Build or sell my 78 Z28
 

I've got a delimma. An ex business partner owes me a FORTUNE! Part of what he put down was a 78 Z28 1/8th mile drag car and a 26' enclosed trailer. I'd love to get 15k for the pair but that isn't happening apparently. Where I'm at now is because the car has full interior, mini tubbed, roll cage, and pretty much everything minus motor do I go ahead and build it and drive it a bit, have some fun tearing up the streets or do I dump it? It's obviously got coil overs in the back, all stock in the front minus inner fender wells and a fiberglass hood. The paint job I'd call a solid 7 and there's 0 rust BUT, the paint jobs definitely from the 70's with flames with devils tails. Be warned, if you wanna see the car and trailer, go here http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/n...oot%20trailer/ I'd take $15k for the car and trailer or $7500 for just the car. The car is all there, less motor. I'm not sure of tranny but someone should be able to tell what it is from the pics. It's got a 4:68 12 posi in it, tubbed, wrinkle walls on Centerlines, etc etc. It would obviously be worth parted out but the car is titled and on top of that street legal and from what I understand because of the triangulated four link in the rear actually hooked up really well. I haven't seen any interior rips or tear and it's a stock interior with cage from package tray to front clip. I'm down with building it or selling it. I would like to get some other opinions though. Hit me back Im new and I'll probably screw this post up so lemme know if I do. Oh I chose 'efi cuz if I rebuild it an LSx is definitely going in.
Hellrazor

I moved the thread to get more exposure. So you are saying you have the funds to rebuild the car and enjoy it? Do you like the car enough to so so? I know of a few ex-drag cars that found their way to the street and they are much happier as a pro-touring car! ;)

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showth...hlight=%244750

That car just sold from one member to another for $4500.
I'm just throwing this out there so you know what you're up against.
I'd put the LSX engine in it and drive it.

I have the funds to pay for the car, I could pay cash for the entire thing but and this is a big butt, I just got a divorce and am buying a house. What I'm thinking is doing the LSx conversion and selling it but if it's not gonna sell and I've got $20k in a car that won't sell it's sort of a waste. Sure the car would be a blast. With the 4:68 in it and the torque from an LSx motor that car would be a tire shredder. I've got my 68 which I'm VERY impressed with. I got an LS6 from Cleveland Pick a Part and Kenny Davis of Kenny Davis hot rods put it together. It's a blast but I only need one. I don't know if you've seen the car but the paintjob is from the 70s it looks like. Again no biggie. I could build a SICK car out of this 78 but at the end of the day, what's it worth?

This is the car in question.. would anyone even drive this on the open road?
http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/n...oot%20trailer/

I hope I didn't offend anyone with that last statement. What I meant to say was the paint job on it currently is just a bit dated and given the opportunity to drive the 78 or the 68 http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...1000004201.jpg which would you choose.

Creep,
This is DEFINITELY what I'm talking about. The cars mine now whether I want it or not because the previous owner lost it by not paying back his loan so I've got the car. I'm WAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaYYYYYYYYYYYY ahead of this car though because of the minitubs, triangulated 4 link, full interior, and roll cage. I could literally throw a front clip on this car, drop in a tranny and motor, and then repaint it and have a very very VERY sick road racing machine.
My problem is, even if I had the fastest, most dependable, most chick pickin' up car in the world.... how much would this thing be worth? I'd sell the car for $7500 EASY and you couldn't do the minitubbing and frame connectors and all the other things done to this car for that.
There's no DOUBT this thing would haul all sorts of butt after I built it. From what I understand it was running fast 1/8th mile times with an essentially stock 350 and two stages of NOS because it hoooked up so well.
I know what I'd like to do. I'd like to buy another LS6 and put a T56 in it and blow the doors off Ferrari's going down the tollway but I also learned a LONG time ago that the voice in my head that tells me to do these things is evil and should be stopped.:rofl:

Thank you AWR, sorry for my ignorance. Ill learn eventually it takes me a bit sometimes.:lateral:

I LOVE this 78
 

Now Creepin, if I could pull this off for $15k or less I'd probably make this one my primary.
http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/n...e%20Sick%2078/

If there is any car you could pull off a build that cheap its a late second gen. Parts are easy to find, there's a ton of aftermarket support, and they're pretty bad ass when done.

No worries....just trying to help you out! :cheers:

Slo,
 

Most of the money would be spent on drive train really. Gus @ pick a part has a sick LS6 with T56 for $6k. I'd need about another 4-500 in a Patrick G cam and it's ON after that. A nice se fo headers and an ehusg sysem and you'd pretty much be done. The drive trains built up enough for the HP so it's not like I'd have to spend much on any of that... just the front clip eventually.:captain:

I would not put a bunch of money in a late second gen if you're going to want to get the money back out at some point. The 74-later Camaros do not bring big money, not nearly as well as the 70-73's.

If you like it enough to drive it and enjoy it after doing an LS swap then do it. But if you want to get your money out of it then I'd sell it as-is, wouldn't put any more money in it.

