78 Pace car
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
78 Pace car
I just bought a 78 pace car and am in the process of restoring it. It had sat in a field for the last 15 or so years and has 19k actual miles on it. My question is that I am thinking of removing the stock engine and replacing it with a 400 hp 383 motor that my uncle can build for me. He owns an engine shop in Romeoville, IL and this new engine would be awesome, should I do this or not? How would it affect the resale value if I stored the original L82? Could I sell the car with both engines and bring even more money? Or should I just freshen up the original engine and put miles on it?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,380
Likes: 226
From: Beecher Illinois
Build the motor you want, but by all means hang on to the original L82. Don't know if having 2 motors would really get you more money when selling but having the original available would definitely help resale.
How did you come across a 19K mile Pace Car sitting in a field????
Mike
How did you come across a 19K mile Pace Car sitting in a field????
Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,342
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Area Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08
While I'm not rich by any means, I say forget about the value if that's what you want. GO FOR IT!
You can see by my pic I needed to put my own sig to my Pace Car, Like you though I saved all the stock parts for resale.
You can see by my pic I needed to put my own sig to my Pace Car, Like you though I saved all the stock parts for resale.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,509
Likes: 1,518
From: Little Rock AR
Keep the original parts and have fun with it. There are a LOT of pacers out there still in the wrapper to compete with when you try to sell so why restore one that has been neglected? Unless you want to do a resto for enjoyment and damn the cost the effort is not going to be financialy in your favor. 
-Mark.
-Mark.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
response
Well down here in Mississippi people hold on to things in curious places I found out, especially 75 year old men with a cow farm. The man bought the car back in mid 80's from a nephew who couldn't afford it and this old man had plenty of money so he just parks it in the field and there she sat. The nephew had banged up the front left quarter and over time the old man's grand kids would play in it and tore the seats, broke the mirrors off, cracked the rear spoiler, and the complete interior will need to be replaced. The car had 3 owners and all are in the old man's family. Hey guppie if you were to sell your car what do you think it would bring? Just curious what it would be worth with that sweet set up you have under the hood. And are there really that many 78 pace cars out there with this kind of mileage as stingr69 stated, if so I don't really have what I thought did. Thanks for the comments and suggestions
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 5
From: 2010 C6 Grand Sport Convertible
Originally Posted by stingr69
Keep the original parts and have fun with it. There are a LOT of pacers out there still in the wrapper to compete with when you try to sell so why restore one that has been neglected? Unless you want to do a resto for enjoyment and damn the cost the effort is not going to be financialy in your favor.
-Mark.
-Mark.
I've learned the hard way.Mike
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 7,582
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From: In The Hardwoods Up North
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
I think you will probably have $25,000 in a car that would be worth $15,000 when you get it all back together and restored.
Thats one reason why buying one already finished is such a deal. Because in the end it will usually cost less. I am not referreing to the high end unique LT1 or L88 models, but more of the L48, L82 cars.
Buy it because you like the style.
Restore it becasue thats your hobby.
Build it to suit your tastes.
kdf
Thats one reason why buying one already finished is such a deal. Because in the end it will usually cost less. I am not referreing to the high end unique LT1 or L88 models, but more of the L48, L82 cars.
Buy it because you like the style.
Restore it becasue thats your hobby.
Build it to suit your tastes.
kdf
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
pics
I'll see what I can do for pics. I've already got 13k in it before the paint job so we'll see how much it costs me. The good news is I have 3 Meineke car care centers and my labor is free and parts are at cost,on the bright side. I have decided to stay stock with the engine and freshen it up a little, hope I'm making the right decision