LT4 Need advice on a LT4 purchase

[Gman]

I'm looking at an LT4 coupe for possible purchase and I could use some educated opinions. The car is a black on black coupe w/ 88k miles, Bose premium sound, new tires, chrome sawblades, and is a 2-owner car. The car is in excellent condition inside and out and has no oil control problems that I could see. Engine, trans, clutch, etc. seem very tight. Window glass is perfect. I should be able to pick the car up for 11,500. I ran a Carfax and it came back clean. The mileage scares me a bit, but the car runs great. I would very much appreciate your thoughts...

 

[wx briefer]

If the car is as it appears, and should you decide not to buy it, let me have the owner's phone number, please.

 

[Vettelt193]

That seems waaaaay to cheap for that car. Make sure something isn't wrong. LT4 cars have values that are mileage based, but 88k is not that high to warrant 11,500. that is a steal to say the least. I am asking $20k for my car, granted it is a CE, and has about half the miles, but wow, 11,500 is cheap cheap cheap!

 

[Huffer]

LT4

I gladly paid 11K for a '94 with a few more miles about a year ago. I thought I got a deal but if I hadnt bought the '94 and was still looking, I'd try to beat you out of this one ?;7)

Drive it and if it drives good, throw the money at them and run. Wait, you gotta at least try to get a deal of a lifetime. Offer 10K just to see how KraZ they are. Let me know how it comes out.

Huffer

 

[Gman]

Yeah, this does have a "too good to be true" ring to it. I've seen the car only once and it was raining. I drove it 2 or 3 miles but didn't want to wring it out in the rain. I'm meeting the guy later today and I'll really take a close, careful look. I'll let you know what happens. Oh, and Huffer, if it passes the test, rest assured I'm going to go for the gold...:cool

 

[jrp]

Gman,

I'm no expert, but I just bought an LT4 (pick it up tonight) with 45k miles but it needs tires. My seller was asking $16,500, and in 2 or 3 months of scanning ads nationwide, I didn't see anything near that low, even for the LT1's. A couple ads were asking $17,500, but those cars had nearly double the mileage. Most were around $20,000.

I'm happy with the deal I got, but yours is making me wonder! If your seller is willing to let it go for that little, I'd be a little more wary of hidden problems. If you get it checked out as others have suggested, you'll be OK. Good luck!

jrp

 

[Gman]

OK, here's the skinny on the car. The seller took a recent road trip and the mileage is now a tick over 90k. The a/c just quit working, not a problem for me, a good friend is in the business. I really wrung the car out tonight ( man, these things are sweet ) and the engine and drivetrain seem extremely tight. The car is virtually rattle free. None of the shocks are showing leaks. All guages are reading normal and the cooling fans are fine. Brakes were done 4k ago so no problem there. Lights are in perfect working order and the lenses are exc. as is the Bose Gold, even the antenna works. All power equipment works. I jacked the car up ( yep, brought the floor jack with me ) and found no leaks or damage anywhere. It does need a belt and hoses. The paint has a small rock chip on the front of the left fender ( pinhead size ) a small vertical scratch near the left "gill" and has some light swirl marks. There are a few small chips on the mirrors and one on the windshield. All exterior badges are good. The weatherstrip is not torn but is showing age. It has a painted roof that is tight and has no problems. Interior wise, one of the Bose gold emblems are missing in the rear and it's missing the small plastic piece behind the tilt lever ( I believe there should be one there??). The plastic, console and leather are all in great shape, but the car ( especially the interior ) needs a detail badly. The seats work as they should. The chrome sawblades are beginning to peel slightly along the outer edges. Annoying, but liveable for now. The engine compartment also needs a full cleaning. Quite honestly, it will take a week of nights and weekends to detail the car. So far, I feel the seller has been forthright with me. I saw the receipt for the tires, and they have 4k on them and look good. As I mentioned before, the Carfax came back clean. The seller said he is homesick and wants to leave Georgia asap. He brought it to Carmax and they made him an offer. I figured they really lowballed him so I did too. I offered him 9700.00 and we settled on an even 10k. Yep, your read that right. The deal is not complete and won't be until this weekend. I'm very pleased but won't be happy until it's in my garage ( I hope I'm not jinxing myself by talking here.) Hell, it could end up being a money pit but who here wouldn't take what I feel is an educated risk? I don't know about the deal of a lifetime Huffer, but I'll let you know in about a year...

jrp, this is the third LT4 I've found for less than 13k although they all had at least 80k miles. The first two I called about were sold. This car is by no means a show car, but I buy my cars to drive and this one will be a hoot!

