Flip this car!

[Russell]

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4883363129.html

[Deaf Bob]

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4883363129.html

Your new car?

[Russell]

Your new car?

no that's my car its for sale. Got a guy coming to look at it this evening. Trying to get some money and space so I can start on "Project Consolidation"

[Russell]

Sold it! I stopped keeping track of what I had in it so I am going to say I got about what I had in it for it. I have some "let over" parts so I may end up making some money. Wheels. Tail lights. ps mirror. 6 cat h-pipe. Fender. Busted t45. I might keep the shifter.

[STINEY]

Congrats on the quick sale.

[Beagle]

Good News!

[Russell]

Dad got this 89 ranger from one of his friends who had bought it new. He didn't drive it much and it needed tires and brakes. We were going to flip it then my wife said she wanted it fast forward a couple years I think she ready to let go. It is in very good condition. Its %80 clean I can not decide if the other %20 will yield a higher sales price. What's an all original (rust free) 2.3 5 speed ranger with 116k miles a worth?




Edit: not all original I put a CD player in it for Jennifer, it had an after marker tape player when we got it.

[RAIV70Judge]

I'm just guessing, but maybe put a $1650 asking price? Decent mpg's should help it sell to a light truck buyer.

[Russell]

Sold it yesterday to the first guy that looked at it for $1950 figure I made about $400

[Russell]

What's that saying: You can't learn how to swim if you don't get your feet wet? Practice makes perfect? You have a to get back on the horse?
Anyway I am always looking for cars to buy. It's been over a year since I bought the Lighting. I didn't do a good job of keeping up with the cost. I replaced a few parts but most of it was time cleaning. I owned it for about 5 months. Hopefully I don't own this one that long. I expect it to cost more in parts. The plan is to track expenses better this time.
That's enough for now. Let's get on to my latest buy! 2012 Chevy Cruze LT 1.4 turbo automatic. 103k miles! The body is pretty good. Both rocker panels have some damage. I might try one of those color match spray bombs. Other wise just the normal door dings. It should buff out nice. Inside is in good condition but dirty. Little elbow grease and getting rid of the has not been driven smell it should be good. It does run and drive but the turbo is shot. Apparently it's a common problem with these 1.4s, I think the GM is around $550 and I saw a replacement center section for $150. there are lots of aftermarket turbos that range range in the middle. There is a list of things from the dealership that needs to be fixed that add up to move than the car is worth. So that's how I ended up with it. The PO decided only having one car in the household was better than fixing this one. Anyone with Cruze or 1.4turbo experience let me know the best way to get it back on the A to B trail.

[Russell]

Got the turbo off and split apart. Looks like the feed line coked up solid and the shaft broke off the exhaust wheel. There is a small grove in the cold side housing. Would you say it's junk, and get a whole new turbo, or run a little sand paper over it, and put a center section in it? It's hard to tell if the small ridge on the hot side is from the wheel or it's normal.

[Russell]

Things happen slowly around here. This is a flip car. But I am treating it as I am fixing it for my wife/sister/mother. I really didn't want to put a new Garrett turbo or an eBay/ China. I reached out to Blackbird Innovations he suggested a Mellet CHRA made in the UK. Shipping was fast it looked great. Other than me using the old o-ring I feel great about it.
Got it put back together yesterday and changed the oil and refilled the coolent today. Turbo is doing turbo things as far as I can tell. Engine runs smooth. The injectors seem loud?

Took it for a drive in the neighborhood today. Saw ~14# on my scan gauge!

Anyone know anything about these engines? It looks like it's leaking oil out of every gasket. Dealership said it needed a new intake because the built in valve was bad. Needs new valve cover and cam position seals. Etc, etc.

[Russell]

Well I guess I will catch this up.

I replaced the turbo CHRA, intake manifold, Valve cover, water pump, from brake pads. Replaced the aftermarket oil feed with GM one because the other started pumping oil out after a 1000 miles.

I drove it a bit while the ATS was down. Thought about keeping it decided to let it go. Listed it on Tuesday night. Got 25 messages. Showed it Wednesday night. Cash in hand Thursday morning!