Matching Number Engine
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 374
Likes: 42
From: Coldwater Mi
Matching Number Engine
Just put a 400 hp engine in my '79....Considering selling the ORIGINAL L-82 engine w/ apx. 45k miles. I don't see where I'll EVER put it back in the car, and if I were to sell the car, I don't see where the new owner would wanna put it back in....SOOO...my questions are:
1) What is a fair market value price for this engine? Has matching number carb, & original exh. manifolds. Only things removed are flywheel, bell housing & fuel pump. I put new umbrella valve guide seals in it last summer. I have original smog pump & heat riser. It's a good runner, should have gaskets replaced....carb needs gone thru.
2) Do you see any advantage/disadvantage of lettin' this engine go?
I'm just not sure there's any advantage to just lettin' it "sit" in the corner....why not let someone get some use out of it that wants an actual stock '79 L-82 engine??
I appreciate any and all comments....
1) What is a fair market value price for this engine? Has matching number carb, & original exh. manifolds. Only things removed are flywheel, bell housing & fuel pump. I put new umbrella valve guide seals in it last summer. I have original smog pump & heat riser. It's a good runner, should have gaskets replaced....carb needs gone thru.
2) Do you see any advantage/disadvantage of lettin' this engine go?
I'm just not sure there's any advantage to just lettin' it "sit" in the corner....why not let someone get some use out of it that wants an actual stock '79 L-82 engine??
I appreciate any and all comments....
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
If it was a 69 I would say keep it but a 79, not so much. The engine that you want will probably be more desired by most in that car so it will still sell to someone for the same amount of money. The rubber bumper cars will never demand the big dollars like the chromies.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 54,001
Likes: 6,214
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
I think you are missing the point of the concept of "matching numbers." The VIN derivative on the block that actually "matches" the VIN on the car it's original to, is the value. Nobody cares if you have a loose 350 with a carb that's correct (carbs do not "match" anything) To that motor.
The engine by itself is close to worthless. Even if you believe a future buyer would not put the original motor back in, you could very easily be quite wrong about that. The most value that engine has is to the person who owns that car.
Wrap it up, keep the block at least and when you sell the car you will be able to offer the original, numbers matching engine with it. Selling off the original motor is extremely shortsighted. It has value and makes the purchase more desireable. Do not believe comments that say the matching number block has no value to that car... people have said that about all gen Corvettes over the years and they have been wrong.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 490
Likes: 99
From: The South
I'm sure this same conversation took place in the late sixties when someone was thinking the same thing about their 1959 Corvette. 
"oh, that old 283 ain't gonna be worth nuthin. Chunk it and put in that new 327."
"oh, that old 283 ain't gonna be worth nuthin. Chunk it and put in that new 327."
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
it is a low horsepower late 70's small block.. they made a million of them.. plus it would cost more to ship than it is worth. shipping cost would keep the ceiling down for what you could get out of it..
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
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From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Apples and oranges there . The 79 will never increase like the early corvettes. They were classic styling . Like it or not , the 79 has it's limits and it is almost there. The cutoffs were the end of the chromies which makes them the real classics . You see that not just in corvettes but any American classics like Chevelles, Camaros, Mustangs, Mopars etc. with chrome everywhere.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
It's only worth extra to the guy who owns the matching numbers car. That would be you. A couple of years back I sold the matching #'s 55,000 mi. L-82 out of my wife's 78 for $400. It ran fine but I was installing a ZZ4 crate motor.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 490
Likes: 99
From: The South
Apples and oranges there . The 79 will never increase like the early corvettes. They were classic styling . Like it or not , the 79 has it's limits and it is almost there. The cutoffs were the end of the chromies which makes them the real classics . You see that not just in corvettes but any American classics like Chevelles, Camaros, Mustangs, Mopars etc. with chrome everywhere.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
So common in the world of collectibles. People threw out certain items or disgard them to point few were left . I've seen this with lots of antiques. 50 -100 years latter things that people laughed off as will never worth nothing suddenly become rare. Trends come and go. People's tastes chance. Groups die out others decide what is valuable .
Unless you live in an apt. , why not keep it , you'll have both types of people covered , those who want modern and those who want old school.
You double your buyer market by having both.
The original cars from that era a ssuspect are disappearing pretty fast , finding an original might be difficult in 20 more years.
Unless you live in an apt. , why not keep it , you'll have both types of people covered , those who want modern and those who want old school.
You double your buyer market by having both.
The original cars from that era a ssuspect are disappearing pretty fast , finding an original might be difficult in 20 more years.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 374
Likes: 42
From: Coldwater Mi
As I stated a few posts ago, I have decided to KEEP it....but I still appreciate your reply, as well as everyone else's!!
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 139
Likes: 27
From: Potomac Falls VA
"Apples and oranges there . The 79 will never increase like the early corvettes. They were classic styling . Like it or not , the 79 has it's limits and it is almost there. The cutoffs were the end of the chromies which makes them the real classics . You see that not just in corvettes but any American classics like Chevelles, Camaros, Mustangs, Mopars etc. with chrome everywhere."
WRONG. Have you looked at the prices of the big-bumper late 70's Camaros lately, rubber-fascia 78-81 Z28's, 79-80 Trans Ams? They said the same about all of these cars years back, and the same for the rubber-bumper Vettes. The value of a car is not determined by folks who are biased because they own one. The value is determined by the BUYERS, and as the cars age, and the relative buyers are of a different generation (80's, 90's kids, and younger) - they could give a hoot about chrome vs non-chrome. In fact, many I talk to (and have sold cars to) care more about the car that represents THEIR childhood.....not your's.
Horsepower is rarely a determinate for them. It is about the era, the look, and of course the condition. Please refrain from making such silly, insulting comments to may folks who have later Vettes, and love them. They will be worth more as time goes on, there is evidence of that as we speak. BTW, the few chrome-bumper Vette's I looked at before buying my one-owner 9,500 original miles 79, were hacked-up, driven hard put away wet, and over-priced. I can tell you this, I could make thousands tomorrow of my pristine 79, rubber bumpers and all.
Last edited by Jonz79; Feb 16, 2017 at 08:27 AM.