Advice needed .....

As most of you all know i have been looking for a turn key race car over the last 6 months, i have decided on 3 different cars and the owners are very willing to negotiate. Several things have change since i had purchase my last car of which would be 6 years of knowledge of the big block ford. When i purchased my last car it was over the looks and sound of the car, and of course when it was fired up i was overwhelmed and handed the cash over.After owning the car i found and learned so much was wrong.

So with that being said i almost want to see these cars get down the track or even a tear down to check the internals. My question is how far would you guys go in the inspection of purchasing a turn key race car? Im almost willing to pay an engine specialist to come along for the purchase.

What do you guys think ?

I agree Nick. If it's anywhere near me, I'd help.

D. Sea wrote:I agree Nick.  If it's anywhere near me, I'd help.

Thank you Damon, one of the cars is located in Glasgow , KY.

That's right next to Bowling Green and Beech Bend Raceway. Got a link or information on the car? Scott Keown and his brother are near there as well.

the way I see it it's your money so get the most you can if it was me I would want to see it make 3 passes and watch a oil change so you could see the oil and pull a valve covers to look all so. if it's a legit deal the person selling would 100% understand.

D. Sea wrote:That's right next to Bowling Green and Beech Bend Raceway.  Got a link or information on the car?  Scott Keown and his brother are near there as well.

Link of the KY car sent.....

gmsmkr wrote:the way I see it it's your money so get the most you can if it was me I would want to see it make 3 passes and watch a oil change so you could see the oil and pull a valve covers to look all so. if it's a legit deal the person selling would 100% understand.

that's what i would want . Just didn't know if it is common place to ask.

gmsmkr wrote:the way I see it it's your money so get the most you can if it was me I would want to see it make 3 passes and watch a oil change so you could see the oil and pull a valve covers to look all so. if it's a legit deal the person selling would 100% understand.

X2 I would be asking everything I could think of and listen to his response to see if he was just trying to sale it or he really knows what in the car. If he keeps referring to his engine builder on questions on the engine he more than likely does not know about it.
The same with the rest of it if he keeps referring to other people on it more than likely he just drives it and pays for the work don't really know what all been done. Not saying that bad but most know what they paid to have done on one. You know what to look for have him to jack it up and check the drive line out good and under it. Like what was said if it is legit then they shouldn't mind you checking everything out good.

Nick,

Here is my 2 cents worth.

It depends on what type of car you are buying and how much your spending.

If you are spending 50K on a car the seller better be prepared to let you have a VERY detailed inspection of the car, engine, etc. We took half a day to go over the last car I bought.

I would ask for a soap sample to send off for analysis.

I would ask to see any logs they have on passes, time slips, etc.

i would take pictures of the car and ask close associates if they know anything about the history, etc.

And when all else fails, I call Lem and get his advise.


Bruce

Agree.  It really depends on what your buying.   A tube chasis pro built car.    Who built it?   When?  When was the last NHRA/IHRA safety certificate put on it?   As for engine...  same song and dance.   Who, what, where,  when?    Who built it?  With what internals?  When was it last refreshed, inspected, dynod?  Time slips???  Certificates for SFI certification?   MINIMUM expectation is a couple hours of inspect time.   A compression test...  a wiggle check on all chassis parts.

Asking questions in person is just to see his reaction .. people lie.

I would want documented proof of everything he claims; especially chassis certifications and suspension; the engine and drive train is replaceable but, the RACE VEHICLE itself could be your death.

and one of course is a sbf in which i know nothing about. But thanks for the advice so far guys.

Bruno, just an fyi,im assuming the seller is "bowtie pony" on rj. If so, that guy has stuff for sale on there all the time. Not saying that means there is anything wrong with the car but I'm always leary of flippers, so I just thought I'd let ya know

bruno wrote:

gmsmkr wrote:the way I see it it's your money so get the most you can if it was me I would want to see it make 3 passes and watch a oil change so you could see the oil and pull a valve covers to look all so. if it's a legit deal the person selling would 100% understand.

that's what i would want . Just didn't know if it is common place to ask.

