Automotive Crossroads........What would you do???

[Fastbird]

On one hand, you have a Black 1993 Trans Am that currently is having a 383/D1SC setup being built. This car, other than the stereo and clutch (motor withstanding) is bone stock, down to the suspension bushings and rear end. The paint is rough too. To get this car to a respectable overall condition will take a LOT of money (it's not THAT bad but I'm very critical). But.......this car is my original toy car. The first car I've ever modded, the first car I ever even worked on myself. But, this car has been cursed, has fought me tooth and nail with everything I've ever tried to do to it, including never running right after a head/cam package and a new 355 motor.

And on the other hand, there's my 99 Corvette. My newest addition, my dream realized. Potential abounds in this car, from many angles.

So last night I was perusing the Corvette Forum when I saw that a supporting vendor there (APS) was having a sale. Their TD06 Twin Turbo kit for the C5 for $6995 DELIVERED to the 48 states from Australia. That's $1K off with free shipping. This kit will put down 550-600 RWHP on a STOCK ZO6 @ 7.5 PSI. I first stumbled across it a few weeks ago and have been DROOLING over it ever since.

I can get this kit. But in order to do that, I have to part ways with (I.E. part out) my black T/A. One side of me wants to do it because of how much money the T/A will require to be where I want it and I would plain nut myself to have twin turbo's on the Vette. The other side of me wants to remain true to my roots and keep the T/A. Then the realistic part of me realizes that 4 toys cars to include 2 Trans Am's is too many and something's gotta give. Now bear in mind that the 383 that's being built right now and the D1SC that I already have will eventually make their way into the Purple car, so I'm not completely abandoning the project.

So, what would you all do in the situation?

[Tru2Chevy]

That's a real tough call man. TT Vette would be a bad-ass toy, no doubt.....but like you said, that black car was the start of all this madness.

I say stick with the 'bird for now. I think you owe it to yourself and to her to get her running right, after all the drama that you've had with it over the last few years.

- Justin

[Rich189]

its a tough call tt vette would be sweet but the ta is the one and only... basically its gonna be your call like you said 4 toy cars somethings gonna have to give

[Fastbird]

I will add this. The wife and I are moving to IL in March. Once out there, our mortgage payment will be taking a slight hike, but we'll be taking about a $500 pay cut a month from where we are now, so the extra money for car modding goes bye bye real quick there. That's another thing that's having an impact on my decision right now, being that I wouldn't ahve the money to readily put the car to where I want it.

Thanks for the support guys. More and more I feel like I'm going to part the car (what's left of it anyway), and can't help but feel like a total sellout at the same time. I still have the purple car though!

[Mike]

i say get the turbo kit on the vette, you said your keeping the stroker motor and the blower, and you have another lt1 bird to put it in....if you part the black one which is an admitted headache, and use the money to do the vette right, and then slowly build the purple one, you will have 2 FINISHED and exciting toys, rather than 3 headaches....

[Rich189]

well being the financial situation i say part with the ta as well.... and hope the vette doesnt become a headache once turboed

[Fastbird]

Here's some more background. The purple car is essentially done. Suspension, 12 bolt, tranny (D&D), looks, it's all there. It's a head/cam setup right now. The suspensin is KYB AGX's up front and Bilstein HD's in the rear, Hypercoil springs, 1LE lower control arms, BMR sub-frames. The Strange 12 bolt is good to go also. That this car is ready for a bigger motor is only adding fuel to the fire. I could essentially drop in the new motor and go.

[35thls1ss19]

you seem like you kinda have your mind made up I would go TT vette

[foff667]

that twin turbo in a pretty stock vette CAN cause the other weak links in your vette to stand out...IRS, the M6 or A4 tranny, etc...parts will start breaking on it so you might be in the same position again. I will say I got to see the APS stuff at SEMA & it does look very nice & they have a very good rep so the kit itself would probably be fine...just don't be suprised if parts start breaking around it though with that extra 200-300hp


BTW guys heres the link to that APS kit: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1573786

[12secondv6]

TT C5

[Fastbird]

Originally Posted by foff667

that twin turbo in a pretty stock vette CAN cause the other weak links in your vette to stand out...IRS, the M6 or A4 tranny, etc...parts will start breaking on it so you might be in the same position again. I will say I got to see the APS stuff at SEMA & it does look very nice & they have a very good rep so the kit itself would probably be fine...just don't be suprised if parts start breaking around it though with that extra 200-300hp


BTW guys heres the link to that APS kit: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1573786

I fully realize that the added power will show weak points. But.......the Vette, unlike what the black T/A was, is more capable of handling the power on the stock components. The rear end issues don't usually rear their heads until you're trying to cut hard short times, the tranny can be hit or miss (It's an M6) though.

