matching #'s
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Cruising
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 10
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From: Fair Oaks CA
matching #'s
I'm picking up a 1976 CA vette with matching numbers. The car has been sitting outside for 15 years and the engine has frozen. The engine has 80,000 miles. Should I try to rebuild and keep the matching #'s or get a crate motor? How important are the numbers? The rest of the car is orginal except the rims.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
People will tell you the car is "entry-level" and therefore the numbers dont matter. Do not believe them. The future value of the car depends on the originality and the numbers, and the value growth will surprise you.
So, if you choose to drop in a crate motor just for ease and for driving, (this is fine) do not, under any circumstances, let the original engine get away. Wrap it up in plastic and put it away. Keep it as part of the car. That item will never be worth more to anyone else other than whoever owns your car.
So, if you choose to drop in a crate motor just for ease and for driving, (this is fine) do not, under any circumstances, let the original engine get away. Wrap it up in plastic and put it away. Keep it as part of the car. That item will never be worth more to anyone else other than whoever owns your car.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,135
Likes: 477
From: NM
People will tell you the car is "entry-level" and therefore the numbers dont matter. Do not believe them. The future value of the car depends on the originality and the numbers, and the value growth will surprise you.
So, if you choose to drop in a crate motor just for ease and for driving, (this is fine) do not, under any circumstances, let the original engine get away. Wrap it up in plastic and put it away. Keep it as part of the car. That item will never be worth more to anyone else other than whoever owns your car.
So, if you choose to drop in a crate motor just for ease and for driving, (this is fine) do not, under any circumstances, let the original engine get away. Wrap it up in plastic and put it away. Keep it as part of the car. That item will never be worth more to anyone else other than whoever owns your car.
Set the original engine in a corner of the garage and then drop in a crate engine. future owner may want that origianl engine, so it could add value at that time.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
Congratulations on the start of your new project. After buying one of my vettes and starting the restoration, I wish I had the options that confront you. If this is going to be the start of your project, I would go with buying a nice upgraded crate motor, and setting the original motor aside. For the price that it may cost you to resurrect the current motor, you can have a brand new motor with more power AND reliability.
kdf
kdf
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
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From: Huntersville NC
Well, you see, the car is "entry-level" and therefore the numbers dont matter. 
Seriously, it depends on the cost. I wouldn't spend more than the cost of a new crate motor to rebuild the original. Also, be careful about overspending on the car in general.
Seriously, it depends on the cost. I wouldn't spend more than the cost of a new crate motor to rebuild the original. Also, be careful about overspending on the car in general.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
It may not hurt to hang onto old parts, within reason. So far as future value appreciation goes, I'm not sure we'll ever see a big spike in sale prices for original rubber bumper models. GM made many of them. That era is not thought of as being an era of performance Vettes either.
If you have matching numbers parts, sure, hang onto them if you can afford to and have space. As the previous poster stated, if the cost to rebuild exceeds the price of a crate motor, I'd go with a more potent motor and set the original aside.
If you have matching numbers parts, sure, hang onto them if you can afford to and have space. As the previous poster stated, if the cost to rebuild exceeds the price of a crate motor, I'd go with a more potent motor and set the original aside.
Last edited by BBCorv70; Feb 6, 2011 at 09:47 PM. Reason: typos and rephrasing
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
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From: Indy Indiana
yes the car is 'entry level' and they certainly made almost 50,000 76 vettes, And yes you will keep value on the car by keeping the original engine. but for a 76 today that is for sale with a spare locked up original engine would not be a big deal for me. yes you can never go wrong keeping the engine, but entry level car type of buyers may not even want that engine ( or even have a place to keep it, or a truck to haul it away, or a cherry picker to load it and unload it, or..., or....) 76 vettes are not the buy and hold type of cars that others are. so many change owners every few years to the point that the extra locked up engine may just be 'baggage'.
IMO
IMO
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
IMHO, any C3 which has survived essentially intact and unmolested has earned the right to stay that way. There are less and less original cars every day.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
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From: Chino CA
It wasn't too long ago the even the "chrome bumper cars" were snubed and not considered all that valuable...as the years tick by, ALL C3's are going to be worth more..."entry level" or not.
