Bad news...

[z_pyro]

Took a test drive of my z 2day...not good...
there was a heavy "clunk" every time we accelerated, my dad said it was the u-joint..there's just too much work to do on the z for a 16 yr old working @ min wage @ 20 hours/week...
tomorrow my dad is going to see of the DMV will buy it for 2 grand, for being a "gross-polluter".....:( :( :(
my uncle is going to sell us his chevy caprice....what a step up...
well, if i can get $2k from parting it out, i'd do that....anyone need an L28 engine with a N42 head, dual Webers, anything else from a 71 240? :( :( :(

[Mike]

A chevy caprice? C'mon man. Get those U-joints fixed and get that thing back on the road. I grew up with a Z. You're right, it can be strapping at times, but, I don't regret any part of it.

[2ManyZs]

I wouldn't give up on the Z just yet, it might only be one u-joint. There are 6 total on a Z, but even then you are only talking about 100 dollars or less to repair. It could also just be the mustache bar bushings are shot, or the front diff mount could be bad or even that the rear is loose on the mustache bar.

Don't give up yet! Anything that is wrong with the car we can walk you through the repairs as it needs them, you just have to save what money you can to make the repairs as your budget allows. What makes your Dad think a Chevy Caprice is going to be any better than the Z? They break down too!

[z_pyro]

like i said before....there's just too much work
not only is the rear end shot, the shocks are messed up, the electrical is shot, the car is too much work for a person in my situation.
Chevy caprices that are 10-15 years old dont break down or are already broken down as much as my 31 year old z. i need reliable transportation, not a project car, as the z is turning out to be.

[Royce]

Z_pyro,

Sorry it is not working out! Obviously we would all like to see you in that Z! But it might be best for you to take a break from it and after driving the Caprice you will find you way back to it or another Z.

Regarding the DMV paying $2k, I don't think that is going to happen. I think at most they will pay $500, but I think the car has to be registered first.

How much would you sell the car for? I don't need another one but that didn't stop me last time. I also know some other people who might be interested in it for the right price.

Any pictures?

[z_pyro]

well, i'm trying to get at least 2000, as my uncle's caprice is 1500. i'll take some more pics and try to get them scanned (no, i don't have a digital cam!!:p :p ). the car doesn't look all that bad...if you know what you're looking at....

[spudz]

Hmmmmmm !!!!!

Caprice_Pyro just doesn't sound right !

I guess we should pitch in an get you a
subscription to Low Rider MAgazine :)

Come on Z their are a few big Z Clubs
in your area that could help you out.

Most of us have spares we could send you
to get her running. You are dealing with some
pretty cool people in the Z community who will
lend a helping hand.

And besides " Chicks dig Z's "

One track day with your Dad at Thunderhill
or Buttonwillow and you will be changed.

[projecteye]

I will buy the Caprice how much do you want?
Just please don't sell that z car.
I sold mine 12 years ago and I came crawling back like a baby.
Besides nookie is more easliy gotten in a Z than in a Caprice.

Unless of course its the....Caprice Classic then you're stylin"....not.
Or perhaps it is the Caprice Classic Brogham with the vinyl landau roof......oohhh Chiquita muy bien..

stop it already and fix it.
good luck

[z_pyro]

guys...IT'S TOO MUCH WORK!!!
God knows I want to keep it, but there's too much work to be done! I need a running, good condition, reliable car that can get me to and from work and school without having to worry about it dying on me or totally screwin up the rear end. I'm sorry, but I just can't keep it!
And about the caprice...it's a late 80's-early 90's model (the square, boxy kind). And getting nookie in a Z...seems impossible to me.....at least the caprice has a back seat

[Mr Camouflage]

My 240z had a loose (I dont know what its called so here goes) bit where the drive shaft bolts onto the wheel flange thingo, that's held on by a big nut, and has splines in it. You know the one. I just unbolted the driveshaft from the flange and tightend the nut up, and bolted the driveshaft back up. Problem solved.

...and it aint that hard to do it in the front seat. ;)

[72zcar]

passenger seat... not a problem. don't sell it... just fix it. a caprice, come on:finger: sure u will be driving around but u will not be :) , you will be:(

And the caprice can break too, and when u r working on it you will be all pissed off, there is nothing worse than working on a grandma car man..:tapemouth

Fix the z and u will be ROFL

[z_pyro]

I CANT FIX THE CAR!!!!
I DONT HAVE MONEY, I DONT HAVE TIME, I DONT HAVE RESOURCES!! I CAN NOT FIX THE CAR!!

no one ever said the caprice wont break, but the z is ALREADY broken, I would have to spend hundreds fixing it, THEN pay $300+ for registration, then high insurance because its a classic sports car!! THIS CAR IS NOT FEASIBLE FOR ME TO KEEP!!

and yes, I will be happy driving around because i will be able to keep my paycheck instead of spending it all on a high-maintenance car. yes, 31 year old cars are high maintenance, you guys all know that. as soon as you get one thing fixed, another thing goes out.

again, FIXING THE CAR IS NOT AN OPTION!!

