Fix It Or Part It?

vg30_s12 · Post by **vg30_s12** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 11:48 am

Well guys, I'm in a little bit of a pickle.

Basically, I'm not sure what to do now. I'm a courier and I need a car. This was my only car. The way I see it, I have 3 options. I can either:

A - part it out - One problem with this is that I don't have 40 posts here, yet. So I wouldn't be able to sell it on the forums.

B - chassis swap - My big problem is that I need a car yesterday. So I could find a new chassis and swap all the good stuff over. My car has only has 50k on the clock. My only problem is that I've yet to see an 03/04 chassis for cheap and I don't have a lot money(people on CL today think that a car with a blown head gasket is worth its weight in gold).

C - repair - This seems least likely due to the fact that the car was rolled before I got it and the new damage seems to have cracked the frame. It might be savable, but I don't really feel like saving a wrecked car.

I'm really not sure what to do. As far as I know, I'd have to find an 03 and up chassis and that will take time as im not wasting my time with another wrecked chassis IE i intend to be picky. Im looking for ideas but id I'd also like to know if there is anyway that I could get the admins to let me post in the parts for sale section (if I decide to part it) I'd be more than happy to make a donation to 2GN.org

I hope I'm not sounding like an ass, its just that im in a bad position and not sure what to do. if i had time id just fix it but i need a car going very soon, or i could lose my job over it. I wouldn't mind keeping a 2gn as it was a cool car, but this is more than just about my 2gn...

any thoughts, suggestions or anything feel free to reply

[DJ]Tomski · Post by **[DJ]Tomski** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 11:52 am

is the insurance covering the repair bill? if so, just have it fixed.

edit: now that i think about it, i'm guessing the insurance company considered it a total loss? in that case just take the money and buy another neon or whatever.

vg30_s12 · Post by **vg30_s12** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 11:59 am

unfortunately, it was my fault, and not to mention, i only had liability(IE insurance official stance: "good luck with that

" )
i bought the car used from someone else with cash, so i wasn't required to keep full coverage... but damn i should have...

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 12:15 pm

Any year 2gn shell will work for a replacement. Especially if it is an ATX. For '00-02 just swap over your complete drive line, and the complete wire harness from front to rear. Also switch the NLVD pump.

It will be 100% smog legal, as you would be installing a newer emissions system in an older car.

Fuzzyneon · Post by **Fuzzyneon** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 1:21 pm

Honostly i would part it and try to find another neon if the frame is that tweaked youd spend alot of time swapping everything and if you need somthing ASAP this will not be an option

i say yes swap it if you have other transportation

vg30_s12 · Post by **vg30_s12** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 7:25 pm

from what I remeber reading, isn't the rt block the same as the 00-02 2.0l and magnum blocks? could I run the car with the older who efi? also, does anyone know how hard an rt to 1gn would be? cause 1gns are a dime a dozen lol. I have a car for the time being, but I dont want to push it, maybe a month...

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 9:15 pm

You need to buy another car, you won't have that fixed in time to get it back to commuter duty. Insurance will call that one a write off so you're looking at a new car no matter what. After buying said new car, strip the body work off if. If the frame isn't too messed up it will be a decent fix. New rad supports and minor frame tweaks aren't horribly expensive, but do require a fair amount of labour to replace (hence why it's a write off, labour costs add up quite fast when paying someone else).

Post by **racer12306** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 9:32 pm

Also depending on what state you are in you may not be able to buy it back. Apparently MD just passed a law about this. If you accept the total loss, even if it's cosmetic, you can't buy the vehicle back.

LowNSlow · Post by **LowNSlow** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:00 pm

fixitmattman wrote:You need to buy another car, you won't have that fixed in time to get it back to commuter duty. Insurance will call that one a write off so you're looking at a new car no matter what. After buying said new car, strip the body work off if. If the frame isn't too messed up it will be a decent fix. New rad supports and minor frame tweaks aren't horribly expensive, but do require a fair amount of labour to replace (hence why it's a write off, labour costs add up quite fast when paying someone else).

x2

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:22 pm

That car is toast in insurance's eyes.

sorry yo.

neonpla · Post by **neonpla** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:24 pm

dont fix.. its not worth it.

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:39 pm

If you need a car now, all three options you listed will fail horribly. Get a different car, insure it properly, and be done with it.

gtxtreme19 · Post by **gtxtreme19** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:51 pm

Im with everyone else here but looking at it im not even sure if a part out would make you very much. Might get more at a scrap yard

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 8:27 am

vg30_s12 wrote:from what I remeber reading, isn't the rt block the same as the 00-02 2.0l and magnum blocks?

No. '03/'04 Magnum blocks are still set up for NGC. The crank sensor location, and crankshaft are the same as the '03 to '05 2.0

The blocks themselves (in both NGC and '01/'02) are the same as a regular 2.0 I believe. It is just the pistons/rods that are supposed to be different.

So you have two block styles, regular, and NGC, and at least 4 piston/rod assy's. spanning the years. By part numbers anyways.

mattern248 · Post by **mattern248** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 7:06 pm

i just did a complete swap and you can do it withing a week if your determinded, and know how to do it lol. but really if everything mechanical works then swap it over is really isnt that hard .

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 8:36 pm

mattern248 wrote:i just did a complete swap and you can do it withing a week if your determinded, and know how to do it lol. but really if everything mechanical works then swap it over is really isnt that hard .

Exactly, if you have a good shell/donor car lined up.

You can get a rental if you need to work while swapping everything over.

Otherwise find one that will run well enough to get you by, if you still want to use the wrecked one's parts.

Having everything ready to go is key if you don't have the option of time to do it at a comfortable pace.

It could take weeks or months to find a good non running donor car. Well in the rust belt that is.

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 8:11 am

shouldn't be to hard to find a 2gn with an astrological amount of miles or bad engine. i remember seeing a few advertised when i was looking for another neon.

vg30_s12 · Post by **vg30_s12** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 11:11 am

well, i think ima let it go, in peices if needed... i really dont have time to mess with it...

its posted on the local CL, if you guys will let me, id like to post it here... but i dont have the post count...

anyway thanks for the info guys, it was a nice ride while it lasted

TheFrette87 · Post by **TheFrette87** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:34 pm

Practically neighbors, Tim. I found your ad on craigslist. I'll be emailing you

vg30_s12 · Post by **vg30_s12** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:39 am

car gone last night to a local *cough* (points upward)

it was a fun trip and that car will be missed, but itll live on in some form or fashion... quite possiably the most cool and awesome car ive ever owned(and ive had a few)

hopefully ill be back someday, maybe with an srt4

till then guys...