Putting the nail in the coffin, and parting out my project car. 300k 07 Honda element.

Posted by sirjuiceofthebox@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 19 comments

I got a 2007 5MT awd element with 297k on it for $500. I gambled, and lost. Im about 3k into it, and it still keeps coming up with more shit for me to fix. Now, the rear end is unhappy. I've replaced all the suspension, shifter cables, shifter assembly, fixed various oil leaks, and replaced as many rubber mounts as I could, but it still keeps breaking.

I have a garage now, and want to find a 40s-early 60s project car. I would be lucky to get 2k for this car, but realistically I think I'll only get 1k, and it's not worth it to me to sell it for so little for a running and driving car.

I have the space and time, and after seeing the prices of sold items on eBay, I've decided to part it out. What are the big ticket items I should be trying to sell, and what is a waste of time? The interior is in decent shape, the engine and trans run no issues, although the motor needs love, the top end isn't too happy. The rear diff is either going to explode, or both rear wheel bearings are so shot, you can't hear anything while driving.

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SirBobSwarley@reddit

Post up some pics of the ol girl! That manual AWD set up actually sounds kinda cool and you might be surprised at the interest you'd get. That'd be something I'd seriously look at for the $1500-2000 range as a fix and drive situation based purely on the rarity of the set up!

As for parts, do some leg work on what sells on eBay at what price and maybe consult some forums or Facebook groups and you should get a good baseline of what's worth it to pull.

Good luck and don't mind the tough crowd. 300k mile Honda money pit is vastly different than an 80 year old money pit.

BackgroundRecipe3164@reddit

Sounds like you have a plan. Every project car ever is a money pit. If you are going to have a money pit in your garage anyways, why not have it be something fun that you like, not some random Honda that you don't even know why you started working on. You only go around once, use your time how you want and live bro. Good luck.

NitroBike@reddit

You have a Honda Element that’s a money pit but you want an 80 year old car that’s also going to be a money pit?

overindulgent@reddit

An 80 year old car that either you’ll need to buy for $20k and then dump another $20k into. Or buy for $5k and dump $40k into.

Lucreth2@reddit

40? Well I guess we are about doing everything ourselves here.

Unless you are some expert fabricator you’re going to end up buying a bunch of prefabricated body and interior panels. It’s all reproduction and not cheap. Same goes for substring as “simple” as an ls3. If you go crate motor you’re looking at $10k plus. If you pull it from a yard you’re still paying $3k to $5k. Fuel system is an easy grand. On the cheap side. Etcetera

You may have misinterpreted, 40 is wildly low depending on your goals. 40 in parts and materials maybe.

Ambivadox@reddit

$3500 might cover the seats and carpet. Not the whole seats, just recovering the ones you have... your new project does have seats right? Please tell me you have all the trim. No? Well there's another 2k or so. Shit! Busted tail light is $300 and you need two of them. See where I'm going? Good. I'll meet you there after 20 to 150k and 5-10 years.

If you're tossing it after $3500 you're not ready for a 40s-60s project.

$2k for trim? So he DOES have all of it then!

Bright_Crazy1015@reddit

Black book value on AWD 5 speed Element is like $8k BTW. I would go ahead and finish doing the bearings and brakes, maybe it needs a diff, maybe not, is it leaking oil at the rear?

The value is there and youre already $3k into it. You pull the ripcord and you will very likely lose money trying to part it out.

See what buyers will offer ie: Carvana, Carmax, etc. The drivetrain in the Element is sought after.

My ex totaled the one I lent her and it still sold for $1600, a bunch of twisted up metal, but the engine and trans were fine and that's all the guy cared about.