[EScanlon]

Your uncle wants to get rid of a car quickly. You feel that that car is going to be more roadworthy than the Z, yet you are obviously torn in the thought of getting "rid" of the Z.

Ok, combine all, put into the thought blender and what about this idea:

Approach your local bank for a signature loan that your uncle co-signs. Borrow $2000 and put up the titles to BOTH the Caprice AND the Z as collateral (presuming the Z is paid for). Keep the Z and work on it as you are able to. Make your payments to the bank and buy the Caprice.

You'll accomplish several things this way.

1. You'll establish sound credit. Trust me you'll need this later.

2. You get a more reliable car in the Caprice and can now get to work, school and the parts store to get parts for the Z.

3. You get to KEEP the Z and as you fix it and learn from it, it will accrue in value. Right now, if it has problems it will be hard for you to get $2k for it.

4. Eventually once the Z is fixed and running well, you could sell the Caprice and use whatever you get for it to final the Z to your hearts content.

Is there a sacrifice involved? Yes, but There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch! TANSTAAFL!

Welcome to life as an adult.

[Mike]

No doubt.....

I don't have much experience with the Caprice, but, is that really a car that will keep you on the road?

Here's my .02. If the Z option is totally out of the picture, then you have MANY cars to choose from. Don't just limit your options to the Caprice because your uncle wants to sell it to you. I don't know what the circumstances are around that Caprice, but, I can see two possibilities:

1- Uncle wants to get rid of it because it's taking up room at his house. The car is a POS and he can't sell it. So, he sells it to family.

2- The car is in good condition and he's doing you a favor by selling it to you cheap. And, the car will be a good daily driver.

I would evaluate the circumstances involved and take a look at the big picture. I drove a Plymouth Scamp while I was in High School and just loved the reliability of that car (sorta like a Dodge Dart). It wasn't the greatest car, but, it was cheap and reliable. The Z sat in the garage while I saved my dollars to work on it.

So, I think we are all trying to help you out (because you are a fellow Z owner) like we would our own family. I think we are probably trying to figure out, "Why a Caprice?" rather than not getting rid of the Z. And, with the latest message by Escanlon, we are also trying to give you the best of both worlds.

[z_pyro]

he doesn't want to get rid of the car quickly. I NEED a car quickly. The car isn't a POS, my dad has done quite a bit for him (as in donating a kidney), so he should sell the car to us for pretty cheap. I'll see what my dad thinks about escanlons' suggestion.

To tell the truth, I'm really not ready for a resoration project. I just need a reliable car, and I'd like to keep my paychecks to spend on stuff I've always wanted. The car would be better in someone else's driveway, someone who can do what needs to be done

[projecteye]

This changes everything.. .Your dad donated his kidney to your uncle and now he wants to sell you his car?

He should give you the friggin car in my opinion!
and fill it up with super for at least a year. give me his number I am going to call him and tell him what I think.

This is turning into a soap opera. I could make a sitcom with this material. this is really great stuff.
Like Seinfeld...only with the trials and tribulations of car ownership.

I've had enough..

[Mike]

This changes everything.. .Your dad donated his kidney to your uncle and now he wants to sell you his car?

He should give you the friggin car in my opinion!
and fill it up with super for at least a year. give me his number I am going to call him and tell him what I think.


Ya, no doubt. That way you can keep the Z as well.

[72zcar]

or at least the uncle should let u drive it for a while so u can keep the z... and when the z is fixed give the granma car back with a full tank. sounds fair to me.

[EScanlon]

The donated kidney is neither your card to play, nor can you accrue any kind of benefit from that without coming off as a leeching opportunistic scoundrel.

Donating the kidney was your DAD'S idea. HE chose to give the kidney, YOU did NOT have any part of that decision making process, and also would not and could not have affected the decision. If you delude yourself into thinking you could have, or that you deserve something for that, you're wrong.

I'll guarantee that if you bring it up to your Uncle in any manner, fashion, or form, he'll shut you down faster than a trap door spider with a bug. Simply put, it's none of your concern, nor your business.

As far as what he SHOULD do because of that kidney donation? Again, that's between him and your Dad.

Sorry, but there are no easy answers in life; there are lots of compromises; and sometimes what you want and what you get aren't in the same arena.

[z_pyro]

k, this my dad had a bankruptcy a bit ago, so the bank wont give us anything.
I need to sell the car so i can get a running car. I have a license, so now all i need is transportation. anyone got a cheap car to trade/sell?