Looking at a red 1980 with a 383 stroker and manual transmission the guy says apparently make 500ish hp. Exterior is in great shape and the red interior has been fully restored as well. I am waiting on details of engine build and if anything has been done with the transmission but I am wondering what would be a good rough estimate to pay for a build like this would be.

 

Welcome to the forum! Do you have any pictures?

Regardless of how much power the engine makes I would check to make sure the frame and birdcage are in good condition. Check out post #107 of this thread for general buying advice. If it checks out, depending on other modifications made and overall condition I would say somewhere in the teens.

 

Here are some pics from the listing

 

500 hp at the fly wheel or at the wheels? Either way the 383 must have a really big cam and really good heads. I would have to see the dyno sheets for both and all parts receipts.

 

He did not provide a lot of details as to what the build had but I am calling him tonight to get more details and will update the post when I find out more about the car.

 

That interior pic shows a four speed shifter, not an auto.

 

Yes it is a manual not auto I had it wrong originally.

 

Update on this 1980 C3 that I am looking into buying.
It has a 500+hp 383 stroker build from the Hot Rod Company that was put in about three years ago. Frame and birdcage are free of rust. Suspension has been redone with all original parts. Transmission is a stock four speed.
It is owned by an older gentleman who has taken amazing care of it, and has never raced it.
What should I be looking to pay for a great condition build like this? 10k, 15k, 20k+?

 

oh boy!

first is the dana 44 weren't made to handle that much power.

second stock suspension also wasn’t made to handle that much power

looks like the weather stripping could use some attention.

if you have an opportunity to really look through the car i would check brake lines ,calipers,bearings, end play on diff. all bushings , etc.

what was done to interior? pics of before and after? new insulation?.

i have a 80 and have gone through the whole car.

there addicting!…

 

Here’s a link to the ad, I think the asking price is fair.

 

Brakes were done

 

i’m gonna go look at it today. Thanks everyone for all the info!

 

take it for a ride. stop on a hill and start off. that’s a good way to check the snuber bushing on rear diff.

 

Every person I know with a small block Chevy says it's a 383 Stroker....

I'd want to see the build sheet and receipts, since this seems to be the main selling point?

 

I like it. Yet could be because I own.a red 1980. Asking price seems fair from here. Any price under that is a bonus for you. Drive it and you may not be able to walk away!

 

Went and looked at it a few hours ago and it was a train wreck to say the least.

First of all, for anyone who looked at that post and scrolled through the pictures and thought that it was extremely clean and maybe too good to be true. It was.

The car was completely different in person, I borderline don’t think those pictures were from the same car or at least not taken in the last 15 years

The paint had bad 10+ bubbles, 10+ large scratches and chips, and was not at all like the photos or what was said to me over the phone

The interior had multiple cracks, scrapes, and tears in the leather and plastic and was not at all like the “freshly restored” condition that the pictures showed or what was said over the phone. Leading me to believe the photos were taken a decade ago or he was just straight lying and the photos are from a different car.

Lastly, the frame. I asked over text and over the phone if the frame or birdcage had any rust, major or minor. I was told “no rust”. That was a complete lie. Multiple mounts completely rusted through, horrible painted over rust scaling. I poked in one of the weephole type holes on the frame running along the left side and a large pile of rust fell out onto the ground.



After that happened I stood up and said I am not interested and passed. The frame was completely rusted out and not safe to drive at all. Did not even pop the hood, turn it on, or take it on a test drive that is how bad it was.



So for anyone who may go to look at this car or who was thinking about it, I would pass.



I will be reporting the listing to Facebook and hope it gets taken down as the post and guy are completely misleading and the car is unsafe to drive and is being marketed as a clean build.

I guess I will keep searching! Thanks everyone for all of the help and for the information on what to look for, it came in handy this time.

 

It was a little suspicious seeing the listing pictures with the engine bay not finished. Glad you dodged a bullet!

 

But it's got a 383 Stroker!

 

who knows if it even does have a 383. Wouldn’t be surprised if I popped the hood and there wasn’t 😆 never even made it that far

 

to be honest to find something that will need little to nothing for work your probably looking to pay 18-25k