"bwp240" (bwp240)
01/10/2018 at 13:00 • Filed to: Thought Projects, copart
0
30|
"bwp240" (bwp240)
01/10/2018 at 13:00 • Filed to: Thought Projects, copart | 0
| 30 |
Whenever I need to clear my mind from whatever work related task I am on, I occasionally browse the internet for cars that I don’t need. Couple this with binge watching Doug DeMuro videos results in sifting through Copart for modern fun project cars that have a bit of assembly required.
Presented before you is this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with just under 61,000 actual miles. It has some damage and a salvage title which is fine you aren’t trying to make a quick flip. This prime piece of convertible trucking can be yours for the low low price of whatever you want to pay.
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , this particular SSR looks relatively intact. It appears to have a major dent in the left rear quarterpanel along with some dents on the bed sides and the bed cover.
The inner Red Green in me says get a heavy duty toilet plunger and that dent should pop out no problem. Even the reasonable side of me thinks, pull the dents, replace the rear fender and you have an LS powered convertible pickup truck that is very uncomfortable to sit in for a low price and some elbow grease.
Not so fast my friend, unlike the rest of the GM lineup in the mid-2000s, the SSR was substantially different than just about every other GM vehicle, consequently, this model shares very few body panels with other cars which should make finding replacement parts difficult.
This made me wonder, “Since the rear fender needs to be replaced, can I just replace it, or do I need to remove the whole panel? How hard is it to find SSR replacement panels? How much would one be?” Thus a “Thought Project” is born. Much like a “thought experiment,” a “thought project” is an analysis of all the parts, pieces, and money I may need to complete a car. Of course not every single part can be fully thought out, but this is just for grins and giggles anyways.
The result of this project is yes - you need to remove the whole panel, good luck finding parts, and probably a lot if you find one. I could not find any parts distributors that either make the panel or have the panel in stock. The only listings I found were eBay listings that were north of 4 figures when shipping is included.
That may seem okay especially if you can get this truck for really cheap, but then the thought came into my head, “It can’t be that simple...”
Copart has a history of half-assed rebuilds and disgruntled customers. Most of the time the disgruntled customers are idiots that bid on the car online without actually going to the lot and look at it, then wonder why it doesn’t work. At least that is what I gather from every Copart Ripped Me Off video. No, you are just a person that didn’t bother to go look at what you are purchasing.
This SSR is a perfect example of why you need to physically look at what you are getting yourself into. First off, that all the tires in really good shape, don’t they? Perhaps the original owner just replaced the tires before the accident. Enhancing our view of the damage, unless a tree fell lightly and rolled off, or a soft collision, surely there would be some damage to the tire. The way the damage looks (a punch in on the quarter panel), it looks like something collided into it. So this begs the question of axle, differential, hub, etc. damage. Also noticeable upon photo enhancement is the fuel filler neck is probably not sealed and/or straight. The rear bumper cover isn’t flush with the body which is a bit concerning.
But how do you explain the running board? Wouldn’t that have been damaged in a crash? My guess, is someone already tried to repair this, found a running board and some tires, but when confronted with the body repair, decided that the parts were too much and cut their losses.
Now is that necessarily a bad thing? No, this is actually a very common practice I have noticed. People will buy cars, attempt to fix them, run into a logical or budget issue and resell them, essentially cutting their losses. However, there is a shadier side of clientele that do this exclusively. They will buy wrecked cars and fix them up just enough to make them look like easy fixes, and try to flip them for a meager profit. This is very common on import luxury listings if you watch any Samcrac videos. That is what I fear is going on with this SSR. It may look like a “simple” body repair, but in reality, the hub may not be connected to the differential that is now in the gas tank. How can you avoid a scam like this? Go to the lot and actually look at what you are buying! With that being said, if you are in the search for a “cheap” SSR and don’t mind having some assembly required, here is an option for you.
So let’s get a little crazy, let’s pretend that there is no other damage outside of the body and filler neck. Name your price Oppo?
HammerheadFistpunch
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 13:04 |
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just remember that the cost of building the SSR and HHR was high due to the large complex bends in the sheetmetal. If its sound everywhere but the visual damage you have to assume it was totaled because the cost of repairing or replacing the fender was greater than a majority percentage of the car.
G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 13:10 |
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Solution: SSR Death Kart.
Urambo Tauro
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 13:11 |
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Those SSRs are body-on-frame, aren’t they?
Ready for an adventure!
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 13:11 |
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Best i can do is $50.00
PartyPooper2012
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 13:15 |
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I wouldn’t drive that thing if it just rolled off the assembly line and GM CEO handed me the keys.
