in melb still have VT roller blocks, and a few even still have the complete crate motors..........
Dont know if any of you have seen the black HR Ute doing the show scene with a VT 5.7lt stroker in it (old mans mate)......well he baught that engine brand new from Holden, although the price is likely to cause heart failure.
AirStrike