What's a #'s mathing engine worth.....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
What's a #'s mathing engine worth.....
Is a # matching engine worth anything without the car? ( This may be a dumb question to some but take it easy on me please) There is a car for sale with a motor installed and the # matching comes with it. I don't want or need the # matching engine because i want to build the motor anyway. Thanks for the help! 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,921
Likes: 0
From: GA "When I grow up, I'm gonna get a Trans Am and run from the cops". Direct quote from my 4yo son.
Take the matching # motor and travel on home. The motor makes the car worth the money. The motor without the car is just another motor. Purists will want that original motor and it's always a cool point especially if it's a desirable motor. Just my .02
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
A correctly numbered motor and a numbers matching are two diffenert things.
If you've got a 68 as Kyle does and don't have the original motor a correctly numbered motor ( meaning another 68 corvette motor) is exceptable.
If you've got a 68 as Kyle does and don't have the original motor a correctly numbered motor ( meaning another 68 corvette motor) is exceptable.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Originally Posted by Kyle69-71 BBs
What year car?
What motor did it come with?
Some are worth $$ to the right person.
Right now I would gladly buy a 68 vette motor....
WE need details.
What motor did it come with?
Some are worth $$ to the right person.
Right now I would gladly buy a 68 vette motor....
WE need details.
I've got a 68 327/300 complete drivetrain as well as whats left of the body.
Pro
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 550
Likes: 2
From: smithfield nc usa 27577
I have my # matching block and heads 327-350 hp
But need alot of the bolt on stuff
The car has a hot Sb in it....but I have not had a chance to look at everything to see what was used from the original set up, just bought her this week.
What do you need for what you have?
Also I really need some better doors....vert.
I am a little cash poor after buying the car....be gentle
Kyle
But need alot of the bolt on stuff
The car has a hot Sb in it....but I have not had a chance to look at everything to see what was used from the original set up, just bought her this week.
What do you need for what you have?
Also I really need some better doors....vert.
I am a little cash poor after buying the car....be gentle
Kyle
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,800
Likes: 1,943
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Acceptable ???
Originally Posted by DZRick
A correctly numbered motor and a numbers matching are two diffenert things.
If you've got a 68 as Kyle does and don't have the original motor a correctly numbered motor ( meaning another 68 corvette motor) is exceptable.
If you've got a 68 as Kyle does and don't have the original motor a correctly numbered motor ( meaning another 68 corvette motor) is exceptable.
ACCEPTABLE is very generic, to a N.C.R.S or BLOOOMINGTON judge it is useless, wrong motor is wrong motor period, including if you ever want to retain big money for your car, a no match is a no match no matter what & reduces the value of EVERY CORVETTE..............FACT
with a sample exception of like a DRAGSTER, and an owner who just doesnt care. MOST DO.......
ZIXXX PACKER
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: NY
Originally Posted by 427SIXPACK
a no match is a no match no matter what & reduces the value of EVERY CORVETTE..............FACT
on your theory. I would pay more money for say a '76 L-48 car that had a 572 in it than I would pay if it had an L-48. Modified cars are where the money is, unless it is some super ultra rare car.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 550
Likes: 2
From: smithfield nc usa 27577
A friend sold a CE big block for a large chunk of cash.
Some would say that is just as good.
# matching is kind of BS....I can make almost any # block you want.
Some would fool a judge.
My 63 was a misstamp and people acted like it was nom.
Not alot of the corvette parts have a vin derivitive....so its just a case of part # and date code hunting.
Examples lots of C1 are winning hi honors without the motors being the one Chevy put in.....they just look right
Some would say that is just as good.
# matching is kind of BS....I can make almost any # block you want.
Some would fool a judge.
My 63 was a misstamp and people acted like it was nom.
Not alot of the corvette parts have a vin derivitive....so its just a case of part # and date code hunting.
Examples lots of C1 are winning hi honors without the motors being the one Chevy put in.....they just look right
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,800
Likes: 1,943
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
WORTHLESS vs REDUCED ????
Originally Posted by stinkray
So what you're saying is: If I owned the Austrailian 68 L-88, and I put a rod through the block, the car is worthless? Even if when searching for a replacement engine, I was able to track down a complete engine that was identical except for the vin stamping. Do you still say the car is worthless? What if I went as far as to keep the old boat anchor that was dripping oil and antifreeze all over my floor? Still say it's worthless? I call on your theory. I would pay more money for say a '76 L-48 car that had a 572 in it than I would pay if it had an L-48. Modified cars are where the money is, unless it is some super ultra rare car.
on your theory. I would pay more money for say a '76 L-48 car that had a 572 in it than I would pay if it had an L-48. Modified cars are where the money is, unless it is some super ultra rare car.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
what is a CE block? my 71 454 vert has the correct date coded engine it is just not the original block, how much does it affect value? the heads an intake are date stamped 1 day apart so they may be the originals.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Last I heard was that as long as the casting dates were in line with the build date of the car being judged no points would be deducted for a nontypical stamping.
Read this in CorvetteFever a few years ago. FACT
Read this in CorvetteFever a few years ago. FACT
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Originally Posted by gator79
what is a CE block? my 71 454 vert has the correct date coded engine it is just not the original block, how much does it affect value? the heads an intake are date stamped 1 day apart so they may be the originals.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Originally Posted by DZRick
CE, stands for something like "Chevy Exchange" motors replaced under warranty As far as how much it effects the value of your car. IMHO too much.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
Strictly speaking the engine is most valuable to the specific car whose VIN is stamped on the engine pad. Now someone with a similar year car might want that engine sinceit is a correct TYPE of engine for that model year car but it is NOT the engine that came in that car, so the VIN AND the engine suffix would have to be removed and restamped to make it correct for the car it is going into but strictly speaking it is a phony at that point.
Numbers matching usually means the engine that matches the VIN of the car it is in and that it is the engine that car left the factory with when it was built. Therefore in its purest sense any original engine only matches any one original car.
The "numbers" also refers to the casting code and to the date codes, in addition to the VIN and engine suffix codes.
Therefore your engine would only be "valuable" to whoever has the correct year car with the VIN that matches the one stamped on the engine (assuming it has not been 'doctored')
CE engines were not original equipment, (installed at the factory) and could be purchased at the Chevy parts counter and installed in anything.
Numbers matching usually means the engine that matches the VIN of the car it is in and that it is the engine that car left the factory with when it was built. Therefore in its purest sense any original engine only matches any one original car.
The "numbers" also refers to the casting code and to the date codes, in addition to the VIN and engine suffix codes.
Therefore your engine would only be "valuable" to whoever has the correct year car with the VIN that matches the one stamped on the engine (assuming it has not been 'doctored')
CE engines were not original equipment, (installed at the factory) and could be purchased at the Chevy parts counter and installed in anything.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,800
Likes: 1,943
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
could be a lot more $$$$$$$$$$$$$
Originally Posted by gator79
I read somewhere 3K to 5K for a NOM
check out some of the prices on big block tri power 67's they are exceeding $250,000 with documentation, that exact car is not reduced by only $3,000 to $5,000 ........with the wrong motor.......dont know how much less exactly, but
could very well knock it down to under $50,000 total value or less ?
any thoughts from the forum ?
Last edited by 427SIXPACK; Oct 8, 2006 at 07:36 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Correct. The value added for the matching car/engine is proportional to the total value of the subject vehicle. I bet a guy with a '67 nom 427/435 would pay dearly for the original engine. Not true for a mid-'70's L-48.