Buying a LSx donor vehicle - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

65Gregg · 11-24-2015, 06:50 PM

I would like to hear from those of you who bought donor LSx vehicles and sold what you didn't use. Did you use Co-Part, Insurance Auto Auction etc.? Did you make your money back? I know each instance will be different but I'm looking at the various options available so please share your stories. Thanks!

fast70swb · 11-24-2015, 09:20 PM

I bought a 2007 gmc 2500 hd from a guy for a $1,000 that was totaled by his insurance. Complete truck took everything I wanted for my ls swap. Sold the other parts on Craigslist made $1,400 off parts then sold the cab and frame to a salvage yard for $300

Took me 2 week to get it all sold after I go it. Well worth it if you have time, pleace and patience

Tilt · 11-25-2015, 07:45 AM

I bought a 2004 Escalade ESV Platinum with a bad fuel pump off of Craigslist for $2000. After parting it out and trading for parts I needed, I made roughly a $2500 PROFIT and had a FREE LQ9, 4L80, TAC, pedal, and still had a lot of parts left that I gave away. If you have the space, time, and want to, buying a complete donor is the way to go. I could have made quite a bit more, but sold a lot of it pretty cheap and didn't really have the space to store stuff and sell everything I could have.

solidaxel · 11-25-2015, 12:01 PM

2003 Tahoe had everything I needed, except for all the pack rat Sh*t and cactus, and mesquite beans!
Made the cost of the engine & trasns and any other parts I needed still have the body and roller to dispose of, this is a no rust Az truck so no frozen bolts.
Look for a complete truck if you have the room and a bit of sweat you are home free

MalibuSSwagon · 11-25-2015, 12:26 PM

My donor was a pretty beat 2000 Z71 with a stepside, the good bedside made me most of my money back. I'm up $8.00 in profit after selling most of the parts. Still have doors, seats, transfer case, and grill to dispose of.

Time of year helps, this was in april and most popular parts sold within a week. Trying to part out a truck now and no one's got money haha. Just going to stockpile and keep renewing the CL ads.

ls1nova71 · 11-25-2015, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solidaxel

2003 Tahoe had everything I needed, except for all the pack rat Sh*t and cactus, and mesquite beans!

So, did you have to buy that stuff separately?

solidaxel · 11-25-2015, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

So, did you have to buy that stuff separately?

Ahhhh no, but I can ship you 5 gal. if you would like some petrified dog sh*t

**michael bustamante** · 11-25-2015, 02:14 PM

just bought a 2003 yukon xl hit in the right front for 1000.00 for my ls swap. with the doors going for 200 each and the seats going for 80.00 plus all the other stuff ill definatly make my money back

72LSK10 · 11-26-2015, 01:16 AM

I bought a 2004 GTO with 67K miles on the LS1 and T-56 for $5,900 from an insurance auction that was rear ended and was full of performance upgrades. I sold the lowered suspension, seats, some glass, some body panels, headers and other misc parts. I kept the motor, tranny, fuel tank and all the wiring. Still have some parts from the car left and have made $4,500 so far. Can't beat it.

izzy_Britton · 11-28-2015, 03:47 AM

Apparently I am the dumb one in this group.

bought a 2003 suburban roll over $500. a buddy wanted the front seats for his burb and the dash parts for his wifes yukon. In trade for pulling the engine trans, complete engine wire harness, TAC & pedal, exhaust, and fuel sending unit. he gets the rest of the truck.

nice trade in my opinion. i get the parts i need, pulled, cleaned and ready to go, he gets the busted knuckles and gets to dispose of the carcass.

-Izzy

Crash'd Artwerks · 11-30-2015, 05:39 PM

I always just keep an eye out on Craigslist and use different search words like "wrecked, crashed, totaled, parting out, parts, Yukon, Suburban, Silverado, Sierra", etc. and search in the "auto parts" section AND "cars & trucks" section.

I bought a 2004 GMC Yukon with 147k miles that the back of the roof was crushed but it still ran and drove, for $1,200.