Jody

I feel ya Jody. This is what I do for a living and I know the car isn't gonna make me anything but even if I made a grand or two on it I'd do it. If it was just a stock Z28, there's no way but this car was fast as hell with just a 350 and NOS and the transplants are so hard because you have to fab the cars to handle the torque made by the LSx motors. Thats not a factor here because it's already had hose issues rrestedl Basically I'm gonna "loose money" either way but I just have a hankering to do it and I think it's mostly because I freaking LOVE this car and I've never been a big fan of the third gen. but I doooooooooooooooooo so love this one!
Keith

if you like it build it! On your pic links, you need to paste the direct link into the image box above and then the pic will show automatically as below. Make sure to remove the http:// that's already there in the image box. Or simply put [img] before the direct link with [/img] after it and the pics will show.
:

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...cKTeOPGQ_3.jpg
Jody

Build it because you "want" to build it. Do not try to justify the build by thinking it will be worth more when your done. It will be worth a lot more, but still about half of what you have invested.

Confusion
 

Yeah Creep I totally see your point BUT, had that been a 1969 vs a 79 do you see the price significance. I mean this is freaking killing me because this car is the shizzle. With the tub, narrowed 12 bold etc etc. it's a drag racers dream. Add a CPP front clip and you've knocked out disc brakes, coil-overs, tubular a arms, and now you have a track car that can keep up with the best of them with AC, good stereo, comfortable seating and all for the fraction of the price of a new car so again I say...." do I build? Or do I not build?"

if you like the car and the likelihood that it won't bring back every dime invested (which almost no cars do anyway) then build it and enjoy it.

Pretty obvious to me that you like it......... ;)

Jody

Jody I was thinking the same thing! He most certainly likes the car a lot! And that's what he needs to know to move forwad on the build! See we helped!

I say go for it! BTW, I have always loved second gens....even the plastic bumper cars! :thumbsup:

Yup You're Right!
 

You've all been very helpful. I'm gonna give it a couple of months to find and buy our new house. The car isn't gonna go anywhere and then I'm gonna get started on it ProTouing to the MAX! Just for entertainments sake, I'm gonna go ahead and see if I can get the video posted of the 68 Kenny D just built for me :)

fixed the video link for you..........

Jody

Looks like a fun car!

Trux that's what I'm thinking. I mean the cars I build I build to make money. I wanna build something for me now. I've "owned" all of them but they were never mine so to speak. I mean I couldnt get attached to them. Now I'm at a point where I can build this car, build it and make it VERY fast with very little money thanks to these LS motors. It's not gonna take much. 500-600hp and this thing will fly!

Damn Jody, I hope this isn't going on my bar tab cuz I'm gonna owe you a LOT! :unibrow:

by Kenny D I meant Kenny Davis. He did a hell of a job on her!

Oh and Since I'm seriously considering this....
 

Any of you that knows someone that knows someone etc etc that knows where I can get a good deal on a front subframe or air ride kit or any necessary parts tell em to hit me up. Like I said the cars already tubbed so I'm gonna have to get some rim offsets and the likes but I will need a good front end under it. It's already four linked but I do so love the stance of a Camaro in the weeds. I could just get the shocks in the back and then do a Strong Arm system in the front I would imagine relatively inexpensively. So many things I wanna learn and so little time to do it. Anyways, since I'm the new guy on the block so to speak and I know very little about blogging feel free to hit me up and add me I guess is the term? You can also find me on the facebook at [email protected]
Keith

Build it!!!!

Alright Mr. Rushforth....
 

Where's your opinion on this cuz I KNOW you've got one. Picture this.... a 1978 mini-tubbbed triangulated four link with coil overs, 12bolt w/ 4:68, full cage, full interior, everything there except the inner fender wells and it's got a fiberglass hood. The freaking cheapest RideTech Air Ride system is for freaking 70-81 Camaro and I think the damned dash pad on this thing is even good. Why couldn't this have been thrown in my lap before the divorce last year? I'm just waiting for someone to throw some decent bread my way and please just murder this thing out! I'll even throw in the spare NOS bottles. Gus at Cleveland Pick a Part has already found an LS6 with T56 for it!
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3238517_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...03_90138_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7887597_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1720652_n.jpg
So the flames are a little 70's?????

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4045091_n.jpg
LS3 with twin turbos......:woot:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5533300_n.jpg
I'll even throw in the tool box

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3522648_n.jpg
The trailer has it's own generator and is wired for 120 and has it's own internal and external lighting.


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2418559_n.jpg
annnnnnnnnnnnnnd the distributor and NOS

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6722244_n.jpg
I'd almost be tempted to leave the paint on it so when you blow the doors off a $250k lambo it just makes it that much worse....

Sold
 

I did sell the car, it's gonna go back on the 1/8th mile track. I've got no problems with that. It was in the way in the shop and I've got too many projects to jack with it. I hope the guy ends up loving the car. He got it for a great price, I'm ending one part of the chapter with Matt Cantrell who stole $6k in parts money for my other car and everyone's happy now... except Matt but he pretty much brought it all on himself anyways. Thanks guys for all your support.
Keith
:woot: