• Registered: 2010-09-18
  • Posts: 9

Topic: What's it worth by Lemon Account

Hello everyone!  First post here.

Planning a car for the Houston event next year, but was looking for a little guidence on estimated Lemon accounting.

Actual accounting;

79 Supra, bad motor = Free.  My Pop's had it in his yard since 1990.
Rebuilt 305(8yrs ago) = 100
Four speed / bell housing / Cluth = Free (I switch to a auto on my ride in 98 and it's been on the shelf since)
Driveshaft = est. $120

I won't list the various other SBC parts I have on hand to make it go, but everything is here.

So basically for an actual investment of 300ish we could have a pretty fun car.  I have a Grand National turbo ($125) thet we could Ghetto charge it wih as well and make it really interesting.

My question is if we show up to the first race with a turbo'd small block in a Supra are we going to get beat up by the judges?

CAN"T WAIT TO GET STARTED ON THIS!! Been up at night thinking about it.

Here's some pics/ vids of my other projects..  Sort of a ghetto fab resume  :  )

Twin turbo Caddy

http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss249/RunninL8fortworth/P1040160.jpg
http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss249/RunninL8fortworth/P1040181.jpg
http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss249/RunninL8fortworth/P1040180.jpg


http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss249/RunninL8fortworth/th_P1040240.jpg

240Z with 500 Caddy motor, turbo coming!

http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss249/RunninL8fortworth/th_P1050703.jpg

  • Registered: 2010-09-18
  • Posts: 9

Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

PS.... how do I chenge the forum main pages / post area's so they are not so small?

  • From: Knoxville, TN
  • Registered: 2009-12-04
  • Posts: 145

Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

You won't get beat up with that potential to blow up!

Rich DeFrancisco
Chump Change Racing aka "The Bridesmaids"
1986 BMW 535im
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  • JThw8
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  • From: Mullica Hill, NJ
  • Registered: 2009-06-10
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Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

Parts you have already lying around arent free.  While I agree the judges may go light because of the car's potential to blow up, parts must still be valued at a fair market value for something you have "just lying around"  Be prepared to prove it with sample auctions/ads for similar parts for sale.

http://wartburg.misfittoysracing.com
OTTER: "I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part."
BLUTO: "We're just the guys to do it."

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  • From: St Louis, MO
  • Registered: 2009-08-06
  • Posts: 1,014

Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

You're not getting past the judges without some serious BS laps, we got laps for our totally stock supercharged 3.8 V6 at Summit Point this summer.

Team Final Gear Crew Chief
#138 1997 Pontiac GTP - Supercharged 3800
#42   1999 Ford P71 Crown Vic
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  • From: Cincinnati, OH
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 1,601

Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

Prove/justify the value of the 305, look up your local pick-a-part/pull-n-pay for a complete transmission and give scrap value to the supra, and you have a more accurate accounting guide to work with. $120 sounds like too much for a driveshaft considering they run $20 at the yard. decorate the hell out of it with a kickin' theme and you might get away clean.

  • From: Safety Harbor, FL (Tampa)
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 668

Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

Runnin L8 wrote:

My question is if we show up to the first race with a turbo'd small block in a Supra HOW MUCH ARE we going to get LAUGHED AT by the judges?

Fixed that for you.

If it weren't such a ridiculous idea, as others have said, you need to supply a documented "estimated value" for your parts.  I wouldn't even mention that you DIDN'T buy them at the local pick-n-pull.  Just produce a price sheet and start listing the parts you used in your build.

Lemons South 2008 - Fail, Lemons South Spring 2009 - Fail, Lemons Detroit(ish) 2008 - Fail, Lemons South Fall 2009 - Fail, Lamest Day 2009 - Fail, Miami 2010 (Chump) - 2nd!, Sebring 2010 (Chump) - Fail, Cuba 2010 - Crew Chief, Roebling 2011 (Chump) - 8th!, Sebring 2011(Chump) - 19th!
  • From: Houston, TX
  • Registered: 2009-10-06
  • Posts: 1,008

Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

#1 - Anything that was "My Pop's had it in his yard since 1990." isn't free either.  The judges are MUCH happier if a change of title has happened, i.e. a sale.  At the least, look up Kelly blue book value.  Better yet, have your pop sell it to you for a defined, and defensible, price.

#2 That engine on the 305 too clean.  And looks like it's full of aftermarket stuff.  You'd get killed at BS inspection.  (Note - I'm not saying anything about fairness or truth.  Such things DO NOT matter at BS inspection.  Understand this now and you're life will be happier.)

I'm the doctor who is a wife. Which makes the grease hard to explain to my patients... www.tetanusneon.com.

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  • Registered: 2010-09-18
  • Posts: 9

Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

"Note - I'm not saying anything about fairness or truth.  Such things DO NOT matter at BS inspection.  Understand this now and you're life will be happier"

That's kind of the underlying theme I keep seeing. 

"Prove/justify the value of the 305, look up your local pick-a-part/pull-n-pay for a complete transmission and give scrap value to the supra, and you have a more accurate accounting guide to work with."

Good advice!  Pricing via scapyards is probably the best bet.

The 305 does have an aluminum intake and chrome valve covers.  That's part of the draw for me... I figured I could sell those parts and get close to even.

At the end of the day, I guess it doesn't really matter if they give us a bagillion BS laps. It's all for fun and I'm mostly concerned that we "actually" don't have to spend the money.

  • From: St Louis, MO
  • Registered: 2009-08-06
  • Posts: 1,014

Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

http://jalopnik.com/400309/what-would-s … ge-murilee

This will serve you well.

Team Final Gear Crew Chief
#138 1997 Pontiac GTP - Supercharged 3800
#42   1999 Ford P71 Crown Vic
  • Registered: 2009-10-25
  • Posts: 1,993

Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

The 79 supra is a great idea.....adding a HUGE V8 is NOT a good idea.....rebuild the 6 and your good.....remember the vast majority of cars in Lemons racing have low HP...if you have 200+ hp you are in a very small group...most reliable high placing Lemons racer have between 100-200 hp....only a few EVER have won with more than 200hp...vs lots and lots of winners in the sub 200 category..

A reliable car that handles well with good brakes and is easy to drive is far more important that lots of power....

Richard Doty
1984 Porsche 928 "Estate"
Porsche- "there is A substitute" Racing
Dirt Poorsche Racing #2
  • JThw8
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  • Registered: 2009-06-10
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Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

icemang17 wrote:

A reliable car that handles well with good brakes and is easy to drive is far more important that lots of power....

http://www.bobgarontraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Home-Improvement-Tim-Taylor.jpg

http://wartburg.misfittoysracing.com
OTTER: "I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part."
BLUTO: "We're just the guys to do it."

JThw8's Website

13 Reply by davisriley (edited by davisriley 2010-09-19 04:25 PM)

  • From: Bloomington, IN
  • Registered: 2009-08-14
  • Posts: 1,525

Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

I would imagine that if you brought the caddy as a judge-mobile, they would be a lot more lenient.  Especially if you let them roast a set of tires off the back.

Bloomington, IN
We'll bring Beer!  Motorsports
Team Fiery Death! #0 2009 Lamest Day(65th), 2010 American Irony(24th), 2010 Detroit Bull(4th),2012 Capitol Offense (8th) 2012 American Irony (11 th), 2013 Capitol Offense (3rd) 2013 Chubba Chedder (4th, Judge Choice!) Now sadly part of a scrap pile. 
Toothless Racing Deadbeats #110 2011 Summit Point (61st) Currently being rebuilt into the new car!
  • Registered: 2010-09-18
  • Posts: 9

Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

"A reliable car that handles well with good brakes and is easy to drive is far more important that lots of power...."

Agreed.  The 305 probably makes in the 150hp range and is roughly the same weight as the straigt 6 (give or take 100).

My thought is that it would be much more reliable / less trouble than the fuel injected, welded up crank six.  :  ) 

It also opens up a lot more options when looking for cheap, reliable trannys... shaved legs, tight bodies.. you know the type. OK where was I.

The turbo would be more for the judges than the race.  A draw through set up would be easy to build and add a little JY cool factor.  Maybe enough to make them laugh instead of scowl.

Since the carb wouldn't be boost referenced, you could adjust easily.  run 2-3 pounds shouldn't build that much heat / trouble.

(disclaimer-  i have no idea if any of this is true... the engine may never fit, be 500 lbs heavier than the six, and puke it's guts first time boost hits it.... GGGOOOOO LLLLLLEEEEEMMMMOOOONNNN)

  • Registered: 2010-09-18
  • Posts: 9

Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

"I would imagine that if you brought the caddy as a judge-mobile, they would be a lot more lenient.  Especially if you let them roast a set of tires off the back."

Genius bribe.  I'm poor, don't drink, and can't talk my wife into short shorts.... I was begining to think I was screwed smile

  • From: Choctaw, Oklahoma
  • Registered: 2009-11-12
  • Posts: 2,145

Re: What's it worth by Lemon Account

http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss24 … 040181.jpg
Wow. I just got a chubby. Got a hot cam in it as well?