Is it worth rebulding my cages motor?

[ChevyFazer]

Yeah...

I was just saying, it's probably time to retire the car, but if you really want to keep her, any frame in good shape will work fine for amatuer dirt racing.

Other than that, I wouldn't bother.

Oh ya it would be a blast to do but mentioning the frame its a unibody car would they even let one on the track? I dont know how the rules go on something like that

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[sniff6]

First thing to do is whip the head off and see what the damage is ??Then make your decision.:thumbup:

 

[DownrangeFuture]

Oh ya it would be a blast to do but mentioning the frame its a unibody car would they even let one on the track? I dont know how the rules go on something like that

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In the low mod/no mod series sure. But it depends on the track. Dirt tracks tend to be of the "outlaw" persuasion anyway.

All they'd require for the super modified division, body-wise, is removable panels so emergency personell can get to you, the windows/lights removed, a roll cage installed, and some sort of race approved 5-point harness. You are allowed to add on a removable, lightweight upper section, but it's not required.

And usually at amatuer days on paved tracks, anything that won't leak oil or other fluids on the track is fine. Just like in motorcycle racing. They're often done on the same tracks. You should watch some of the street super modified motorcycle dirt track racing. They can drift those bad boys sideways just like a car.

Now association sanctioned races usually have stricter rules. Like the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing who does a lot more than the Nextel Cup, Nationwide Series, and Craftsman Series. There are wheelen, semi-pro stock, semi-pro super modified, etc. But usually only guys hoping to go somewhere race in those. The rest just do it for fun and if they break even at the end of the year in winnings, they throw a party. I usually won back my entrance fees, but the car was a loss each year.

It's okay, he liked building them, and I liked... GO FAST, TURN LEFT! WOO!!!1! :BLAA:

 

[ChevyFazer]

Many years ago my dad did a little bit of it all dirt track, asphalt and even a couple seasons at a figure 8 ive been to a few dirt races but just watching for fun never really looked into all the different classes or rules bit ya ive sceen a couple races on tv with old harleys racing around a dirt track and even on ice...now that looks like it takes skill

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[crazy dave]

well i think dirt track racing is out of the question even though i would probably have a blast....i live right next to nyc...no tracks like that around. Second the transmission was looked at maybe 4 years ago and i was told it was in great condition. Either way most of the parts i had replaced already and would hate to just get rid of it...its like throwing away about 2 grand. I guess it just needs some thinking. I appreciate everyones advice

 

[ChevyFazer]

Another way to look at it...if you were to sell as is you might get $500 after all the $ you have already spent. If u have no other cage and need or want one thats maybe another $3000 for something that you dont know how reliable it is vs spending maybe half of that to get your cavi back in good running order....another big bite of food for thoughtthought

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[crazy dave]

Another way to look at it...if you were to sell as is you might get $500 after all the $ you have already spent. If u have no other cage and need or want one thats maybe another $3000 for something that you dont know how reliable it is vs spending maybe half of that to get your cavi back in good running order....another big bite of food for thoughtthought

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thats what i was trying to say...i put way more money into it already to sell it for a maybe $500. im already past the point of no return lol

 

[ChevyFazer]

I get it..its not just your baby but at this point its almost financialy a bad choice not to

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[04fizzer]

I had to rebuild the motor in my boat twice now. The first time it was from a broken piston (shop over-bored it the last time it was apart because of a broken wrist pin...a known problem for this motor). We had the cylinders bored to .030 over, decked the block and head, and turned the crank to clean it up. All that goodness, plus a new oil pump, cost about $2000, and that's just the machining cost. My father-in-law and I did all the hard work of pulling and stripping the motor.

 

[DefyInertia]

If money is an object, get rid of it; it's a cavalier. Next time don't dump money into a cavalier.

 

[GTPAddict]

We have a customer that loves his 1984 Ford Escort. Edmunds has a 1990 Escort priced at $500, this one might go for $100.

I said that to tell you this...

He brought the car in one day about 3 years ago fresh from the transmission shop. He just had the transmission replaced and now it was banging around. We replaced a trans mount and he was happy. He spent about $1800 at the trans shop IIRC.

About 6 months later the A/C compressor locked up. He wanted it fixed, so for about $800 he was chillin again

3 months later the head gasket blew. He wanted it fixed although we told him the engine was worn out. He wanted the head fixed, saying the bottom end was in good shape. $1500 and he's running again

About a year later a rod started knocking, now he needs an engine. This time his bill was closer to $3000 - his wife damn near beat the hell out of him in the parking lot (she had no idea what the cost was going to be until they picked up the car) for spending that much on this car.

He also had other problems that were smaller repairs, $200 here, $400 there. All in all he spend enough with us in 3 years to buy the car 10 times over. The car new was around $7000 (trying to remember the first Escort commercials).

I just hate to see someone dump money in to a car they would not get it back out of if someone totaled it out. This happened to another customer. We installed a new transmission in a car that was barley worth the cost, and it was totaled out the next day (dude ran a red light and T-boned her). Not sure whatever happened with that one, but I'm sure they didn't get all their money back.

I understand the whole baby thing, believe me I do. Just be careful.

 

[ChevyFazer]

We have a customer that loves his 1984 Ford Escort. Edmunds has a 1990 Escort priced at $500, this one might go for $100.

I said that to tell you this...

He brought the car in one day about 3 years ago fresh from the transmission shop. He just had the transmission replaced and now it was banging around. We replaced a trans mount and he was happy. He spent about $1800 at the trans shop IIRC.

