My VR4 is totaled. What should I do next?

My VR4 was totaled this morning. I'm debating on what I should do with the parts and I thought I'd see what other people might do in this situation.

The block and heads have about 8000 miles on them each after being rebuilt a year and half ago. The block has Ross 9:1 pistons, the crank and rods are OEM. The heads I'll probably use for my Stealth which needs a head rebuild anyway.

The transmission has about 3000 miles on it after a rebuild and a Kormex LSD.

I have several misc parts here and there such as Oohnoo's complete fuel rail kit (not installed at all), Southbends Stage 3 Fullface / IPS Lightweight Flywheel combo with maybe 800 miles on it, Intrax springs, etc.

At this point, I don't know if I'll be getting another VR4 any time soon. I'm at a loss on if I should just salvage and sell the parts that I might never use as quickly as possible or hold on to them in case I do get another VR4.

Thoughts?

Guessing the Stealth isn't a TT... You could always TT swap it.

At least you're ok, and have the desire to work on it :p

Sucks man. Get your insurance money and I'd throw whats good on the stealth.

I should have added that there is no insurance money at all. I'm stuck with what I have.

I thought about doing a full swap for a moment but I'm tired and that's a hell of a lot more work than I'm willing to take on, or at least that's how I feel right now.

What happened Jon? I hope you're ok.
If it was me, I'd be looking for a good body with a bad engine and swap in the good stuff from the wrecked car.

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Originally Posted by Blurr

I should have added that there is no insurance money at all. I'm stuck with what I have.

I thought about doing a full swap for a moment but I'm tired and that's a hell of a lot more work than I'm willing to take on, or at least that's how I feel right now.

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I would wait before making a final decision. This is a very dramatic event to go through, and I would bet that most of the frustration you are feeling right now is not about how much work swapping everything is going to be but about why did this have to happen.

Give it a few weeks before parting with any of your parts.

Yeah, I'm ok, no damage to me personally. I don't really want to talk about the accident though.

Giving it a few weeks is probably the best thing I can do right now. I just want to forget that this happened at all and deal with it later when I don't feel like shit.

Finding a good body with a bad engine is a really good idea though. I might have to look into that in the future.

there is a 92 vr-4 shell on ebay right now but its in rough shape it looks like. sorry to hear about your car man

I feel like I'm on a roller coaster of emotions. Half of me feels like I don't want to own a VR4 again and I'm going through my facebook profile deleting any pictures of my car because I don't want to remember the good times and feel shitty about it (It's like breaking up with a really great (and super hot) girlfriend, I hate it), while at the same time I feel the urge to go through autotrader to see whats available out there.

Edit: As you might have noticed, I've deleted my avatar too. I couldn't look at it anymore.

I understand man.

you have two options, build it bigger and better


or buy an Evo :p

Aww, I am sorry about to hear about your car. Same thing happened to me a few years back. Giving it a little while sounds like a good idea. Hope everything works out for the best for you.

Glad your ok man. Definitly think about it. Ive had sooooo many times where I thought I wanted to get rid of my car. What happened if you dont mind me asking?

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Originally Posted by MR2

I understand man.

you have two options, build it bigger and better

or buy an Evo :p

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Haha, After I walked out of the car and looked over the damage. One of my first thoughts was (after "Oh good, my rims aren't damaged") "Maybe it's time to buy an Evo..." I think it was just an internal joke so the brevity of the situation wouldn't consume me.

I don't really want to get into the details of what happened, it's complex and I'd rather focus on the future than the past. There is money to be made :)

What I've concluded is that I'm just going to consider all of my 3S stuff is now 3 cars worth of parts with one potential shell that I can work with, no more than that. What I'll do with that shell is up in the air but I need to do something. I just don't want to start some big monster build project or anything, I'd just like it to be drivable again. I'll probably end up holding onto the block and transmission until someone locally absolutely needs one or the other.

But for the mean time, I'm going to be saving up and looking for a reliable and comfortable daily driver to have as a stable foundation for transport.

A 350Z has been in my sights for a little while, maybe a 3 series E46...

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. :sad:
I think you need to go ahead a get yourself a good DD and maybe just sit on the rest for a few months if you can.
By then you should have been able to weigh all the pros and cons and make a decision you can be happy with.
My son just bought a 350Z...really nice car.