 

[6 Shooter]

Buy it and drive it like You Stole It!

 

[Huffer]

LT4

The things you see needing attention are stuff youd do even if it was a 20K car. You lucky dog! And I agree, drive it. At 10K, you got a free 40 to 50K miles of driving value free. Meaning, 10K should have got you a 140K to 150K LT4.

 

[Gman]

Yeah Huffer, a lot of it is just piddly stuff. I'm excited, I've been without a 'Vette for 3 years!!

6-shooter...will do...

 

[vetteguy]

Congrats, sounds like a good deal. As you said, time will tell. Enjoy it!! Guy

 

[froggy47]

Heck of a deal, I paid 18k for mine (49k miles). Good luck & enjoy.

 

[Gman]

Well, it looks like I'll have the car Monday night. I can't wait to get it in the garage and get going on it.

I do have a question for you guys that I haven't found an answer to. Is there a plastic cover on the back of the tilt wheel lever where it attaches to the steering column? It looks like there may be a small trim piece missing that covers the wiring. The wiring is not hugely visible as it is just a small area that faces the dash.

 

[Minnesota Fats]

AS a new vet owner it sounds like a good deal. I would tkae to a body shop and and make sure it is straight and maybe to a good mech subject to deal. I bought 94 black on black with 79,000 for 12,000 last week.
Good Luck and enjoy as I sure do.

 

[Minnesota Fats]

Also it's a used auto and you always need to do some work it seems like.

 

[Gman]

Fats, the car has had no paintwork done and is very straight. It also had a clean Carfax. I do anticipate age related problems, but that goes with the territory. I've had a c4 previously and that helps a great deal.

 

[Huffer]

Cover missing,

Either mine is missing as well, or they didnt have one. A set of three wires (ribbon cable) are exposed. I thought the same thing about a cover missing. No biggy.

I've been looking at a '85 for my wife to drive instead of the C3. Just like the '84 I used to have and the '94 I have now, the floor is broke under the footwell. The '85 is broke bad enough you can see the carpet from underneath the car. The '84 and '94 were just cracked. It seems this is an area notorious for damage on these low slung cars. You might want to have a look see at yours.
I repaired both of my other cars with a fiberglass repair kit.

I think I'll pass on the '85. It's pretty rough. I'd pay $2500 for it but it will take a month of weekends to get it fixed up enough to be worthy of holding it's headlights high going down the road as a 'Vette. It was a kids car while at colledge, so I'm sure it was run hard and put up wet.

 

[Gman]

Thanks Huffer, it sounds like there was never a cover. I did feel around the lip of the plastic and couldn't feel any kind of a mounting point for a cover.

I haven't checked that area of the footwell, but I will.

I did talk to the seller this morning and grilled him on the a/c problem. It seems the blower slowed down and then ran intermittently for a while and then quit. I searched the forums for info, but couldn't find that exact problem. It sounds more like it's electrical/electronic to me. Maybe the controller or a relay. Any ideas?

I think I would pass on the '85 as well. It's cheap enough that he'll probably find another young gun to buy it and finish trashing it...too bad

 

[Huffer]

AC Blower,

The are three resistors in the blower housing. These resistors control 20 to 30 amps of current and make quit a bit of heat in the process. They put the resistor in the blower housing so the air from the blower cools them. The connectors however are outside the housing and they get pretty hot as well. My '84 had one of the spade connectors get loose and burn off. I cut the wire back an inch or so and reconnected it. It worked well.

The resistors are in front of the windsheild in the engine bay on the passengers side. These control all lower speeds except high. If the blower works on high and has trouble with the other speeds, I would suspect this area first. Easy to get to. Just like about everything else on these cars. I truely believe the engineers designed these cars for themselves. Late model Camaros have the engine back under the windshield so far a plug change or about any normal maintenance is almost imposible, These 'Vettes however have the engine in an easily accessable place. They even provide a nice big tire to sit on while you tinker. A chair provided,,,what a concept ?;7)

Who else has EVER done this?

 

[Gman]

Thanks, Huffer...

That's going to be my first project. Probably a good idea to pull the blower motor and clean and lube as well. I too have appreciated the tire seat in the past. Now, if only they could include hydraulic jack stands ala F1 cars...:cool