Ok guys.. want everyones feed back.

What will keep my value highest?

I have a 72 454 Auto Trans #'s matching... it has a 78 front end....

I have several options as I'm getting a 72 that has a 350 with a 4 speed transmission.... fiberglass is all there....and it has AC

Do I:

1. Keep my car a 454 Auto and just take the front clip?
2. Change my car to a 4 speed...... swap the entire body on to my car as the fiberglass is nicer.. birdcage is about equal... I'd keep my auto transmission.. so it could be swapped back if needed/wanted (Would this devalue my money.. could you tell I did a swap)
   I would be keeping the VIN from my 72 and keeping it with it's frame....
3. Other options?

 

I would fix the front end fibreglass, throw in the 4 speed box, and keep the auto tucked away for when you sell the car. My 3 cents. (exchange rate!)

 

Agreed.....

 

with them both

 

x3 then sell off the un used parts

a/c transplant?

 

swap nose....paint car purple with pink polka dots..airbrush an orange falcon on the hood (use one of the mall t shirt airbrush artists for best detail of the falcon wings).....people will think you were going for a trans am look..so at car shows you will need to explan its a falcon...this is the only way to go..i have done this several times with astounding results!

 

That's why instead of replacing the front clip.. just thinking about putting that fiberglass on my car to get all the vents and the internal controls easily..... I don't think it would devalue the car as it's all original fiberglass.

I'd have to swap trim tags .. as my car i want to paint ontario orange.. and the trim tag for the other is silver I believe.

 

There really is no value over another here. It is a non original car that has had major repairs done to it. This car only has a value dollar wise as to it's condition when sold to someone who wants a car to mod. So do it as you want it and enjoy driving it.

 

 

His car may actually be a matching numbers big block car, he is working on that this weekend, in my opinion if it is, ie all correct original block, heads, intake, carb, distributor, trans, rearend etc...I would think puttinng the original style nose and bringing back to stock and 'close' as original would be a good idea value wise...imho

 

 

At least on this forum it seems cars that look stock are easier to sell than cars that have lots of modifications.

 

I was hoping for a seamless restoration so it would be hard to tell not the original fiberglass on it... figured 72 body is a 72 body and without a build sheet which I'm lacking wouldn't be able to tell if it was an AC car or not...

 

 

I'm not real clear here on what you are doing. It sounds like you have two cars.

Car 1 - your 1972 454 auto with a '78 front end on it.

Car 2 - another 1972 350 4 speed car.

It sounds like you are asking if you should rip apart Car 2 to make Car 1 whole again. That depends a lot on the condition of Car 2 and Car 1. Pictures would really help.

It sounds like you are considering lifting the body off Car 2 and placing it on the frame of Car 1. Why? Is the frame on Car 2 rusted out? Bent? Again, more information is really needed.

It sound like you are preparing for big trouble. DO NOT REMOVE THE VIN AND PLACE ON THE OTHER BODY! If you do that, you could potentially lose both cars and end up in jail.


If you want a 4 speed car, and Car 2 is, why not just fix it up and drive it?

Does either car have its original engine? That is a starting point on value.

If Car 1 (454) is NOM, then not much with what you planned will improve value over the amount you spend. Putting a stock front end back on will make it easier to sell, but it may only increase the selling price $5000 while you will no doubt spend more than that to put the stock front end on.

If Car 2 has the original engine, it may be worth more than Car 1 with the 454 right now.



Too many unknowns here. You need a good description of the state of each car and pictures of each car before anyone can give an opinion that is worth anything.

 

Thanks for everyones advice, I'm just going to sell car 2.. and buy the clip for Car 1.. and be done with it.. easiest remedy with least issues.

 

Sounds like the most sensible thing to do. A lot less aggravation too.