Crate Motor
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Instructor
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From: Highland Village Texas
Crate Motor
I'm a new member in search of a nice C3.I would like to find a #'s matching car that is pure.I have seen a lot of adds stating the engine is a crate motor.What exactly is the definition of such a motor?Thanks for any insight you can share.
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Team Owner
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From: Columbia Missouri
Welcome to the forum. 
A crate motor refers to an engine bought out of a box. These vary a lot, some are short blocks, come long blocks, some completed and ready to drop in...called turn key crate engines.
Now, they come on a heavy duty plastic pallet with a cardboard structure, and a plastic lid.
A crate motor refers to an engine bought out of a box. These vary a lot, some are short blocks, come long blocks, some completed and ready to drop in...called turn key crate engines.Now, they come on a heavy duty plastic pallet with a cardboard structure, and a plastic lid.
Race Director
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Here is link to GM crate motors...
http://www.gmhorsepower.com/gm_crate_motors.html
http://www.gmhorsepower.com/ZZ502_Deluxe_Assembled.html
http://www.gmhorsepower.com/gm_crate_motors.html
http://www.gmhorsepower.com/ZZ502_Deluxe_Assembled.html
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Instructor
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From: Highland Village Texas
Thanks Guys for the response.The GM links say it all.Just for discussion sake,how much does the engine change affect the price of the car?I realize this is a topic with varying opinions depending on pure cars and modifieds,likes and dislikes.But for a newcomer it's hard to find a benchmark.I do have a Corvette Blackbook that has a ton of information and I use it.
Team Owner
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From: Sorrento Italy
[QUOTE=Op.TechC3;1563635363]Thanks Guys for the response.The GM links say it all.Just for discussion sake,how much does the engine change affect the price of the car?
Enjoyment is priceless...and life is so damn short, I'd say go for the best engine you can effort and forget about the car value...
Enjoyment is priceless...and life is so damn short, I'd say go for the best engine you can effort and forget about the car value...
Race Director
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But always heed this...buyers determine value based on THEIR interest.
So keeping a 78-82 vette original has some leverage price wise,but are not bringing big bucks...yet...
I was at Barrett last year...a low mile 78 Silver Anniv brought $20k...a low mile 78 Corvette Pace Car (190 ODO) brought $47 K....
In our world those vettes might go around $15k to $30k...???
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Team Owner
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From: Sorrento Italy
[QUOTE=rihwoods;1563635641]On average,a replacement engine or crate motor drops price against an original numbers match vette with original engine..
But always heed this...buyers determine value based on THEIR interest.
I only know one thing...If i had kept my stock matching numbers L48 in my '77 (instead of fix a 575hp NON matching numbers 406ci) i'd maybe kept a more valuable car when reselling it in the future but until then i'd lived a very booooriiing life!!!
But always heed this...buyers determine value based on THEIR interest.
I only know one thing...If i had kept my stock matching numbers L48 in my '77 (instead of fix a 575hp NON matching numbers 406ci) i'd maybe kept a more valuable car when reselling it in the future but until then i'd lived a very booooriiing life!!!
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Thread Starter
Instructor
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From: Highland Village Texas
Team Owner
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From: Sorrento Italy
At the very beginning i decided to keep the stock L48, but after I have had it for 2 years around i started feeling pityful for 'him' because instead of beeing used for what was built actually was getting old without action, that's why i decided to sell it (for 600 euro=1.000 usd)...
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The 78 stock L-82....then the Green monster...at 63,needed something to improve blood flow from the heart....
Safety Car
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From: Ridgeway VA
I just put a a 350-330hp crate motor in my 1970. The old motor had three pistons that blew - parts of them were in the oil pan. So do you want something historical or something with gusto that is dependable and will run? One thing is sure these cars are appreciating - we're talking 40+ years - so the value continues to go up even with crate
motors.
motors.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Wichita Kansas
Thanks Guys for the response.The GM links say it all.Just for discussion sake,how much does the engine change affect the price of the car?I realize this is a topic with varying opinions depending on pure cars and modifieds,likes and dislikes.But for a newcomer it's hard to find a benchmark.I do have a Corvette Blackbook that has a ton of information and I use it.
I think that if you stick with matching number and a pure car as you stated; then you need to be prepaired to stay with it as it was built and preserve it's originality.
On the other hand and after looking at some available horse power and if that got your hart pumping then I would suggest going with a moded car and just having fun with it.
I have had both over the years and both are very satisfying. I will tell you that I had moments when i owned a matching '64 that I considered moding it. I guess that is one of the reasons I sold it.
I would never be one to disassemble a matching car for mods as there are many existing modded cars to choose from.
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Highland Village Texas
Thanks to all.It boils down to what you said FatCat "what gets your heart pumping".I would like to find a pure '73 Red Vert 4spd. if you know of one in the North Texas area let me know.My heart can't wait.
"BE SAFE"
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