Progress Thread Grover: Window motor replacement & OEM rebuild

FastDriver · Oct 27, 2017

Update: Original thread name: "On the hunt for my next fox" This thread started as a hunt across the fox market that led to an amazing fox. I really like the search & story, and I'm going to keep it going as the progress thread for my Reef Blue '93 GT, which I purchased from GroverDill in Nov'-Dec' of 2017. We had a little fun with the Stangnet boys by dragging it out a bit in this thread... Read on if interested.

I'm on the hunt for a fox with a nice suspension and brake package and preferably n/a that would be a fun track-day car at Laguna Seca, which is only about 15 minutes from my house. I'm also interested in a C6Z, potentially. However, I think it would be even more fun driving a Maximum Motorsport fox that's tens of thousands cheaper on Laguna Seca, because foxes are awesome and underrated and I'd be more inclined to push closer to the limits in a sub-15k car, as opposed to a $35k car.

I'd also be interested in one, at any price, with a clean black interior to swap with my project's ratty grey interior, or in a good deal on something that would be fun to grudge race for the 2 years I'll live in Cali, but wouldn't kill me on resale.

I'm actively scouring the online markets from San Fran down to LA and out to Vegas area looking for a good deal on anything. I bought and sold my last fox, "blackjack," for $6,500 and in the mean time had it for a year and a half, had a blast running it at the local dragstrip, and enjoying it on the occasional cruise.

This is our hobby, right? So, I'm just planning to use this thread to document the quest for my next fox, and feel free to chime in about the cars I'm most interested in or anything else. -Chris

FastDriver · Oct 27, 2017

Car #1 is potentially a good deal:

AFR 165 heads
JGP custom cam( .516-.531 lift 112 lobe)
Explorer Manifold

FMS shorty headers
MSD 6a ignition box and coil
March Ram Air intake
BBK 75mm throttle body
Ron davis radiator
FMS B or C springs (1" all around)
FMS control arms
KYB front struts
MMS caster plates
Tokico 5 way adjustable shocks
Kenny brown subframe connectors(welded)
HPM LCAs
3:55 gears
8.8 Eaton super duty posi
Hurst shifter
Corbeau vx200 sport seats
Lx taillights
Saleen wing

The most recent interest is this car <--link, on craigslist. It's been for sale for 22 days, has surface hatch rust at base of spoiler, a stock (really?) clutch, a check engine light until warm (?), and a small oil leak. That said, I see some pretty nice mods, notably about a 300 rwhp H/C/I setup. And, I quote the owner in our closing comments: "Ok, like I said I need it to move. Don't worry about what I have it listed at. Make an offer that is somewhat fair and it's yours."

I see it as a fun daily for a year or less. I think it would be fun to line up with more modern cars and would represent the fox-body decently if the clutch and T5 hold up. So what should I offer? I was thinking it might honestly go for $4,500. The market in LA has plenty of foxes lower than that, but most don't seem to be as nicely modded.

FastDriver · Oct 28, 2017

Car #2: This car looks like it's pretty close to a track day car, already. I imagine the blower would have heat soak issues at a track event. So, I could see swapping to GT40/Cobra/Exploder or Performer intake but the suspension and brakes are already there and the pics make the car look pretty good. Not sure if the sound system is worth the extra weight to me either.

I won't pay his asking, given that I'd need to swap things around on this car to get it where I want it, but I'm making an offer.

RaggedGT · Oct 28, 2017

Car #2 gets my vote,seems like, imho it’s in much better shape.

Plus I like that color

FastDriver · Oct 28, 2017

Oh damn! I forgot to link it. Yes, it's a much better car, but there's a huge price difference, too. It's listed for a buy-it-now on ebay for $12.5k: Link

Mustang5L5 · Oct 28, 2017

Car 2...but not for 12.5k. Maybe $9-10k tops

Noobz347 · Oct 28, 2017

That's the little Kenne Bell.

FastDriver · Oct 28, 2017

I shot an 8k offer and was considering upping to 9. I just don't want that blower & the stock trans takes away a lot IMO from a 10+k car.

Noobz347 · Oct 28, 2017

You should have no problem off-loading that blower as a complete kit.

FastDriver · Oct 28, 2017

What is your best guess at the rough value on the market?

@FoxMustangLvr any guesses?

Noobz347 · Oct 28, 2017

PM'd you

GroverDill · Oct 28, 2017

Have you seen these cars in person? I hope you are not randomly lowballing offers via email/text

Take this for what it is worth, I have sold a number of cars on CL over the years and in my opinion you are not making yourself out as a serious buyer.

When I sell cars

No offers except in person, emailed/texted offers are discarded
Offering 60% of asking price is a huge LOWBALL offer and would also be ignored

FastDriver · Oct 28, 2017

GroverDill said:
Have you seen these cars in person? I hope you are not randomly lowballing offers via email/text

Take this for what it is worth, I have sold a number of cars on CL over the years and in my opinion you are not making yourself out as a serious buyer.