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My VR4 is totaled. What should I do next?

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Cry

I would

Take your time and think it through before you start getting rid of parts. Glad you're ok!

That's definitely some bad news. As for what to do, there are some good suggestions out there already. I'd probably take the approach of just taking some time away from thinking about what to do & make your decision on what to do in a couple more months.

what year was ur vr4?

my first suggestion would be to wait until the shock wears off, then figure out what you are gunna do. There are plenty of people looking for the parts for an AWD swap, including me :)

im lookin for a 6 speed trans :)

@ bluzvr4 - It was a 94. I'll be keeping the transmission most likely. If I sell it, it's going for the price I paid for it 2000 miles ago, $3000. It's a rebuild with a Kormex LSD.

@ Green-Lantern - I cried when I wrecked my Stealth. That was a much more horrifyingly sad day. I didn't have the connection with my VR4 like I did (do) with my Stealth.

@ Everyone Else - Thanks for the advice on letting everything rest for a while. That's what I'm going to do. I've got a shell (NA) and enough parts to build myself a car so eventually, that's what I'm going to do. Just gotta relax for a while, save some money and, like Granny suggests, get a good daily driver.

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Originally Posted by tazman

Take your time and think it through before you start getting rid of parts. Glad you're ok!

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This!

Glad to hear you're ok and all. Hope no one else was hurt. Give it sometime and then come back to start-anew.

//Devils Advocate Mode

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Originally Posted by Blurr

I cried when I wrecked my Stealth. That was a much more horrifyingly sad day. I didn't have the connection with my VR4 like I did (do) with my Stealth.

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Not sure of either the "how" or the "why", but you might just want to go with something; lighter, slower, etc so to avoid any future events. Please don't take me wrong, just the pattern shows and it would suck that no one would point it out to you and find out later that you bit the big one.

//Mode off

Anyhow, good luck and yea, everyone here feels your pain in their own way.

Speed and weight had nothing to do with either event. I don't appreciate the insinuation...

I'm sorry to hear it man! :( I can relate. I'd definitely pick up a clean roller - they go for cheap - put your drivetrain in it and enjoy!

When all of this happened, I thought of the pictures of your car and how you must have felt, at least to a degree. I haven't done a lot of looking but I haven't seen any shells. Where did you find yours?

Blurr, I meant no disrespect. My sincerest of apologies if I offended you.

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Originally Posted by Blurr

When all of this happened, I thought of the pictures of your car and how you must have felt, at least to a degree. I haven't done a lot of looking but I haven't seen any shells. Where did you find yours?

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Yeah man - it's a huge bummer! I cried like a little girl. But, there really are shells all over. Cheap too. You can pick up a cheap roller for like $1k, I went with a gorgeous pearl white 92 TT i found in Mass for ~$2k. It needs work, but has a drivetrain and isn't a roller, but it was perfect since it's dent free with immaculate pearl white paint. It took a little while to find but it's worth waiting for the right one ...

It's great because you can use all the things you learned building the first one to build your shell correctly. Like, prepping and painting the underbody, dropping and painting all the subframes, getting rid of any rust, prepping and painting the engine bay, getting new bushings and hardware, all those great things.

If you put up a "shell wanted" ad somewhere - on either site I'm sure - they'll come out of the woodwork. People in the 3/S community are so willing to help out a fellow member it's crazy. I'm sure you'll be able to find what you want!

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Originally Posted by lawdogg

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Oh God, I saw you had posted here and thought it said you had started the thread and just though "Oh no, not again..." :P

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Originally Posted by Simace

Blurr, I meant no disrespect. My sincerest of apologies if I offended you.

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No worries.

@lawdogg - Damn! I really wish that I could afford the time and effort into finding a shell but I think it's a pipe-dream right now, along with owning another VR4. :(

I have an NA Stealth that is little more than a shell which really needs some love. I've been neglecting her entirely since the VSS went out. Some of the parts from the VR4 are going to be donated to her. I'll feel a whole hell of a lot better once she's back on the road again.

By chance, do you know what the difference is between 1st gen VR4 heads and 1st gen NA heads? The heads from the VR4 also have over-sized Ferrea valves. I'm hoping they wont interfere with the NA pistons.