About 6 months later the A/C compressor locked up. He wanted it fixed, so for about $800 he was chillin again

3 months later the head gasket blew. He wanted it fixed although we told him the engine was worn out. He wanted the head fixed, saying the bottom end was in good shape. $1500 and he's running again

About a year later a rod started knocking, now he needs an engine. This time his bill was closer to $3000 - his wife damn near beat the hell out of him in the parking lot (she had no idea what the cost was going to be until they picked up the car) for spending that much on this car.

He also had other problems that were smaller repairs, $200 here, $400 there. All in all he spend enough with us in 3 years to buy the car 10 times over. The car new was around $7000 (trying to remember the first Escort commercials).

I just hate to see someone dump money in to a car they would not get it back out of if someone totaled it out. This happened to another customer. We installed a new transmission in a car that was barley worth the cost, and it was totaled out the next day (dude ran a red light and T-boned her). Not sure whatever happened with that one, but I'm sure they didn't get all their money back.

I understand the whole baby thing, believe me I do. Just be careful.

I shouldnt have red that...I have nightmares after reading horror stories lol especially ones that are true

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[08fz6]

ok thanks for all opinions so fatr...ill just do a little research and see whats better. the car has 215,000 miles on it. brand new battery alternator, starter, brakes and rotors, and an exhaust system used literally .5 miles...decisions decisions

If you haven't hardly used any of the parts that you mentioned you have already installed, what are they worth to part it out? That may be a good choice as well and then buy a different car. Just a thought...

 

[crazy dave]

We have a customer that loves his 1984 Ford Escort. Edmunds has a 1990 Escort priced at $500, this one might go for $100.

I said that to tell you this...

He brought the car in one day about 3 years ago fresh from the transmission shop. He just had the transmission replaced and now it was banging around. We replaced a trans mount and he was happy. He spent about $1800 at the trans shop IIRC.

About 6 months later the A/C compressor locked up. He wanted it fixed, so for about $800 he was chillin again

3 months later the head gasket blew. He wanted it fixed although we told him the engine was worn out. He wanted the head fixed, saying the bottom end was in good shape. $1500 and he's running again

About a year later a rod started knocking, now he needs an engine. This time his bill was closer to $3000 - his wife damn near beat the hell out of him in the parking lot (she had no idea what the cost was going to be until they picked up the car) for spending that much on this car.

He also had other problems that were smaller repairs, $200 here, $400 there. All in all he spend enough with us in 3 years to buy the car 10 times over. The car new was around $7000 (trying to remember the first Escort commercials).

I just hate to see someone dump money in to a car they would not get it back out of if someone totaled it out. This happened to another customer. We installed a new transmission in a car that was barley worth the cost, and it was totaled out the next day (dude ran a red light and T-boned her). Not sure whatever happened with that one, but I'm sure they didn't get all their money back.

I understand the whole baby thing, believe me I do. Just be careful.

I could see exactly where you are coming from, but lets say you had enough money to only get another used car. Would you rather get another used car where once again you may have to replace every part you replaced on the other car or replace the 1 part you know needs repair knowing the other parts are pretty new. This is the reason im stuck because both sides makes sense in their own way.

 

[dxh24]

Sell it and get one of these!

(woman not included) :rof:

I own a 2002 cavalier, love the hell out of it (manual only way to go).
Personally i might invest in a new "baby". As much as you love it... the rest of the car still has 200000 miles on it, you'll just end up spending more and more on it until you're too broke to fix it, and it ends up in your backyard again

 

[GTPAddict]

I could see exactly where you are coming from, but lets say you had enough money to only get another used car. Would you rather get another used car where once again you may have to replace every part you replaced on the other car or replace the 1 part you know needs repair knowing the other parts are pretty new. This is the reason im stuck because both sides makes sense in their own way.

What kind of money do you have to spend? I put an engine and a transmission in my 1998 GTP within 2 years of each other. I did most of the work myself, so this probably made a difference in the decision I would have made, but if I had it to do over again I'd do the same thing. I've got almost $5k in those two things, the car is probably worth about that at the time.

Hard decision for sure, good luck either way!!

 

[crazy dave]

right now about 1500 but still saving up. like i said i have a family friend that is going to do it with me so i wouldnt be paying typical labor charges.

 

[ChevyFazer]

This is kindof one of those damed if you do damed if you dont stuck between a rock and a hard place situations. Who knows you might get lucky and repair your car and it take you another 100k or maybe 2 days after your done it falls apart. Might get lucky and pick up a $1500 car off craigslist that is in perfect mechanical condition and it take you another 100k or the same thing and a week after getting it the motor blows. Its kind of a crapshoot either way, me personally just the fact that you have already invested a good chunk of change in the car to get it going before this happened I would rebuild it and try my luck on that instead of calling it a loss and possibly buying someone elses loss. But if you do rebuild it and shortly after something else major happens.....thats where I would draw the line and cut my losses

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[Marthy]

as far as i found there is 1 motor with 90,000 miles on it...i believe in WI...local salvage yard has one for $825. Not sure how many miles are on it



I would love to drop one of those in my car lol

I just went through the motion few weeks ago with my Suzuki. $850.00 for the engine and another $200.00 for shipping. If you think the car worth it and you can do the job yourself, do it.

 

[The Toecutter]

As a profesional mechanic I refer to FWD cars like your Cavalier as DISPOSABLE cars if you get more than 36,000 miles out of one you got your moneys worth!! Its a vehicle I would'nt even consider swapping the engine for a customer because it will become a Boom-a-Rang of come back's and endless repairs,you have dug a deep enough hole allready,and beleive me if you push forward to revive the car it's gonna get a whole lot deeper with NO Bottom!! sell it for scrap and move on,before it gets worse. :BLAA: :rockon: :thumbup: