read my story -- from horrible to bad to super-horrible
08-31-2004, 05:08 PM
#1
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Posts: 58
read my story -- from horrible to bad to super-horrible
About three months ago I bought a 1999 z28 Camaro with 65,000 miles, barely any blemishes at all, for $9,850. A steal, in most anybody's book.
Five days after I got the car, coming around a wet turn I hydroplaned and 180'd into a tree. I've come up with many theories on why it happened (from bad tires to crappy pressure), but lately I've realized that if I was following the recommended speed, it never would of happened. The dealership quoted the fix at $8,900 (obviously inflated.. it's the dealership), and state farm quoted my car was worth $12,200. I took a chance. Because I loved my car so much, I bought it back for $2,000 and went to a body shop with $10,200 and a wrecked car. After many estimates I went to my favorite and got everything fixed for $8,000. I bought an SLP Ultra-Z hood, the fattest, most expensive tires I could find, and was back on top of the world.
Pulling out of the shop, a weird (turned out to be the low-coolant light) symbol was on my HUD. I decided I'd figure out what it was when I got home, and went on my way. The whole way home I noticed a lack of power, and my check guages light came on when I pulled into my neighborhood, and my engine steamed up and I immediately pulled over. Upon cooling down, I continued the way home, got inside, and immediatly called back the shop. He guaranteed it was nothing, told me to flush the coolant system, and it'd be fixed. I did, but two days later the light came back on.
I then took it to a different shop and had them look at it. The mechanic dubbed it a stuck thermostat, and replaced it. I got it back, and for two days it was fine, until again the light came back on. I took it back to the shop, and they said they'd need it over night to inspect every possible problem, and initially estimated a blown head gasket (while not cheap.. at least it'd fix the problem).
I went to the shop today and was in for quite the shock. I have in front of me two estimates. One including 2 cracked cylinder heads and 2 blown head gaskets, totalling at $3,529.48 + machine work, and the other $10,009.95 for a new LSI engine.
The shop (which I've come to respect, the mechanic really knows what he's talking about), detailed how opening up the engine to do this work could open up a can of worms, allowing them to see even more problems. This is why I have the new engine estimate. I plan on getting a second estimate from a different shop, but ultimately it must be fixed because I have $9,000+ unpayed on my car loan.
Right now I'm thinking about calling the original body shop. For one reason: he signed a piece of paper saying $8,000 for the body work, and $500 for hidden damage. A stuck thermostat would file under hidden damage, no?
I'll step off my soap box now.
Five days after I got the car, coming around a wet turn I hydroplaned and 180'd into a tree. I've come up with many theories on why it happened (from bad tires to crappy pressure), but lately I've realized that if I was following the recommended speed, it never would of happened. The dealership quoted the fix at $8,900 (obviously inflated.. it's the dealership), and state farm quoted my car was worth $12,200. I took a chance. Because I loved my car so much, I bought it back for $2,000 and went to a body shop with $10,200 and a wrecked car. After many estimates I went to my favorite and got everything fixed for $8,000. I bought an SLP Ultra-Z hood, the fattest, most expensive tires I could find, and was back on top of the world.
Pulling out of the shop, a weird (turned out to be the low-coolant light) symbol was on my HUD. I decided I'd figure out what it was when I got home, and went on my way. The whole way home I noticed a lack of power, and my check guages light came on when I pulled into my neighborhood, and my engine steamed up and I immediately pulled over. Upon cooling down, I continued the way home, got inside, and immediatly called back the shop. He guaranteed it was nothing, told me to flush the coolant system, and it'd be fixed. I did, but two days later the light came back on.
I then took it to a different shop and had them look at it. The mechanic dubbed it a stuck thermostat, and replaced it. I got it back, and for two days it was fine, until again the light came back on. I took it back to the shop, and they said they'd need it over night to inspect every possible problem, and initially estimated a blown head gasket (while not cheap.. at least it'd fix the problem).
I went to the shop today and was in for quite the shock. I have in front of me two estimates. One including 2 cracked cylinder heads and 2 blown head gaskets, totalling at $3,529.48 + machine work, and the other $10,009.95 for a new LSI engine.
The shop (which I've come to respect, the mechanic really knows what he's talking about), detailed how opening up the engine to do this work could open up a can of worms, allowing them to see even more problems. This is why I have the new engine estimate. I plan on getting a second estimate from a different shop, but ultimately it must be fixed because I have $9,000+ unpayed on my car loan.
Right now I'm thinking about calling the original body shop. For one reason: he signed a piece of paper saying $8,000 for the body work, and $500 for hidden damage. A stuck thermostat would file under hidden damage, no?
I'll step off my soap box now.
08-31-2004, 08:04 PM
#5
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 956
Re: read my story -- from horrible to bad to super-horrible
Get your work done somewhere else dude! You can get a brand new LS1 crate motor for less than 6 grand. Or...buy a used set of heads and just rebuild what you have.
08-31-2004, 09:44 PM
#6
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 58
Re: read my story -- from horrible to bad to super-horrible
I'm thinkin about finding a junk z28 LSI in a yard, buy the heads, and take them and my car to MTI in Houston (only a day's drive away). I could do that and probably end up with not only $1000 more bucks, but a lot more horsepower.
08-31-2004, 09:50 PM
#7
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Melvindale, MI, US
Posts: 4,677
Re: read my story -- from horrible to bad to super-horrible
Originally Posted by exolution
I'm thinkin about finding a junk z28 LSI in a yard, buy the heads, and take them and my car to MTI in Houston (only a day's drive away). I could do that and probably end up with not only $1000 more bucks, but a lot more horsepower.
I might be selling the heads off a 99 LS1 in the next few days, I'll let you know
09-01-2004, 02:28 AM
#8
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Posts: 956
Re: read my story -- from horrible to bad to super-horrible
09-01-2004, 08:40 AM
#9
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Midwest
Posts: 249
Re: read my story -- from horrible to bad to super-horrible
Originally Posted by carlos64030
09-01-2004, 07:04 PM
#11
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Seattle, Washington
Posts: 1,459
Re: read my story -- from horrible to bad to super-horrible
Keep us informed dude...
Call me stupid but I've heard of MTI but, who are they and what do they do? For some $$$ can they make a 3.8 V6 fast?
If not can they recommend me a motor to drop in?
Call me stupid but I've heard of MTI but, who are they and what do they do? For some $$$ can they make a 3.8 V6 fast?
If not can they recommend me a motor to drop in?
09-01-2004, 07:05 PM
#12
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: in the armpit of the USA
Posts: 116
Re: read my story -- from horrible to bad to super-horrible
That sucks man. 
I hope everything works out for you. I always said if any of my cars get smashed up hard, I hope it's totaled because i don't want it back. To much of a headache to deal with hidden problems after a hard hit. It's best to walk away and remember how good a car was...
Just my.02
I hope everything works out for you. I always said if any of my cars get smashed up hard, I hope it's totaled because i don't want it back. To much of a headache to deal with hidden problems after a hard hit. It's best to walk away and remember how good a car was...Just my.02
09-01-2004, 08:07 PM
#13
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 58
Re: read my story -- from horrible to bad to super-horrible
MTI does custom head, cylinder, and engine block builds and modifications. In my book (along with many many others), they're by far the best.
I had the opportunity to go to MTI and I was convinced they were the best from looking at the cars of the employees. Z07 after Z07 after WS6 after SS, each 600+ horsepower. Amazing work.
I had the opportunity to go to MTI and I was convinced they were the best from looking at the cars of the employees. Z07 after Z07 after WS6 after SS, each 600+ horsepower. Amazing work.
09-07-2004, 10:22 PM
#15
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Re: read my story -- from horrible to bad to super-horrible
Yeah. I payed $500 to have the shop take apart the upper body of the Engine. Not only is the left head unrepairable.
..but the block is warped, and the engine is now a broken piece of metal. It would be cheaper for me to buy and pay somebody to install a new engine at this point than it would be for me to fix my existing one.
What should I do? Sell my car for parts and buy new? Keep in mind, I have a $9,000 loan out for this piece of junk.
On another note.. how do I know how much warping on the block is enough to constitute a new engine? Isn't there a way to machine the heads to fit onto the block to dissolve any problems? I don't know much about this kind of thing, so please.. if you can, fill me in. A lot of money at stake :X
..but the block is warped, and the engine is now a broken piece of metal. It would be cheaper for me to buy and pay somebody to install a new engine at this point than it would be for me to fix my existing one.
What should I do? Sell my car for parts and buy new? Keep in mind, I have a $9,000 loan out for this piece of junk.
On another note.. how do I know how much warping on the block is enough to constitute a new engine? Isn't there a way to machine the heads to fit onto the block to dissolve any problems? I don't know much about this kind of thing, so please.. if you can, fill me in. A lot of money at stake :X
Last edited by exolution; 09-07-2004 at 10:48 PM.
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