It wasn't the things that broke on the black car because other than the motor, nothing ever broke on it. It's got the whisper quiet stock 108K mile rear end even. It's more of the fact that to put the car back on the road where I would be happy with it, it's going to take at least another $15K. That car just wasn't ready to be at the point of having the kind of motor going in it. It would make a GREAT rolling chassis for someone who wants a completely stock car sans engine tranny with it only needing paint to look really good, but unless I can get a solid couple of grand out of it I'm going to part the car. I'm probably going to make a decision this weekend after spending a little time in the garage mulling it over.

[Frosty]

TT C5 FTW and no I'm not biased.

[Savage_Messiah]

the fact that you have the purple car built up leans me towards tt c5

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

Originally Posted by Savage_Messiah

the fact that you have the purple car built up leans me towards tt c5

SAme.

However, you realize that we are mostly biased, being called F-body owners assosc. for a reason

[qwikz28]

none of the above, and single turbo the vette and save some coin. newer cars are always better to dump money into then older ones

[NJSPEEDER]

if you already have the motor coming for the black car, and a plan to take care of the rest of the associated parts why let go of it?
especially since it is your first, if you hack it up or sell it you know you will end up regretting it.

[Fastbird]

Originally Posted by NJSPEEDER

if you already have the motor coming for the black car, and a plan to take care of the rest of the associated parts why let go of it?
especially since it is your first, if you hack it up or sell it you know you will end up regretting it.

Because of the sheer amount of money required to put the black car back on the road in the condition I want to see it in. It's just not going to happen. Paint alone is going to be $4-5K, suspension will be around $3K+, FAST system to extract every last HP is another $2K, rear end is another $2.5K, and with our impending move, there's going to be a pay cut, and I won't have the money to dump into it without waiting for x amount of years, which I don't want.

The motor isn't built yet. Waiting on a couple more small parts and then it'll be completed. I already have the blower sitting here.

It's a hard decision to make, but I think I've decided to part it out. I talked to a couple of people whom have been here before, and they agree that the first one is always the hardest to get rid of and let go.

[foff667]

what about an LS1 swap & buildup in the TA? The computer alone could save you $2500 easy since from the factory its a great PCM to start with...just something to consider.

[Fastbird]

Originally Posted by foff667

what about an LS1 swap & buildup in the TA? The computer alone could save you $2500 easy since from the factory its a great PCM to start with...just something to consider.

But the fact remains that the car still needs suspension and paint to get anywhere near to what I would deem respectable. We've still got the purple car, and will continue to maintain and build it (hey, that 383 and blower have to go somewhere).

The decision has been made and I've already sent the deposit for the twin turbo kit for the Vette. Posting a for sale thread.

[Rich189]

good choice but one suggestion take it for whats its worth.... dont part the car sell it outright hopfully to someone u know and can/will stay in contact with like others say its your first and u will miss it at least youll know its still being taken care of and who knows maybe buy it back in a few years?

[ChickenLittle]

TT Vette, 383/Procharge the purlpe TA and say CYA to the black 93

[Fastbird]

Well, that's what I'm trying to do is sell it outright as it sits. Would make a good donor car.

And chickenlittle, that's what it's going to be: TT Vette, 383/D1SC Purple Car, and the turbo Celica.

[Squirrel]

the speed density king turning his back? say it aint so

edit: a turbo vette would be sick, but youre having a car built that will be faster, and i dont think you want to 2 big hp toys that cost a lot of money to fix when they break stuff

[jimmyboy8301]

I say TT C5 ALL THE WAY. That will be one bad ass car that very very few people have.

[Fastbird]

Welp, if you guys can't tell, the black car is going bye bye.

Squirrel, I aint' turning my back. The Vette will end up with a speed density tune, and I still have the purple car. The Celica will be speed density also as soon as we get an EMS for it too.