When I sell cars

No offers except in person, emailed/texted offers are discarded
Offering 60% of asking price is a huge LOWBALL offer and would also be ignored

I respect that way of doing things, and I doubt that feeling is mutual. The offer I made on car #2 is an online only sight unseen auction. It's very hard to interact with the guy to ask questions and I'm obligated to follow through on the offer if it's accepted. But, that's the process on ebay. You either buy it now, or make an offer. There is no in-person negotiation expectation in the least.

My offers are never to offend, but are meant as the start of a negotiation process. Your strategy works fine for a guy who's local to you, but I'm looking 5-hours drive away. I can't afford to start the negotiation in person. And be honest, you and your buyer both know what you're willing to spend if a car is fairly represented. Asking price is just that, too. It's the start of the negotiation. There are a lot of folks who ask a very high price so that the initial offer comes in where they really want to sell.

Now, when I make an offer and it's accepted, I always follow through so long as the car was fairly represented. I bought my Corvette that way (in Ohio when I lived in Florida). I bought Blackjack that way (in New Jersey when I lived in Ohio). I bought my Saturn (8 hours away). And when I bought my truck locally (in Dallas), I made the offer in person because I could afford the loss of time if we weren't going to come to a deal.

Oh, and FWIW, my strategy for selling is to be absolutely firm with the price in the ad and to work down incrementally in the ad until it sells. When I get an offer, low-ball or otherwise, I just let them know how often I drop the price and by what increment. And in 6 weeks, if the <insert item> doesn't sell, it'll drop to the price you're offering. That way, I'm fairly confident it'll sell. The only time I take an offer that doesn't match is when its my next incremental drop and I'm ready to drop it anyway.

nelzfoxes · Oct 29, 2017

FastDriver said:
Oh, and FWIW, my strategy for selling is to be absolutely firm with the price in the ad and to work down incrementally in the ad until it sells. When I get an offer, low-ball or otherwise, I just let them know how often I drop the price and by what increment. And in 6 weeks, if the <insert item> doesn't sell, it'll drop to the price you're offering. That way, I'm fairly confident it'll sell. The only time I take an offer that doesn't match is when its my next incremental drop and I'm ready to drop it anyway.

I like your selling strategy. I have accumulated a bunch of stuff and sometimes I try to sell it on CL. I usually give up when the ad expires and there hasn’t been much interest. How long before each price drop?

FastDriver · Oct 29, 2017

1 or 2 weeks in most cases.

RaggedGT · Oct 29, 2017

Even with the little Kenne Bell and stock T-5, I bet it’s still a blast to run around in lol. But yeah,that price would run me off

FoxMustangLvr · Oct 30, 2017

FastDriver said:
What is your best guess at the rough value on the market?

@FoxMustangLvr any guesses?

I think that 93' Calypso is worth $10k+ all day. 61,000 miles on that car, been stored the last 13 years and just taken out and retuned along with new tires. It has quality parts on it and because it has the 155lph fuel pump and 24# injectors you can easily remove the KB supercharger and sell it for $2k with the FMU and use that money for an intake and pocket the rest.

I bet this car is a blast on the street just as it sits now but I do agree that the KB would have to go to make it a better track car.

FoxMustangLvr · Oct 30, 2017

RaggedGT said:
Even with the little Kenne Bell and stock T-5, I bet it’s still a blast to run around in lol. But yeah,that price would run me off

I agree that the car would be a blast but I do think the price is spot on for starting negotiations. If I wanted $10k for my car I would advertise it at $12k.

2000xp8 · Oct 30, 2017

Well, I could face some backlash around here for this comment, but since you mentioned the c6, why not consider the c5 zo6?
A lot less money than a c6 zo6, makes great NA power it's a great track and street car as it sits.
Might be the #1 bang for your buck used performance car there is.

Isn't laguna seca a fast track that's really tough on cars?

that calypso is a nice car, do you really want to turn a car like that into a track car?

I just think you need a better starting point, a car that was made for the track that you can improve on.

FoxMustangLvr · Oct 30, 2017

2000xp8 said:
Well, I could face some backlash around here for this comment, but since you mentioned the c6, why not consider the c5 zo6?
A lot less money than a c6 zo6, makes great NA power it's a great track and street car as it sits.
Might be the #1 bang for your buck used performance car there is.

Isn't laguna seca a fast track that's really tough on cars?

that calypso is a nice car, do you really want to turn a car like that into a track car?

I just think you need a better starting point, a car that was made for the track that you can improve on.

Not a bad suggestion but I think some people like the underdog story better. Taking a Foxbody that's notorious for handling and modifying for way less than these other cars and then beating them on race day just makes it that much sweeter IMO. When you go to the track there's already an ocean of Vette's so why not be different. There's no way your gonna beat everyone anyway unless you have unlimited funds and a team.

I watch Optima's search for the ultimate street car and always cheer on the Zephyre station wagon and Greg Biddlingmeier's Foxody. Greg does very well with this car in both AutoX and the road course.

Progress Thread Grover: Window motor replacement & OEM rebuild

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