I scooped this up today in the cities. I drove up there not knowing at all what I was going to look at, but I brought my dolly & cash and was willing to go home empty handed. The girl had put an ad up on craigslist that she had a 40th SSEi but something was wrong with it and it died in her driveway or something. Even after emailing her and asking deliberate questions, she just wouldn't answer me. So, I decided to just drive up there and investigate for myself, 2 hours away.

I pulled up and instantly saw the drooping rocker molding with rust, and I'm like crap... its gonna be a piece.

I asked her if it ran and drove, and he said yes... (ok, why didn't you tell me that then?)

I took it for a short 10 mile test drive and noticed lots of problems, but it did drive.

Got back and did some negotiating. We had originally agree'd on $600, but there was no way I was paying that. I asked her bottom dollar, she said $500. I looked at the car for another 10 minutes, hoping to make her impatient. It worked. I came back at $400 and she said sold. Loaded it up and I was out of there. The roads were wet, so thats why the car got so blasted. I hope to wash it tomorrow if it doesn't snow.

Known good:
It runs and drives
The rims are in fairly good condition compared to the car.
The front tires are new.
The windows are professinally tinted... look like 35% or maybe darker. You can see my car in the background, thats 50%
Car came with new brake pads in the back seat, along with a spare Coils, ICM & plate.
All the door light lens' are intact!

Known problems:
The engine runs, but has a miss or some other issue. The check engine light is on, showing TPS & CPS codes, but they said they replaced those already. We'll see about that.
The trans shifts funny on the 1-2 shift, but that might be because of how the engine is running bad.
The supercharger doesn't make any boost. (the guy claims they haven't added the "lube" yet)
The obvious rust on the rocker molding issue. The other side is fine.
The hood has a dent on the top, not huge, but noticeable.
The entire car is covered in scratches. Hard to tell in these pics, but its pretty bad. It definately wasn't a babied 40th. A good detailing might fix some, but not all.
The trunk was broken into at one point, and the latch assembly is broken. I haven't even opened the trunk to look yet, its bungied shut from the inside. Also a small patch of rust wanting to start above the keyhole.
The exhaust is louder than it should be, might be a leak in front of the muffler. The exhaust tips are missing.
Antenna is bent.
The interior is filthy, but not much is broken. It should just need a good haro cleaning.
218k miles.

So, the big question. Part it or fix it?

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Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 55k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 95k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 260k | Official Bonneville Hauler

Sorry, Andrew, but I can't see you selling that anytime soon for anything more than you paid. I'd part it (and give me the top swap )

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2013 A4 P+ ------------------ Glacier White Metallic
6MT, Sport Pkg, JHM Stage 1 Clutch/LWFW, JHM Short Shifter, JHM HFC, USP SS Clutch Line, CR-15 Strut Bar, Alu Kreuz, BFI Shift Knob, EC Trans Mount Insert, VCDS tweaks.

Highly disagree there. Yes, it needs work, but thats what I'm gonna give it.

_________________
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 55k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 95k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 260k | Official Bonneville Hauler

I will reserve my vote until you check out that rust. If the rust is just surface and can be cleaned up, I would say fix and sell. If it is deep and take a lot of work to fix, I would say part it.

Well, knowing you, you probably could I know I couldn't. What I'd do before you make up your mind is to figure out the TPS and Boost issues and see if they're easy to fix, and make sure the tranny's not going. I'd say if you could fix it up for less than 500 bucks, I'd fix it up.

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2013 A4 P+ ------------------ Glacier White Metallic
6MT, Sport Pkg, JHM Stage 1 Clutch/LWFW, JHM Short Shifter, JHM HFC, USP SS Clutch Line, CR-15 Strut Bar, Alu Kreuz, BFI Shift Knob, EC Trans Mount Insert, VCDS tweaks.

Its definately not surface rust. The piece where the rocker molding mounts to is gone. My thoughts were to possibly cut the rocker section of my 96 shell and bring it to my body guy to weld on. It wouldn't have to look perfect as its covered.

_________________
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 55k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 95k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 260k | Official Bonneville Hauler

Sounds like a good plan.

At 218k you know there's not alot of mileage left without some major engine repair work to be done. The rust will be an issue and if the trunk has only been bunjee'd shut I am afraid to see that area. While a 40th would be sweet to have, I personally think you could find a better candidate to start with.

Little faith you guys have...

The trunk is pretty bad.

I'm thinking of welding in a steel plate there and mounting to that. Would even be sturdier than stock.

_________________
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 55k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 95k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 260k | Official Bonneville Hauler

Was someone trapped in there and hacked the latch off with the tire iron or something? Jeez...

