Fix it, Part it out, or sell it as is?

[Sporqster]

OK, this isn't about our Opel, but it is more related than you might think. As a project car, it's going to either be this one or the V6 GT in progress.... well progress sort of implies I've made discernable progress within the last few months... but therein lies the problem- I really just don't have the time for working on these old cars.

My wife loves her '79 SC, here it is at Roebling last weekend where it performed flawlessly all weekend, despite the appearance of being asleep at the wheel and about to be slapped by her instructor.

I wish it had been a better picture, because it was possibly the last picture of the old girl alive (the car that is.) Thursday night there was a freak fuel problem, which caused a backfire through the intake, which caught the fuel box on fire, and within minutes, most everything above the fiberglass shroud was charred pretty bad. It was quite a phenominal fire- particularly whien the fuel lines lit and exploded blowing the deck lid open, but below the fiberglass shroud, everything looks pretty good.

and this stuff could probably be cleaned up, in some cases painted, and reused:


Other than that, pretty much everything is indistinguishable black goo. Air box, fuel distributer, all hoses, wiring harnesses, all toast.

I don't have much time to work on this, as I'm taking night classes on top of a full time job, same for the wife, and I already have a garage full of car project I've been trying to complete for the last 5 years. I don't want this one taking up permanent residence next to it.

I'm seeking some advice from folks that have been there as to what to do with this car. This is not a show car- but a driven, very used, but also very loved old Porsche. I hate to see her go away in boxes. I would love to get some advice from someone who's been here as to what to do with her. Replacing with factory parts I estimate in the 6-7k range. Add a paint job to that, and I'm pretty close to totaling the car. A junkyard motor maybe? Carbs? I need to hear some ideas and/or advice. If the answer is part it or sell it, we can accept that too, painful as it is.

[namba209]

That's a hard one to give advice to. But I'll share my adventures with Willit? It was a daily driver for many years, then the engine let loose, so I parked it, on the beach, for 8 years. Then decided to drop the V-6/T-5 in it. Part way through the engine swap it was decided to do a fairly comprehensive restoration. Total time was right at 6 years, But you have to understand it was a quasi prototype, only one other similar engine swap was done prior to mine, so there was a lot of fabrication and redoing to finally get everything together. It's driveable now and looks great, but still has teething problems, which will be cured as time allows. Luckily I had the monza to drive during the process. For your car, you'll have to take into consideration the other projects you have, the sentimental attachment, and other priorities you may have. No one can say or tell what to do, only what they would do in similar circumstances. If it was the only project in the works, I'd finish night school, then go for a repair and resto to please the other half. It couldn't hurt. Final analysis is still up to you.

[layed521]

If its that loved, I say keep it. Even if it sits for a while, driving it again will be even more pleasurable than before. I know, my truck sat for almost 5 years before I got to drive it after blowing the stock engine. What if anything will your insurance cover?

[Sporqster]

Originally Posted by layed521 If its that loved, I say keep it. Even if it sits for a while, driving it again will be even more pleasurable than before. I know, my truck sat for almost 5 years before I got to drive it after blowing the stock engine. What if anything will your insurance cover?

Car was paid for, carried liability only. so, nuthin.