Welcome aboard !
Welcome aboard !
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
The last two C3's I sold, I had saved every last little part, some were rare high dollar stuff, and neither buyer gave the parts more than a passing glance, didn't check for matching numbers or even any rust on the cars.
I bet somewhere down the road they will be glad I was forthright.
I would have inspected a used KIA a lot more.
You can refresh the original engine at your leisure very economically and keep a HIPO crate when you sell.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
yes the car is 'entry level' and they certainly made almost 50,000 76 vettes, And yes you will keep value on the car by keeping the original engine. but for a 76 today that is for sale with a spare locked up original engine would not be a big deal for me. yes you can never go wrong keeping the engine, but entry level car type of buyers may not even want that engine ( or even have a place to keep it, or a truck to haul it away, or a cherry picker to load it and unload it, or..., or....) 76 vettes are not the buy and hold type of cars that others are. so many change owners every few years to the point that the extra locked up engine may just be 'baggage'.
IMO
IMO
If they go up in value as people predict, great, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,623
Likes: 242
From: Russell Ontario
St. Jude Donor '09
I'd re-build the original engine and maybe cam it or beef it up a little , a crate eng. is nice but if you go that way you will save all these parts for years and they will be useless unless the next guy wants them wich is unlikely, Ron
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
I think before you even consider rebuilding the original motor, or dropping in a crate motor, you need to check out the care very carefully.
You said that the car has been sitting outside for 15 years! With the fiberglass bodies these cars can continue to look good long after the frame/birdcage has long rusted away. I really hope this isn't the case, but the car could have some serious issues. Even if the frame looks good, the birdcage could be toast.
I don't want to be a 'downer', but before you consider doing anything, if this car has been exposed to the elements for 15 years, you need to check every possible rust area very carefully!
You said that the car has been sitting outside for 15 years! With the fiberglass bodies these cars can continue to look good long after the frame/birdcage has long rusted away. I really hope this isn't the case, but the car could have some serious issues. Even if the frame looks good, the birdcage could be toast.
I don't want to be a 'downer', but before you consider doing anything, if this car has been exposed to the elements for 15 years, you need to check every possible rust area very carefully!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
I think before you even consider rebuilding the original motor, or dropping in a crate motor, you need to check out the care very carefully.
You said that the car has been sitting outside for 15 years! With the fiberglass bodies these cars can continue to look good long after the frame/birdcage has long rusted away. I really hope this isn't the case, but the car could have some serious issues. Even if the frame looks good, the birdcage could be toast.
I don't want to be a 'downer', but before you consider doing anything, if this car has been exposed to the elements for 15 years, you need to check every possible rust area very carefully!
You said that the car has been sitting outside for 15 years! With the fiberglass bodies these cars can continue to look good long after the frame/birdcage has long rusted away. I really hope this isn't the case, but the car could have some serious issues. Even if the frame looks good, the birdcage could be toast.
I don't want to be a 'downer', but before you consider doing anything, if this car has been exposed to the elements for 15 years, you need to check every possible rust area very carefully!
These were my initial thoughts also. I would be very concerned with birdcage and frame rust FIRST, way out ahead of numbers matching... IMHO, keep the froze-up motor if you buy the car and drop in a new crate. Take several quarts of cheap oil and pour into each cylinder thru the spark plug opening, replace plugs and keep the motor in a plastic wrap, indoors and covered on a motor stand. That piece may be worth several hundred $$ in the future.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,623
Likes: 242
From: Russell Ontario
St. Jude Donor '09
Good call and also I bought a car years back and told the lady the engine was seized, but I bought it anyways, and come to find out the belts were all stuck to the pulleys, I had replaced the batterie and tried to crank it over with the starter and now way , I removed all of the belts it spun over. I was really surprised and drove the car 3yrs . Have a good look at evrything, the power train is the easy part, the frame and birdcage is another issue altogether. I have unseized many engines with heat and tranny fluid, sometimes you get lucky.Ron
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
