$10,000: fix or sell?

[Markus Meyer]

There was a recent similar situation where the Bird sold for 5K I believe in that condition, another few thousand to have it towed. Towing these monsters isn't cheap.



Having said that, I'd check around for a used motor, you can find one for less than the price you are being quoted, including installation.

Markus

86 PT40 6V92

---

To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
From: gregy1@...
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 20:53:10 -0700
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] $10,000: fix or sell?

On the road to Burning Man two weeks ago our '86 PT-40, Bluefire, overheated. Background and story later, but it is now at Britt's Diesel & Automotive in Bishop CA. It's a family run shop with some mechanics old enough to know the 8V92.

Thus far I have a verbal estimate of around $10,000 to fix it, including cracked heads, cracked liner, cooling system and turbo damage. My fundamental questions are:
Does anyone have any experience with Britt?
What are the economics of selling (broken) it if we chose not to fix it?

I think we will fix it but want to understand the options. If we end up selling it I imagine we'd need to tow it to L.A. to find a customer. But what might it be worth and how long to sell for pats?

Background:
On our trip last year the hydraulic fan started to not come on. I assumed it was the high temp switch and just hit the override when needed. I replaced the switch before this trip expecting it to fix it but there was something else wrong - relay? - and I had to continue to rely on the override. So I foolishly thought to save a few pennies on fuel by switching the fan off on downhill runs. Of course there was the moment of distraction when I forgot to turn the fan on and we overheated about 17 miles west Of Tonopah NV. Our Good Sam ERS would only pay to
Towto Bishop even though the nearest DD authorized service center was in Reno. The surcharge to tow to Reno would have been $1400. So it's in Bishop.

Thanks
Greg