Jerry Oleson
Well-known member
Might there be any brand new but slightly water damaged cars available to be built into SCCA race cars from manufacturers?
WATER DAMAGE
- Thread starter Jerry Oleson
- Start date
Jerry Oleson
Well-known member
I'm specifically thinking of Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Fiat etc. that can no longer be sold but the MFG may see a benifit of turning them over to prospective race car builders. Think B-Spec !!!
Depends on the insurance company that ends up with them. After Katrina and number of them were crushed because they did not want them end up on the rebuildable market. I know the local dismantler ended up with a large number of semi loads of new GM trucks that they dismantled for the parts. I know they found fish in unexpected places. They had to act fast otherwise the salt water damage would have been too great. I know they had to keep a inventory on the parts and what happened to them. They were also limited on what parts they could sell.
Tom Broring
Well-known member
QCSA and Insurance Auto Auctions are also big, in addition to Copart. All three have on-line bidding, but you first have to set up an account with them under a licensed business. Also, you generally have to pick up at the yard of the sale within a couple of days after purchase. One way to get around this is if you are friendly with a local salvage yard who already has an account with the auction yards. They may be able to broker the purchase for you. Some big salvage yard even send trucks to these far away locations to buy stock and may be able to transport home for you. All the flood vehicles from the East coast will probably have a salvage only title due to the flood and will be listed on a federal flooded vehicle database. This is not an issue for a race car, but makes them pretty much parts only from a resale standpoint. Keep in mind that computers are likely junk and maybe even wiring harnesses if they were exposed to salt water. Also, they can have there own crop of mold and bacteria from the water exposure along with anything else that was also in the nearby water. You should use gloves and mask when taking these apart until they can be properly cleaned and dried.
Still, this could be a great opportunity for a sound race car. There are many portential cars listed around NJ and NY.
Still, this could be a great opportunity for a sound race car. There are many portential cars listed around NJ and NY.
JasonIsley99
Well-known member
Jerry Oleson said:
I am not sure a floater would a make a great BS car... You have to retain the factory ECU and most of the original electronics, which could be shot from the water. Plus the idea of having to rebuild/replace the stock engine and trans due to water damage, when there are no "allowances" for any engine work seems like a waste of money. I doubt you would save much by the time you are done.
On the other hand, you start with a solid used car and you have interior, AC and audio equipment you can sell.
Now if you want to turn a floater in to an HP car go for it.
Protech Racing
Well-known member
I buy on Co- part. With current account. I would be happy to pickup anything in FL up to about Atlanta.
My 99Miata is from there as are some VW parts cars.
My 99Miata is from there as are some VW parts cars.
Jerry Oleson
Well-known member
Jason, any contacts? HP is actually what I was thinking, no stock ecu, interior, engine rebuild problems, could be a way to resurect Jamie's car also.
JasonIsley99
Well-known member
Jerry Oleson said:
I don't know anyone that deals in floaters.
Jamie's car is now a paperweight.
Jay Griffin
Well-known member
My first CRX was a water damage car. A co-worker of mine sank his six month old Si in a canal back in 1986 and subsequently offered it to me, mainly because he had no idea how to get it back on the road.
That car had zero body damage but ECU was toast, mainly because the ignition was left on while it was in the water, was ~$600 to replace at the time. I had to rebuild every one of the electric motors (except the starter) in it before they would operate reliably but I drove it on the street for most of that year. Later that year I decide to sell my FV and put a bolt in cage in it. Ran the first club race on the new (at the time) Sebring club course in November of '86 in SSB and have been in a CRX ever since. I even drove that one on the street for another five years until we put it in ITA.
That car had zero body damage but ECU was toast, mainly because the ignition was left on while it was in the water, was ~$600 to replace at the time. I had to rebuild every one of the electric motors (except the starter) in it before they would operate reliably but I drove it on the street for most of that year. Later that year I decide to sell my FV and put a bolt in cage in it. Ran the first club race on the new (at the time) Sebring club course in November of '86 in SSB and have been in a CRX ever since. I even drove that one on the street for another five years until we put it in ITA.