Hi folks, I have a 1992 Chrysler Spirit R/T that has been sitting outdoors for 10 years without being started, so it needs to be painted. However, I need to know if it would be a good idea to restore it to use as a personal car, or would it be a waste of money? I appreciate everyone’s attention and responses!
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Can you turn the engine over, either by hand or with a jump? If not, the engine might be seized. Are the brakes functional? After sitting for more than 2 decades, I would expect that a lot of expensive repairs would be needed, but only a mechanic can say for sure.
Why not have it towed to a shop, for their opinion? I suspect that the car will need a lot more than a repaint, and that it probably wouldn’t be realistic to use it as a daily driver. How big is your repair budget?
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VDC is correct. You need to spend the money to have a shop check the engine and look for rust that mght compromise the struture.
Paint ? easily reach 5000 or a lot more .
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Is it parked on grass? Or pavement?
Arizona? Dry? Or Pennsylvania?
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And, when one considers the current value of that car, spending more than… maybe… a few hundred dollars on repairing it would seem to be a poor decision. According to KBB, the resale value of a 1992 Dodge Spirit R/T sedan is around $1,479, with a trade-in value of $585.
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It all depends on the condition of the vehicle in it’s current state…
Are YOU doing all the repairs? or having a shop do the work??
If you are doing it then depending on rust (my crystal ball is broke), it can be done for not much money, under a thousand unless it needs a engine or transaxle, maybe even a few hundred $…
If paying a shop, well, 5 hours labor will probably easily total the vehicle depending on shop rates in your area…
Let us know who is doing the work and we will help more…
Paint can be done for a few hundred dollars for an economy (cheap) paint job…but remember you get what you pay for…
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Remember, the Spirit R/T is not the common trim level with a NA engine, automatic transmission, and column-mounted shifter. This is a sporty trim level with a turbocharged engine, etc. This is worth more than a basic economy car.
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This '91 R/T with needs got bid up to $3050:
1991 Dodge Spirit R/T | eBay
It’s the only one I could find.
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If you want to get this thing up and running after sitting ten years, plus have it painted, it’ll cost more than the vehicle is worth. I found 1 93 Sprint R/T for sale in the U.S. for $3000.00.
Tester
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It’s also more likely that the previous owner(s) thrashed it.
Maybe it wasn’t thrashed, but a thorough inspection by a qualified mechanic is needed in order for the OP to get some idea of its current condition.
The KBB valuation that I posted above was for this exact model (in running condition), not a lower-level K-car.
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Paint is the least of your worries. Every mechanical system on the car is in need of some major attention. Why has it been sitting outside for 10 years?
That’s really up to you and only you. How much do you like the car or what sentimental value does it hold? As far as using it as a daily driver, you will be sorely disappointed when comparing it to a modern day car. But maybe it was grandpa’s car, and every moment you spend behind the wheel will be a great joy. So who knows? Just remember, you will never recover the cost of repairs or restoration. On paper it’s always a losing proposition. The value comes from how much you like the car.
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Thanks to all for your answers. I forgot to tell you all… i’m from Mexico, so the repairs are a little bit cheaper than the USA. The car was parking in the garage, about 10 years. My budget is around $1476 dollars, i think is enough in Mexico.
I am very grateful for all your answers! Best wishes!!
P.S. The car was parking lot of years cause the owner died (my uncle), and i want to rescue the car.
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Sounds like you’re in a good situation for getting it back running. The body is probably in good shape. One big question is the engine - the turbo could be shot, and replacing it could be challenging (see the listing I posted, the seller gave up because he couldn’t get the old turbo off). So having the engine’s condition evaluated would be step #1 for me.
If you want a quick answer on whether the engine might run, get some Marvel Mystery Oil and put about 10cc in each cylinder through the spark plug ports. Let it sit overnight. They next day use a fresh battery and see if it will turn over without the spark plugs reinstalled. If it works, you may have a chance of using the engine. Still, thats a long way from having. Running car that you can use, but it’s a start.
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One more problem - they only made about 1208 of them, so any engine parts could be tough to find. More here:
Dodge Spirit R/T: fastest four-door in America, 1991-92
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I think this is a really bad pipe dream
The car will never be worth much, no matter what you do to it
And I don’t think it’s a good choice for a daily driver, either
Sooner or later . . . probably SOONER . . . something will break and/or wear down that is no longer available, not rebuildable, etc.
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Now that I’ve read this, I say go for it. The last time i saw the most important person in my life, my uncle Ben, he was getting into his 1963 Chrysler New Yorker to go to work. I spent a good portion of my childhood in that car. I’d give anything to own that car. Money is not a consideration, so do it.
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I’d take on that 1963 New Yorker before I touch a 1992 Spirit
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I’m going to caution against this as I have personal experience with what can happen. The starter motor can produce a lot of torque on the motor. It can easily break rings that are stuck. Especially older brittle ones. After this long, it is a better choice to use hand power to try and rotate the engine before attempting to start it. As mentioned, plugs out, oil in, rest to soak and then use a breaker bar on the crank to try and slowly rotate the engine by hand.
If you break rings attempting to start it, it may not be immediately obvious but you’ll know pretty soon thereafter…
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Low compression and “the great american smokeout” . . . ? 
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