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WHITE WHINE - 1992 SSE Supercharged 236.26 ci (.040 Over) 15.090 at 90.2 MPH on old engine w/ slipping trans & melted O2 sensor - Gen 3 M62 and matching TB, Gen 2 Pully, Zillamotorsports Ported LIM, YT 1.72 Roller Rockers, SII FPR & Injectors, Hypertech Thermomaster chip w/ 160 Thermo, TransGo Shift Kit, Infinity/Pioneer Speakers & a 10" Alpine Type R Sub, all the watts, 140 amp Alternator, Ricepipe CAI w/ heatshield, Pilot Angel Eye Foglights, Clear Corners, '02 17" Chrome Bent 5's, Magnaflow F-Body Muffler and Hi-flo Cat, Ceramic Coated Ported Exhaust Manifolds, Fan Override, Monroe Reflex struts, red calipers
2009 G8 GT - Sport Red Metallic, loaded, SOLO Axlebacks, Rotofab Intake, Tuned, autodim mirror, removed intake manifold cover, HSV GTS triple gauge pod, two tone red-hot shifter and HSV SuperSport steering wheel, GXP rear sway bar and diffuser, 3.45 diff and various Camaro suspension bits, LED Taillights

Seriously? I turn away from the computer for 1 minute and you already found another Bonneville...either my broadband is really slow or you're really fast.

I like the idea of using the 96 shell to fix the car, but the seats look trashed, I've never dealt with AL7s so I don't know if they can be revived.

_________________

i'd fix it, then sell it, sure, it will take work, but your good at this stuff, thinking of all the other cars you sold and fixed.... why not keep doing it??!!

_________________
-Juan

No bonnie!
93 s10 ex cab: 2.8: t5: exhaust: tbi mods. 5.3, 76mm, and a D.r cam on a stand

1 of 637

Looks like it can clean up with a bit of investment.

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Jerry /// Past: 95 SSEi (June 2010 COTM) -- 04 GXP (July 2011 COTM)
91 Honda Civic Wagon DX 2WD (fuelly) -- 208,000km -- 92hp -- Autocross Warrior
09 Lexus LS460 AWD -- 94,000km -- Daily Driver
09 White Hot G8 GT -- 155,000km (fuelly) -- LS3 Cam -- GM LS3 CNC Ported Heads -- Kooks 1 3/4" Long Tube Headers -- Solo Catback Midsection -- Hooker Maxflow Mufflers -- Pat G Tune -- Rotofab Intake -- Tein S-Tech Springs -- GXP FE3 Dampers -- BMR Subframe Cradle Inserts -- BMR Subframe Connectors -- Forgestar F14 Gold 18x9 +40 -- Michelin Pilot Super Sport 245/45/18 -- Maverick Man Carbon Fiber Spoiler

Too much work for me, but you can do it..

_________________

Steve
Was - 1998 SSEi - 128,000 mi. ---- SOLD----
Was - 2003 Cadillac DeVille DTS - 91,000 mi. ----SOLD----
Is - 2008 Cadillac STS AWD Luxury, Black/Black.
2008 Ford Fusion SEL, - Midnight blue - Black leather int.
2005 Buick Lacrosse CXL, Silver - Black leather Int.

Well Andrew, that car is quite beat, but being I love those cars, color and all (not biased at all, lol) and seeing the work you do, I would love to see you revive it and make it look new.

PS. or sell it to me, and I will swap all the stuff into mine to make it an SSEi lol

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1997 SSE 40th Aniv. Dark Cherry Met., 35% tint all around, Chrome T-Stars, stock everything else

<---wants the rims if you part out

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-Matt

Henry, he found it because you posted it.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

lol really, I was unaware, but how I've been doing this week, that's not surprising.

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1997 SSE 40th Aniv. Dark Cherry Met., 35% tint all around, Chrome T-Stars, stock everything else

I honestly think you should try and fix it up to sell it. It don't have to be perfect, it likely won't go for much more then $800 all said and done anyways with the miles on it.

Clean the snot out of that engine, clean the interior like you always do.... you know the drill...

I bet you can make a couple hundred bucks off it faster by fixing / selling then by parting and it will probably be the same or less work.

_________________
Ryan

2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD!
2002 Bonneville SE - The Mutt Complete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD
2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH
1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one

FIX IT!!!

most of that stuff can be fixed very easy, the rocker and the trunk can be fixed super cheap if you supply the new metal of your shell, the metal in the trunk can likely be hammered and dollied back into shape and welded where it tore.. I could see you making a Grand off this one..

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2009 Phantom Metallic G8 GTS
Appearance; Custom Engine Cover | HSV GTS Spoiler | GXP Front bumper | GXP rear diffuser | HSV GTS Triple Gauges with Dash/Console conversion(First in North America) | HSV GTS Sport Steering Wheel | 20% tint | Holden 6.0 Litre V8 Badges | VE Chrome Lugnut Caps | Blacked out Window & Grill Chrome | V6 door handles | Tinted Tails/Front Side Markers
Performance; Roto Fab CAI | SLP PowerFlow axlebacks | X-Pipe(mid muffler/resignator delete)
Handling; XA Coilovers

12.9199 @ 106mph
1992 SSEi