Crate or rebuild?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Rochester New York
Crate or rebuild?
Hello! I have a1980 Corvette L-82, 75000 miles. Broken ring, so I pulled the engine. For about the same price I could have it rebuilt (bored,honed, hot tanked, new rings, pistons, cam, heads done, etc.) or buy a new GM crate engine. My question is this
o I hurt the resale value of the car by replacing the original #s matching engine with the crate? The car is not perfect, but on a scale of 1-10, a 6 or 7. Thanks!
JG700
o I hurt the resale value of the car by replacing the original #s matching engine with the crate? The car is not perfect, but on a scale of 1-10, a 6 or 7. Thanks!JG700
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,477
Likes: 1,495
From: Little Rock AR
Hello! I have a1980 Corvette L-82, 75000 miles. Broken ring, so I pulled the engine. For about the same price I could have it rebuilt (bored,honed, hot tanked, new rings, pistons, cam, heads done, etc.) or buy a new GM crate engine. My question is thiso I hurt the resale value of the car by replacing the original #s matching engine with the crate? The car is not perfect, but on a scale of 1-10, a 6 or 7. Thanks! JG700
o I hurt the resale value of the car by replacing the original #s matching engine with the crate? The car is not perfect, but on a scale of 1-10, a 6 or 7. Thanks! JG700Ask yourself this question: If you had 2 identical cars to look at, and 1 of them had a freshly rebuilt original numbers matching engine under the hood and the other one had a non-original engine under the hood but came with the original engine on the side, would you be willing to pay the same money?
I would rather have a fresh matching number Vette personaly. It is running now and I don't have to store the core or pay to have it rebuilt later.
Just an opinion.
-Mark.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs Colorado
I pulled my orig motor and stowed -- it was running fine but only has 190hp
--embarrassing for a vette.
I dropped in a crate motor and did some other upgrades (5-speed, wheels) and the car is much more fun to drive.
Besides, resale is all realtive to what the buyer is looking for. Some will want all original config, others will appreciate the modern upgrades and as long as the upgrades are "bolt-on" I dont believe the integrity of resale is adversely affected.
Again, this is my opinion.
Cheers,
Crunch
--embarrassing for a vette. I dropped in a crate motor and did some other upgrades (5-speed, wheels) and the car is much more fun to drive.
Besides, resale is all realtive to what the buyer is looking for. Some will want all original config, others will appreciate the modern upgrades and as long as the upgrades are "bolt-on" I dont believe the integrity of resale is adversely affected.
Again, this is my opinion.
Cheers,
Crunch
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 599
Likes: 0
From: New York
I believe it all depends on your time n pockets...I had a totally rebuilt 454 put in my 77'...I know exactley what's in there plus it's fun watching the process...As 4 matching #'s vs. modified I believe that's a personal matter with keeping it original being overated.....With the exception of certain years I see modifieds requesting just as high if not higher prices.then some originals.....Plus after the death of the big block almost every vette should be modded....I just can't see getting blown away by some Honda civic.....lol.......Either way enjoy...Jerrylee///
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 3
From: Springfield Illinois
In my opinion, it all depends what your plans are for the car... If you are thinking about selling a couple years down the road, I'd say rebuild it. If you are planning on keeping many many years and driving it all the time, I'd say buy the crate keep the wear and tear off the original engine. Besides, if ya ever get a wild hair in your butt and want to see what the car is made of, you don't have to worry about blowin the original engine!
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Show me a cold beer and I will show you a happy man Maryland
I pulled my orig motor and stowed -- it was running fine but only has 190hp --embarrassing for a vette.
I dropped in a crate motor and did some other upgrades (5-speed, wheels) and the car is much more fun to drive.
Besides, resale is all realtive to what the buyer is looking for. Some will want all original config, others will appreciate the modern upgrades and as long as the upgrades are "bolt-on" I dont believe the integrity of resale is adversely affected.
Again, this is my opinion.
Cheers,
Crunch
--embarrassing for a vette. I dropped in a crate motor and did some other upgrades (5-speed, wheels) and the car is much more fun to drive.
Besides, resale is all realtive to what the buyer is looking for. Some will want all original config, others will appreciate the modern upgrades and as long as the upgrades are "bolt-on" I dont believe the integrity of resale is adversely affected.
Again, this is my opinion.
Cheers,
Crunch
I would rather have the # engine on the side so I dont worry about destroying the original. I like to drive hard and a crate motor blown sucks but not as much as a blown matching #'s motor...IMHO
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
From: Chandler Arizona
St. Jude Donor '08
I went through the same thing 18 months ago with my engine. I had the original #s matching 350HP/350 for my '69 and elected to go for the rebuild. Even though I have made other mods, everything is "bolt on" and I've tucked away the original parts in case someone in the future may want to undo my changes (that of course implies I would ever sell it). I even tucked away the original 4 speed but stuck a Keisler 5 spd in. If I had to do it again I don't know which way I would go, but at a minimum I would save all the original parts.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
If you plan on keeping the car for a while....do both! Put the crate engine in your car and drive merrily on your way. For "dirty hands" fun, you can rebuild the original engine to original specs for very little money and have it sitting there for whatever you decide to do (sell the car w/the engine; sell the car AND sell the engine; sell the original engine alone; or just keep it all).
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