Crate Motor
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
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.
"BE SAFE"
"BE SAFE"
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
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
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
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
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
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
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,705
Likes: 25
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
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
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...???
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,705
Likes: 25
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!!!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Highland Village Texas
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,705
Likes: 25
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)...
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
The 78 stock L-82....then the Green monster...at 63,needed something to improve blood flow from the heart....
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,557
Likes: 0
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
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
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.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
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"
"BE SAFE"