Clearing a Salvaged Title?

[76Nomad]

I heard a theory that if you can get an affidavit from an insurance company showing that a car was "salvaged" only because it was stolen that you can get the title cleared.

A friend that works for a recycling yard told me about a car that came in and I happen to recognize it from one of the forums I frequent. I know that it already has cams, polished head, forged internals and an aftermarket turbo kit. It was a theft recovery with only broken glass, missing seats, and missing speakers. No body or structural damage. They want want $5k under low blue book for it and I could fix everything for under $2,500. Plus it has about $4k already done to the motor.

Is it too good to be true?

[peterpan]

who cares unless you just plan to sell it

[spyder_xlch]

I don't know how AZ works but in PA if you buy a salvaged car and fix it you must get a "reconstructed" title if you want to put it on the road again.

[v8astregt]

In AZ, there is no way that I know of to clear a salvaged title. Just get a "restored salvage", most people don't have any problem with it as long as you're up front with the damage (i.e. it wasn't hit by a train).


I've only had a title cleared ONCE. That was my lucky day. My Astre was actually a "dismantle" title since it was in a salvage yard. After salvage inspection, the guy told me he was gonna make my day... and give me a clean title! I'm not sure how he could do it, but he did. Something about it not attempted to be titled as salvaged and staying salvaged... but since I restored mine to nice, driving condition he went ahead and did it. Don't know the whole process, but I ain't complaining!

[76Nomad]

Yeah I saw the "restored salvage" on the AZ MVD website, but was hoping to avoid the branded title.

Originally I was gonna swipe the motor for our Vega but they don't want to part the car. So then I was thinking of getting the car, swaping for a stock motor and selling it after making it drivable again. Keeping the built motor for the Vega still. Plus any profit from the sale would go towards more parts for the Vega.

Not really sure it is worth the effort though. Especially if I can't turn it around. We already have one car per driver and more cars than we have room in our driveway.

[spyder_xlch]

What is it and what's the price?

[76Nomad]

It's a 2006 Cobalt SS Supercharged with a GT2871RS turbo conversion, 10:1 forged pistons, a set of mildly reground cams and a polished head. If tuned properly it should be capable of well over 300whp.

The place wants 8K for it. Low blue book for a clean title is about 14K. I priced out seats, glass, and speakers at approx $2,300, and that's with buffered prices.

I don't have 11K to just throw away so I'm relectant to try. Although the turbo is much more apealling to the sport compact tuner crowd, the Cobalt is still considered a red headed step child of the group.

[spyder_xlch]

If you bought the car for 8K and put 2K into it, and sold it for 14K you just made 4K. But you want to keep the engine and put a stock engine in it, you'll need another computer and wiring to get it to work in your car...let's say you have another 4K into it and break even on it. You basicly got the engine you wanted for free.

[76Nomad]

After more thought I would just leave that motor in there and build a stock motor. I wanted to stick with stock compression or possible slightly lower and use a more aggresive cam.

Still debating if I really want to take the financial risk or not.

[rickswagon]

dealer auction price is 10 to 14k not salvaged in cali with a salvage title it would be worth about 5 to 6 k at a dealer

be careful trying to make money on it

[spyder_xlch]

It's a 2006 Cobalt SS Supercharged with a GT2871RS turbo conversion, 10:1 forged pistons, a set of mildly reground cams and a polished head. If tuned properly it should be capable of well over 300whp.

The place wants 8K for it. Low blue book for a clean title is about 14K. I priced out seats, glass, and speakers at approx $2,300, and that's with buffered prices.

I don't have 11K to just throw away so I'm relectant to try. Although the turbo is much more apealling to the sport compact tuner crowd, the Cobalt is still considered a red headed step child of the group.

Question #1, what's the turbo conversion? They replace the super charger with a turbo?
Question #2, isn't 10:1 alittle high for a forced induction engine?
Question #3, how much were you willing to pay for the engine? Is it possible you could buy the car, pull the engine and part out the rest and make enough to make it worth it?

[76Nomad]

dealer auction price is 10 to 14k not salvaged in cali with a salvage title it would be worth about 5 to 6 k at a dealer

be careful trying to make money on it

Thanks. That's why I am hesitant to go for it.


1. Yes they swapped the super out for a turbo. A very good sized turbo for the motor. Spools very quickly, but maybe a little small for over 400hp.

2. Typically yes. Most people go for an 8:1 or 8.5:1 compression. Some people use higher compression so they don't need to use as much boost to make power. I would rather stick to the stock 9.5:1 or maybe 9:1

3. I don't know if I could get rid of an entire car plus I don't have place to store it for very long.
The motor and turbo is probably worth $4K-$5K used. If the parts were all new:

~$3k for turbo kit
~$700 for pistons
~$600 for cams
~$1k for the port/polished head
plus ~$3k for a new crate motor

That's without accessories, PCM, harness and etc.

[spyder_xlch]

Well then it's probably worth it to buy it for the engine, accessories, PCM, etc and then part the rest out to make alittle money back. Is it worth it to you is the question. I'd rather have an $8K SBC.

[76Nomad]

damn. I found out it has upgraded valvetrain too. Add another $2k to that list of parts and a 9K redline...only with an aftermarket PCM. The stock one can't be tuned higher than 8250.

My Dad wanted to start with a SBC, but I wanted something that would be a little more unique and fuel friendly on the street. I swayed him to the darkside of 4 cyl. performance.

[spyder_xlch]

Buy the car, put the drivetrain in the back of your Nomad. Part out the rest of the car and sell the Vega drivetrain. Have a very unique car.