11-24-2015, 06:50 PM	#1
65Gregg Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Willis, Texas Posts: 754	Buying a LSx donor vehicle I would like to hear from those of you who bought donor LSx vehicles and sold what you didn't use. Did you use Co-Part, Insurance Auto Auction etc.? Did you make your money back? I know each instance will be different but I'm looking at the various options available so please share your stories. Thanks! __________________ 65Gregg Blue long bed White TBSS 61 Impala “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Mark Twain

11-24-2015, 09:20 PM	#2
fast70swb Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bridge Creek , Oklahoma Posts: 69	Re: Buying a LSx donor vehicle I bought a 2007 gmc 2500 hd from a guy for a $1,000 that was totaled by his insurance. Complete truck took everything I wanted for my ls swap. Sold the other parts on Craigslist made $1,400 off parts then sold the cab and frame to a salvage yard for $300 Took me 2 week to get it all sold after I go it. Well worth it if you have time, pleace and patience

11-25-2015, 07:45 AM	#3
Tilt Registered User Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Dayton, TX Posts: 335	Re: Buying a LSx donor vehicle I bought a 2004 Escalade ESV Platinum with a bad fuel pump off of Craigslist for $2000. After parting it out and trading for parts I needed, I made roughly a $2500 PROFIT and had a FREE LQ9, 4L80, TAC, pedal, and still had a lot of parts left that I gave away. If you have the space, time, and want to, buying a complete donor is the way to go. I could have made quite a bit more, but sold a lot of it pretty cheap and didn't really have the space to store stuff and sell everything I could have. __________________ '83 Silverado Step Side '85 GMC short bed. '86 Chevy Step Side Custom Deluxe LQ9/4L80 swap (SOLD)

11-25-2015, 12:01 PM	#4
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: Buying a LSx donor vehicle 2003 Tahoe had everything I needed, except for all the pack rat Sh*t and cactus, and mesquite beans! Made the cost of the engine & trasns and any other parts I needed still have the body and roller to dispose of, this is a no rust Az truck so no frozen bolts. Look for a complete truck if you have the room and a bit of sweat you are home free __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

11-25-2015, 12:26 PM	#5
MalibuSSwagon Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Weare,NH Posts: 1,592	Re: Buying a LSx donor vehicle My donor was a pretty beat 2000 Z71 with a stepside, the good bedside made me most of my money back. I'm up $8.00 in profit after selling most of the parts. Still have doors, seats, transfer case, and grill to dispose of. Time of year helps, this was in april and most popular parts sold within a week. Trying to part out a truck now and no one's got money haha. Just going to stockpile and keep renewing the CL ads. __________________ Eric 1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser 1986 Chevrolet C10\|5.3L\|TKO600\|Shortbed\|Custom Deluxe 1983 Malibu Wagon\|TPI 305\|T5 5 speed\|3.73 non-posi

11-25-2015, 02:14 PM	#8
michael bustamante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 7,862	Re: Buying a LSx donor vehicle just bought a 2003 yukon xl hit in the right front for 1000.00 for my ls swap. with the doors going for 200 each and the seats going for 80.00 plus all the other stuff ill definatly make my money back __________________ 1967custom

11-26-2015, 01:16 AM	#9
72LSK10 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 127	Re: Buying a LSx donor vehicle I bought a 2004 GTO with 67K miles on the LS1 and T-56 for $5,900 from an insurance auction that was rear ended and was full of performance upgrades. I sold the lowered suspension, seats, some glass, some body panels, headers and other misc parts. I kept the motor, tranny, fuel tank and all the wiring. Still have some parts from the car left and have made $4,500 so far. Can't beat it.

11-28-2015, 03:47 AM	#10
izzy_Britton Registered User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Nor-Cal Posts: 632	Re: Buying a LSx donor vehicle Apparently I am the dumb one in this group. bought a 2003 suburban roll over $500. a buddy wanted the front seats for his burb and the dash parts for his wifes yukon. In trade for pulling the engine trans, complete engine wire harness, TAC & pedal, exhaust, and fuel sending unit. he gets the rest of the truck. nice trade in my opinion. i get the parts i need, pulled, cleaned and ready to go, he gets the busted knuckles and gets to dispose of the carcass. -Izzy __________________ WHO_DCTC - Wifes 05 Z-71 Build - Now defunct as she decided she wants an Escalade too Cream Puff - LS'd Square - Slow going on the back burner Tripple Threat - 3 Wrecks for the price of one build thread Project Delongdium - Step-Sons Plastic Clad 2003 Avalanche - DONE and Delivered.

11-30-2015, 05:39 PM	#11
Crash'd Artwerks Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: McKinney, TEXAS ! Posts: 84	Re: Buying a LSx donor vehicle I always just keep an eye out on Craigslist and use different search words like "wrecked, crashed, totaled, parting out, parts, Yukon, Suburban, Silverado, Sierra", etc. and search in the "auto parts" section AND "cars & trucks" section. I bought a 2004 GMC Yukon with 147k miles that the back of the roof was crushed but it still ran and drove, for $1,200.



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