Rebuild or Junk it

[p0ps12]

Well, my 90 GT vert, just got 'totaled' by the insurance company. An electrical fire under the hood. All damage is under the hood, except for the air bag poppin'. Besides all the bells and whistles already installed, I'm leaning towards rebuilding. The insurance company wants to give me $4277 (less the bullitt wheels and tires)-$500 deductible. BUT, they said, if I want it, they'll give me $3799, and keep the car. The guesstimate to fix it came to $6500.

Whaddaya think?

 

[grey5.0beast]

rebuild it urself.

 

[jrichker]

It is a function of several things:

1.) How good are you at electrical stuff. If you can read diagrams and wire simple circuits, that's good. If electricty is like an unknown foreign language, that's bad. If you plan on paying someone else to do the electrical part, that is very bad.

2.) Do you have wheels to drive in the meantime?

3.) Do you have tools (DVM, terminal crimpers, soldering gun, etc) and a sheltered place to work on the car where it won't be in they way?

4.) Are there lots of junkyards in your area that are accessible year round? Some guys are up to their knees in snow long about this time.

5.) Do you have the finances to make it all come together?

The electrical system underwent some major changes after the 90 model year. If you try using parts from a 91 or later car, the job may be more difficult.

 

[p0ps12]

I have 2,3,4,5 covered. #1 would be the problem.

 

[grey5.0beast]

go carb, little to no wiring!

 

[jrichker]

I have 2,3,4,5 covered. #1 would be the problem.

The #1 is a deal breaker .

Time to get some education on a crash basis. Check your local library for books on basic electricity and go through them.

Amazon.com is a great place to search for books on electricity.

Then check out http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_g...keywords=automotive+electrical+&Go.x=8&Go.y=6 for some more book posiblities. Use the ISBN number and your local library can get you a loaner copy of almost any of the books for free.

Then see http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiB..._us/0900823d/80/1d/db/3c/0900823d801ddb3c.jsp and carefully study ALL the information under the Heading Chassis Electrical, Basic Electricity – Understanding & Troubleshooting.

Here's a book that will get you started with how the Ford electronic engine control or "computer" works.

Ford Fuel Injection & Electronic Engine Control 1988-1993 by Charles Probst :ISBN 0-8376-0301-3.

It's about $20 from Borders.com see http://www.amazon.com/ . Select boo...re simple circuits to do what you want to do.

 

[PJB]

Keep the car and part it out. Youll easilly make back the $478 difference between them keeping it and you keeping it. Or you could put the parts on another car.

$6500 can easily get you a nice clean fox body with low mileage and no major issues.

 

[89white50]

I say keep the car, use ur wheels in the meantime and just spend the rest on rebuilding/learning...

 

[p0ps12]

Thanks guys,
Other than the dirty looks from the 'wife', I'm making arrangements to bring it home, strip off the burnt parts and rebuild it. I'm retiring next spring and it'll give me something to do, in the garage far away from the house. Most of the damage is electrical, plus hoses, belt etc. funny how it was concentrated to the passenger side. I'd like to figure out how that happened. My daughter had been driving it and when she came out from the store, smoke was pouring out from the hood. Luckily it was parked. Couldn't get the hood open cuz of the heat (I got there before the F.D.) but we sprayed 3 extinguishers, mostly thru the snorkel hole. It kept flamin' back up.
AND, I got some friends ready to help too.

 

[Nopantz]

 

[p0ps12]

Thanks man. It'll help a lot.

 

[MyBad70]

throw a carb on it. pretty easy to do. anything youd need help with can be found online.

 

[iwashmycar]

get some pics....might make or break the decisions on here.

most likely you should get it back...sounds like a good deal

 

[p0ps12]

Pics will be in shortly. Really looks worse than it is.

 

[stykthyn]

if the bosy is in good shape I say rebuild