I find them more repulsive than Aztec
LOREM IPSUM
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 13:15 |
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Buy a wrecked PT cruiser (or something), a sawzall, welder, and make a shooting brake!
random001
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 13:19 |
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I still love these.
vondon302
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 13:21 |
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I’ve been eyeing this one. Trying to get out of work early Friday to check it out.
Takuro Spirit
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 13:23 |
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My guess is the panel is no longer available from GM?
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Takuro Spirit
> G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/10/2018 at 13:25 |
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Or a custom stake bed
Milky
> vondon302
01/10/2018 at 13:27 |
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Never mind the frame damage, I wouldn’t get it for the KCCO sticker.
ranwhenparked
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 13:28 |
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Couldn’t you just fill it in with a whole lot of Bondo and call it a day?
CalzoneGolem
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 13:30 |
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For $1000 I’d be happy to swap as much of the engine drive train as possible into Rat-L-Trap and part out whatever is left.
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bwp240
> Takuro Spirit
01/10/2018 at 13:38 |
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You would be correct.
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bwp240
> HammerheadFistpunch
01/10/2018 at 13:40 |
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That is exactly why I think it was totaled, and also why even if this is just as simple as a crinkled fender, it will be much harder than that.
4kc
> Takuro Spirit
01/10/2018 at 13:42 |
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or a tiny dump bed! it’d be a sweet ratty work truck
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Takuro Spirit
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 13:43 |
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I’ve seen many a cars totaled due to parts availability... and some crazy custom repairs... and come nasty bondo nightmares all for that reason.
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vondon302
> Milky
01/10/2018 at 13:44 |
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You do have a point there.
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bwp240
> Urambo Tauro
01/10/2018 at 13:45 |
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I don’t know for sure. Judging by the way the parts are diagrammed, I think so.
MoCamino
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 13:46 |
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When these first came out I loved them because of the retro look. My favorite Chevy trucks are from the Advance Design and AK Series, so the looks just really caught my eye. Until I realized the “bed” on the SSR is essentially worthless. Am I going to take my hot rod truck out and haul firewood in it? Not likely. But if you sell me something you call a truck, I’d better be able to haul something in it when pressed.
With that said, if that one had the T-56 in it instead of the stupid automatic, I’m seeing a sweet engine/tranny swap source with enough remaining good parts to sell on the List of Craig that it might come close to paying for itself. (Given the lack of good parts sources mentioned above, there have to be lots of people out there looking for the parts from this one that aren’t bent.) Personally I think their estimated retail value is CP, though.
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bwp240
> ranwhenparked
01/10/2018 at 13:51 |
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Theoretically, but if you filled it back to stock shape, you may not be able to put gas in it.
lone_liberal
> CalzoneGolem
01/10/2018 at 13:54 |
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Exactly, it would be a great donor for my POS Camaro if the price is right.
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bwp240
> vondon302
01/10/2018 at 13:57 |
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hmm, a clean title Wrangler with an actual mileage readout, bet that won’t stay that price for long.
I am curious what the alleged ‘frame damage’ is because they definitely didn’t show it in the pictures.
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vondon302
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 14:09 |
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Me too on the frame damage hell it’s not even dirty.
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bwp240
> MoCamino
01/10/2018 at 14:22 |
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I remember trying one out in 2002 at the Chicago Auto Show. It was quite uncomfortable.
The only thing holding value on these is their uniquness and the niche group of buyers that want them (or maybe it is that Houston dealer that has 20 of them haha). I think Coparts est. retail values is questionable too, there is no way this is worth 53k.
Wacko
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 14:29 |
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the part that makes a hellcat a hellcat is missing. right now that’s a challenger shell. Hell you don’t even have the badge
Arrivederci
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 14:49 |
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So let’s get a little crazy, let’s pretend that there is no other damage outside of the body and filler neck. Name your price Oppo?
If it runs and drives and just has the cosmetic damage, I’d give it a NP up until $5k. Take it to a body shop and have them try to work their magic on straightening out that fender, then fill the rest with bondo and repaint. Forget about the bed cover, fix the filler neck and enjoy the SSR for $7k-ish. I wonder if the damage hinders the top operation somehow.
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ranwhenparked
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 16:36 |
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use a plastic cup for a form.
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Urambo Tauro
> bwp240
01/10/2018 at 23:38 |
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Eh, just cut the rest of the rear body away and turn it into a stake truck!
LongbowMkII
> bwp240
01/26/2018 at 17:04 |
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Buy SSR
replace “bed” with flatbed
profit