wadenelson

Since buying my small-block C3 I've come to realize there's a $5-$10,000 price differential for the big block C3's. Even more for the top condition cars.

*scratching my head*

It's only 100 more cubic inches. A SBC with decent heads can make plenty of power. Probably weighs a bit less, too.

Where's the appeal to command so much more money? Is it just the cool looking L88 hood? More STOCK horsepower?

Or is it just scarcity; more of the big blocks got crashed back in the day -- and fewer made?


Apparently I missed the boat on this because the big blocks are in a lot more demand. A lot of guys must have "always wanted" a 427 Vette.

Iceaxe

It depends on the small block as the LT-1 brings big dollars. The L79 and L46 also carry a nice premium over the BASE engine.

Faster Rat

Back in the day Wade, size did matter. Not every teenager had the means or ability to build a hot rod in their daddy's garage. We were lucky to get a co-signer on a used muscle car. The bigger the factory motor, the more likely it made more power.

I waited 35 years to be able to buy my 427. I will never sell it. There were only 40 some thousand Corvettes built with the 427 from 1966 to 1969. Those that are still intact with their original drivetrains and not butchered will ALWAYS be considered collectable. Rarity plus desirability tends to drive the price up. Increasing demand while decreasing supply WILL drive the price up.

If you still do not understand, don't worry about it. Enjoy your small block and dump all the money you can afford into mods to make more power, if that is what you want. In fact, even go ahead and have a laugh at those of us who are "wasting" our money on authentic 427 C3s and trying to restore them as original. The C3 Forum Mod Squad will surely chime in. Time will tell who has the last laugh.

Easy Mike

Personal choice.

wadenelson

I'm not laughing at anyone. I'm thinking maybe I'm stupid for having not spent the extra $ to acquire a 427 car.

Bikespace

Did you buy the car to sell it, or did you buy the car to drive it? Zora preferred the SBC for lightness and balance,, and that was back when it was a lot harder to get HP out of them.

There's no reason not to go drive the snot out of your beautiful car, whatever is under the hood.

Easy Mike

Did you want a big block car? If not, it's not stupid.

joewill

doesn't matter, a big block costs more to buy and you can then sell it for more.

there's not much evidence that the appreciation curve is higher with one vs. the other. its buy what you want or make what you want.

you can put a BB in your car for 5K and sell your SB for 2K for a delta of 3K and then be able to sell your car for that 3K more. its a wash...

fake

yes 427 is a must or just go with the base L-48 but i got more kicks from the L-82 and cheaper. There is a large difference in base and optional motors and more fun!

wadenelson

I actually looked into that and came to the same conclusion. It's a wash -- EXCEPT then the car is even less "right". Not numbers, wrong block, wrong hood. And it putsme in the engine selling business which is exactly where I don't want to be.

Since I've got the "wrong" motor anyway (a crate 350) I may just go to a 383 stroker and not worry about resale as I'd prefer a "better" SBC to an unmodified big block.

LT-1 kid

BBs are worth more and always have been, there has not been a BB corvette made since 74, when in doubt always go BB, LT-1s are nice too, but still a SB

firstgenaddict

I tell people to stick with original drive train, solid lifter, four speeds, and they won't go wrong, the more original the better...
Think about the fact that during their production they constituted less than 10% of corvette production every year they were offered and they were the ones that were beat on HARD... There are probably less than 50% of originals left and how many their drive trains in tact?

Jebbysan

Because Big Blocks are cool......period. They are special because 9 years after the first one was built, Big Gov killed them......and after 77' there was never built a passenger car with a Big Block ever again.
Having owned one......with Tri-Power, I can say that they are waaaaaay cooler than a small block........even though my current small block car make a LOT more power.
Big Blocks are special because they are the biggest baddest thing offered that year.
They even sound different.
If you wonder why they are more valuable......drive one......it changes a sports car into a brutal tool......torque corrupts!

Jebby

Gold Dragon

TORQUE.......

jrs 427

So what is the huge magnet stopping you ? 427 C-3s are in the for sale columns every day . Its not like they are rare or something. I had one. Not a big deal. Sold it and bought a low mile convertible small block. Some are never satisfied with their choices.

jr9170

[QUOTE=Gold Dragon;1598961899]TORQUE.......[/QUOTE. And plenty of it

suprspooky

As an owner of a 68 427 Vert I understand your thinking. My car is not a numbers matching car (It was a CE replacement 427 and everything points to it being a true 427 car) so I paid more for it than an equivalent SB Vert. I now wish I had gotten a nicer small block car (non matching like yours) and just put together a big block for it, I would have been money ahead.

If it ain't a numbers match car, I feel you'll have an easier time getting more of your investment back. Time will tell if the up and coming generations will have the same lust for a 427 Tri-power Vert as I did. I'm hoping, so I can get some of my $ out of it later, if not it's still a blast to drive the beast.

nutsy

I had 3 chrome bumper BBs. All I ever bought. I just love the torque and the way it idles. they all sounded like they had a cam put in but were stock. with that being said I would have no problem with a nice small block.
working on the BB is a negative with everything being so tight.

jersey68l36

IMHO, when GM started with the 396/425 mid year engine option for the C2, it did not make any difference that a 327 Fuelie was not that much slower than a 396, it made the Corvette not only a sports car, but now a muscle car.

OldCarBum

The only Corvette I drove was my uncle's C2 with a 427.
When I bought mine, it had to be a big block.