How do people with modified cars work out insurance?

[mwmorph]

I was just wondering, with these cars I see posted on here that obviously have mods that add a significant price to your car, who do you insure with? Do you find Hagherty's or Grundy's Premiums lower than say Progressive or USAA after you fill out the modification list? At what point do you find it is no longer a smart idea to stay with a normal insurance carrier?

I'm planning on doing quite a few mods to my car, but I guess this is just one of those questions you don't think about until you need to.

 

[jlee]

I think I can add up to $5000 in aftermarket coverage with Progressive. Once I have a garage I'll look at one of the custom insurance places, but they often require secured parking.

 

[T2urtle]

Nationwide covers $3000 of mods right off the bat. My agent told me I just need proof of receipt. In some cases a picture and empty boxes are needed. I could opt for more coverage as well.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I had 3500 of extras on the wife's Escape put on by the dealer.

Once the dealer confirmed that they had it installed; Progressive added them to the value of the vehicle when it was totaled.

As stated above, 3-5K additional coverage ver book value built in as long as there are receipts. Above, that you need an extra binder.

 

[Throckmorton]

Do they cover the full cost of mods?

 

[mwmorph]

Well that's reassuring, but what about guys like AdamK47 or Exdeath? I plan in the long term to build up a fairly reliable, forged, bored/stroked N/A motor and bulletproof drivetrain. My end goal is 600RWHP from a minimum 8000rpm redline V8 which is going to cost me from what I can tell closer to $20k when it's all said and done with including a new T56 transmission and beefing up all the drivetrain.

 

[NutBucket]

Its called pony up if its your daily driver. And, call your insurance company.

 

[96Firebird]

You're going to send 600RWHP through a T56? Is it going to be built?

 

[exdeath]

T-56 can handle it no problem, just make sure it has a 26 spline input shaft instead of the crappy 10 spline. If it can handle 1.6s 60 ft launches all day from the 700+ lb-ft @ 2000 RPM torque hit of a roots/twin screw blown 3600 lb car, it can handle a 8000 RPM N/A engine without a sweat.

The mods on my car are fairly cheap; that's the appeal of the car. I pay $3k for a Kenne Bell while everyone else pays $8k+. I have receipts and insurance for the stuff I care about, mostly to get me back up and running ASAP. Coverage would only really apply for theft. In the case of a total loss accident, I'm allowed to remove all my aftermarket parts and place the stock parts in the trunk before the insurance tows it away anyway. At this point I'd probably just add the parts to the insurance company check and hunt for an already similarly modded setup; eg: make it like it never happened as quickly as possible.

The built motor/drive train on my car is factory.

 

[mwmorph]

You're going to send 600RWHP through a T56? Is it going to be built?

The New T56 Magnum XL is rated to 700ft/lbs with a 26 spline and eliminates the remote shifter linkage that the MT82 has.

T-56 can handle it no problem, just make sure it has a 26 spline input shaft instead of the crappy 10 spline. If it can handle 1.6s 60 ft launches all day from the 700+ lb-ft @ 2000 RPM torque hit of a roots/twin screw blown car, it can handle a 8000 RPM N/A engine without a sweat.

The mods on my car are fairly cheap; that's the appeal of the car. I pay $3k for a Kenne Bell while everyone else pays $8k+.

The built motor/drive train on my car is factory.

Hmm, I assumed you were running upgraded forged internals, but the original Eliminator internals were a beast IIRC.

 

[exdeath]

The New T56 Magnum XL is rated to 700ft/lbs with a 26 spline and eliminates the remote shifter linkage that the MT82 has.




Hmm, I assumed you were running upgraded forged internals, but the original Eliminator internals were a beast IIRC.

Terminator? Iron block, Manley H beam rods, 8.5:1 forged pistons, and 4340 forged crank, and ARP hardware are factory stock.