It's common on high end deals, but don't expect it on "the Screaming deal" of a lifetime. In other words you're buying a $50k deal.... Yes.... $5k fire sale.... No expected.

Hardy wrote:Bruno, just an fyi,im assuming the seller is "bowtie pony" on rj.  If so, that guy has stuff for sale on there all the time.  Not saying that means there is anything wrong with the car but I'm always leary of flippers, so I just thought I'd let ya know

yep that is him.

just face the facts your done with racing...... I hear the kitchen calling your name biotch......

Here's a roller close to home.... http://bham.craigslist.org/pts/4927271884.html

^^^Oh damn that looks nice.

I have always said that if I ever get into another car, it will be at least a roller, maybe even turn key. 50 cents on the dollar that way, plus way less down time.

cool40 wrote:Here's a roller close to home.... http://bham.craigslist.org/pts/4927271884.html

^ LIKE!

cool40 wrote:Here's a roller close to home.... http://bham.craigslist.org/pts/4927271884.html

Damn, that's nice looking.
If it's quality work, that's a great price.

bruno wrote:

D. Sea wrote:I agree Nick.  If it's anywhere near me, I'd help.

Thank you Damon, one of the cars is located in Glasgow , KY.

Not sure if it's the same guy or not, but I went and looked at a turn key Mustang a guy from Glasgow was selling.
Checked it out and told him, "ok, if it runs within 3 tenths of a second of what you claim it does, I'll give you x amount for it"

A few days later he arranges  for his " driver" to meet me at Beech Bend on a Tuesday night test n tune.
The driver rolls the car off the trailer, but the car never fires up.
I was patient and the guy tried for an hour to start it, but no luck.

We headed back home.

Apparently, as I found out later, all this guy does is buy race cars from out of state and tries to sell them turn key first, or he might part them out.
I did not keep his phone number, but I kinda remember where his house is.

bruno wrote:          As most of you all know i have been looking for a turn key race car over the last 6 months, i have decided on 3 different cars and the owners are very willing to negotiate. Several things have change since i had purchase my last car of which would be 6 years of knowledge of the big block ford. When i purchased my last car it was over the looks and sound of the car, and of course when it was fired up i was overwhelmed and handed the cash over.After owning the car i found and learned so much was wrong.
         
        So with that being said i almost want to see these cars get down the track or even a tear down to check the internals. My question is how far would you guys go in the inspection of purchasing a turn key race car? Im almost willing to pay an engine specialist to come along for the purchase.

         What do you guys think ?      

Nick:
Here is one of my experiences:

Dec 2012-- I see an ad for a turn key '86 Turbo Coupe NHRA Stocker.
I knew of the seller, but had never talked to him before. (He was well known in the Turbo 2.3 Ford community as a stand up guy)
We talk on the phone and he guarantees the car will pass teardown inspection.

I meet him at a truck stop in Illinois in late Dec. ( 20 something deg.)
He fires up the car and I check it out, but never drove it.
I tell him if he will help me set a NHRA National Record with it that I will give him his asking price for it.
He agrees and I load the car and head home.

5 months later he meets me at Beech Bend as planned and I set my first NHRA records and everything passes tech.

The story had a happy ending, but not everyone is so lucky.

It helps if the seller has a good rep., or if the seller is willing to run it down the track and verify the car runs what he says it will.

cool40 wrote:Here's a roller close to home.... http://bham.craigslist.org/pts/4927271884.html

no cert, all steel, he said it weighted 2650 with an all aluminum big chief motor ??? really with factory floors and square tubing ......

W/O engine maybe.

I just don't see how..... my car has fiberglass hood and deck lid (lift off) about 1.5 pounds of wiring and from struts forward has been cut out all tubular suspension and a 8 point mild steel cage with aluminum seats and it is right at 2300lbs no motor or trans.

P.S still has stock pans and fire wall