sbodiford said:Considering buying a 95 Corvette. Looked at it yesterday and it has a pretty hefty knock at what seems to be the very top of the engine. Knock is immediate at start up.. once car idles, it goes away... owner is asking 3k for it (does not know what is wrong with it). It has 120k on it... and some decent papers to show recent work, etc.. Just not sure if this is a lifter, bearings, rod, problem with oil flow, etc...
Worst case scenario, if it needs to rebuilt.... what kind of money am I looking at?
Have a video but don't see how I can attach...
New to the site... any feedback is greatly appreciated! Steve n Florida
Step back and think logically, if the only issues the engine may be trash,or it might be a minor issue and you need to determine which condition is true, and your willing and able to do the work to fix it its a damn bargain at that price, especially knowing that it may be something rather easy to repair like a damaged rocker or lifter or cam, the whole engine may not need replacing, and without inspection and detailed diagnoses your guessing at this point, it seems to me your thinking of buying an un-known quantity here but with a good many indications pointing to a darn good value or bargain, If the 1995 corvette looks good, inside (good interior and gauges work) and out,(body and paint ,glass look ok) and the car drives good (decent brakes tires, shocks , lights etc.)
and the only issue is an engine knock that,s intermittent , with the corvette, priced at $3K,
Id jump at the chance to purchase the car
, I dream about finding bargains like that!
as an engine rebuild is just not that difficult
and may not even be required
I can,t even remember all the engines I,ve rebuilt over 5 plus decades
(I lost count but easily exceeding 160 plus engines)
but its been a bunch and while a few were total scrap most were mostly reusable parts.
yes it might take you a weekend or two, the key here is the condition of the rest of the cars interior and exterior condition as engine rebuilds are just not that complicated or expensive or time intensive in most cases, but even minor but extensive body and interior work can get damn expensive fast, a combination of a few things like exterior paint ,worn seats,bad rugs, bad door panels, a cracked dash, or roof, defective gauges , could easily cost way more than the engine refresh.
for the one guy in every 10,000 that may not remember what a 1995 vette looks like heres two pictures I found on the net
yes I know half of the guys would rather be rolled in broken glass and set on fire rather than read through links and sub-links but for those guys that want fast dependable cars, heres some reading
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ty-thats-key-in-building-a-good-engine.11682/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/matching-parts-and-a-logical-plan.7722/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/bare-minimum-tools.11026/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/precision-measuring-tools.1390/#post-52469
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-calculators-and-basic-math.10705/#post-46582
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/finding-a-machine-shop.321/
http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/ccrp-0909-lt1-engine-build/
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/1999/09/rebuilding-the-chevrolet-lt1-engine-2/
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/0506htp-lt1-high-mileage-reliable-build/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/bearing-clearances.2726/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/optispark-ignition-info.628/#post-52417
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...g-and-installing-connecting-rods-pistons.247/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...elated-part-numbers-and-info.6224/#post-19467
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...e-springs-and-setting-up-the-valve-train.181/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/oil-system-mods-that-help.2187/
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