The only weak point in the factory setup is P2W clearance was intentionally made too tight (.001") to eliminate cold start slap, combined with 5th and 6th being overdrive gears, making prolonged boost in 5th and 6th as in top speed runs, a cylinder wall death sentence. Other than that I don't recall that anyone has blown one up other than because a tuning error or fuel problem, not power. Even after user error the most I've seen happen are things like cracked ring lands and holes in pistons and such, I've never seen a set of rods that weren't reused in the rebuild.

That and for whatever reason the Ford T56 comes with a 10 spline input shaft. I've corrected the problem.

 

[fbrdphreak]

I had a full suspension on my GTO when it was totaled. State Farm said they only pay for things that did not come on the car. Things like wheels, suspension, and of course an engine come with the car as you bought it, whether yours are upgraded or not, and would not be considered in the value of the car.

 

[mwmorph]

Terminator? Iron block, Manley H beam rods, 8.5:1 forged pistons, and 4340 forged crank, and ARP hardware are factory stock.

The only weak point in the factory setup is P2W clearance was intentionally made too tight (.001") to eliminate cold start slap, combined with 5th and 6th being overdrive gears, making prolonged boost in 5th and 6th as in top speed runs, a cylinder wall death sentence. Other than that I don't recall that anyone has blown one up other than because a tuning error or fuel problem, not power.

That and for whatever reason the Ford T56 comes with a 10 spline input shaft. I've corrected the problem.

Yeah, my bad, I haven't slept in a couple days, I'm not sure where Eliminator came from, I think it was because I've been thinking about doing C clip eliminators on the axle for the last couple hours.

That sounds like the perfect setup though, I've been looking prices for 4032 Mahle pistons and Manley H beams to put on the crank, should be good for torque way beyond what is intelligent to put on the street.

 

[exdeath]

Yeah, my bad, I haven't slept in a couple days, I'm not sure where Eliminator came from, I think it was because I've been thinking about doing C clip eliminators on the axles for the last couple hours.

We were talking about short block builds and I've heard the term "Eliminator short block" used by many engine builders.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I had a full suspension on my GTO when it was totaled. State Farm said they only pay for things that did not come on the car. Things like wheels, suspension, and of course an engine come with the car as you bought it, whether yours are upgraded or not, and would not be considered in the value of the car.

Did you notify them in advance of the mods?

 

[foghorn67]

I had a full suspension on my GTO when it was totaled. State Farm said they only pay for things that did not come on the car. Things like wheels, suspension, and of course an engine come with the car as you bought it, whether yours are upgraded or not, and would not be considered in the value of the car.

You need to notify them in advance. It doesn't necessarily mean your rates would go up.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Interesting. Did not know that.

 

[gevorg]

What about radical mods, like e46 gas-to-electric conversion? Do insurance companies care how exactly you mod your car, or they just go by legality and value?

 

[nismotigerwvu]

In my experience with Westfield, all I had to do was talk to my agent and explain the modifications and their value and it was pretty much taken care of. I know the rates on my 300ZX went up slightly, but it wasn't anything major.

 

[DaTT]

I pay $3k for a Kenne Bell while everyone else pays $8k+.

Ummmm, excuse me sir. Would it be possible to introduce me to your contacts? I would love a stage 2 Kenne Bell setup on my S197, especially at a 5k discount

 

[exdeath]

Ummmm, excuse me sir. Would it be possible to introduce me to your contacts? I would love a stage 2 Kenne Bell setup on my S197, especially at a 5k discount

My car is already blown. All I get is the plain blower that's just a bolt on swap that takes literally an hour.

Other's are more than double that because they include the entire belt drive system, intercooler system, manifolds, throttle, plenum, intake, fuel systems, possibly alternator and battery relocation kit, etc. Plus I'm sure there is a "luxury tax" depending on the car it's for. Kits for cars that are newer, more stylish, newly popular, or had a higher MSRP are going to cost even more "just because".

I wonder if they also pad the cost to cover themselves with insurance for their n/a kits, eg: warranty claims for blown motors they get blamed for.