What do you do with an old worn out car? (gasket, engine)

[Narfcake]

How about selling it to someone who'll race it, 24 Hours of LeMons style?

That's LeMons, not LeMans.

[M3 Mitch]

"Shot" is not a very scientific diagnosis of your engine problems.

If you can't bend your own wrenches it's probably better to get rid of this, see if your mechanic wants it, or knows someone who does.

I like to keep *well-designed* older cars running and by doing my own work have reliable cars for peanuts, but this vintage of Chrysler is not known for being all that well-designed.

I *think* what you would be getting for $800 is a new water pump and timing belt setup (not that familiar with these cars, but I think they have timing belts)...

[Deez Nuttz]

You could always fill the car with explosives, then push it over a cliff just before the explosives detonate...all while filming it and then put the film on youtube. Kidding of course but that would be cool.

You could also call up your local fire department and ask them if they want it....they'll end up using it for training either fire extinguishing training or jaws of life training.

[jtur88]

I ask around my neighborhood, and try to find someone who desperately needs a car, can't afford one, and knows someone who can do the labor. Or someone who is willing to endure the defects in order to have a way to just get to work and back. Then I just give it them to them and wish them well. I just gave one away last week. I refuse to accept money from people who are in economic straits, for something that may or may not be of any value. If I have something I don't need, I prefer to give it to someone who can get good use from it and can't otherwise afford it.

People in my neighborhood are pretty good about things like that. Usable trash goes next to the dumpster, in case anyone can use it.

Adding a political aside, I think the Cash for Clunkers was one of the most shameful days in US history, crushing all those cars that single moms could have afforded to use to get their kids to day care on their way to work.

[Lucky Lady123]

I got $150 for my old Lumina from the auto salvage guy who came and took it, so check around.

[jc76]

Originally Posted by Deez Nuttz

You could always fill the car with explosives, then push it over a cliff just before the explosives detonate...all while filming it and then put the film on youtube. Kidding of course but that would be cool.

You could also call up your local fire department and ask them if they want it....they'll end up using it for training either fire extinguishing training or jaws of life training.

Deez is right on. Give it to the local firefighters. They will use it for practice. Could end up saving someones life

Plus it's really fun to watch them open up a car like a can of sardines, or set it on FIRE!!!!

[Marlow]

Put an ad on Craig's List that says "Free car. Needs $800 in repairs. You haul it away."

[bjh]

Got a more detailed first hand explanation from the mechanic today:

The water pump seized up.

The timing belt is not slipped off, but mechanic thinks the engine has been overheated. Thinks the, I forget, cylinders (?) have been warped.

Price for water pump and timing belt is $650. But he thinks that it's a 50/50 shot that if the water pump and timing belt was repaired the engine would be crap anyway.

[guy1]

The junkyard hauled mine away for free and gave me $70 to boot. The car was totaled and inoperable. I paid well under $200 for it and drove it for 6 months.

[Bigg Mann]

Donate it to a high school shop class and let them rebuild it, do bodywork, and paint it and then sell it for money for school. When I was in school someone did this at our shop class and alot of guys got great experiance out of it.