Advice Needed
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Kingsville, ON, Canada
Advice Needed
I've got a '75, interior, frame and body are in good to excellent condition. But its an L48 with an automatic. I'd like to put a 300-350HP crate engine in it and drop in a Keisler 5 speed. With the other little things it needs suspension wise, I'd be looking at around $15K (Canadian $, so $13K US).
The question is, if I had to sell the car at some point in the future, would the car be still "just a '75"? As in only worth what a typical '75 is worth? Or is the money I'm putting into it going to be worthwhile?
Eric
The question is, if I had to sell the car at some point in the future, would the car be still "just a '75"? As in only worth what a typical '75 is worth? Or is the money I'm putting into it going to be worthwhile?
Eric
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Kingsville, ON, Canada
I'm not so worried about the "value", as spending $15K on the car... something happening in the life that required selling the car and still only being able to sell the car for $9K because its a '75.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
That is a valid point. If that were to happen, you will have limited the marketability to those looking for such a car. When money is put into mods on these cars, rarely, IMO, can one recover such costs. There are many Vette enthusists that have no interest in buying such cars. But on the other hand, if you would enjoy such a mod, that is worth something in itself.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces NM
The general rule is that any money spent modifying a car is thrown away when you sell the car. Generally speaking, you will most likely only be able to sell the car for less than what it's worth in equal condition with the original drivetrain.
The exception is when the work is done by someone noteworthy, like Lingenfelter, Callaway, Coddington or the likes. Even then, it just depends on if someone who sees the car happens to like it.
Most folks that think their car is worth much more because they put $15 or 20,000 into it see their car sit unsold until they lower the price below what a stock one goes for.
If you go into it with the idea that any money spent now is for your enjoyment and won't be recouped when you sell, you'll be much happier in this hobby.
If it was me and I was going to do it, I'd keep the original(if it is...if not, it doesn't matter) motor/tranny and store it properly to be swapped back in when you sell the car.
Chris
The exception is when the work is done by someone noteworthy, like Lingenfelter, Callaway, Coddington or the likes. Even then, it just depends on if someone who sees the car happens to like it.
Most folks that think their car is worth much more because they put $15 or 20,000 into it see their car sit unsold until they lower the price below what a stock one goes for.
If you go into it with the idea that any money spent now is for your enjoyment and won't be recouped when you sell, you'll be much happier in this hobby.
If it was me and I was going to do it, I'd keep the original(if it is...if not, it doesn't matter) motor/tranny and store it properly to be swapped back in when you sell the car.
Chris
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 872
Likes: 3
From: Cortlandt Manor New York
I agree with okinawa86vette. These cars hold their value in their original state and they are what they are worth. If you have a 76 it will always be a 76 and be worth what it is worth.
Mods don't return dollars because they make a car what you want it to be. Unless you find someone who is looking for that exact combo it is difficult to sell for more than book value.
You are going to put in a 300 HP crate engine and a 5 speed for $15K. I would put in a 502 big block an a 6 speed for not much more. Someone else might want a used 427 big block with a Muncie for less money.
You will never get your money out of a small block conversion or a big block conversion. You will get more for a big block but never close to what you spend. Look for a car that someone else has done these mods to and see what you can buy it for it will be much cheaper.
Mods don't return dollars because they make a car what you want it to be. Unless you find someone who is looking for that exact combo it is difficult to sell for more than book value.
You are going to put in a 300 HP crate engine and a 5 speed for $15K. I would put in a 502 big block an a 6 speed for not much more. Someone else might want a used 427 big block with a Muncie for less money.
You will never get your money out of a small block conversion or a big block conversion. You will get more for a big block but never close to what you spend. Look for a car that someone else has done these mods to and see what you can buy it for it will be much cheaper.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
Related question.....
Would "building" the ORIGINAL engine to achieve better performance reduce the "value" of the car??
OK, I'm new at this Vette V8 stuff, and dont want (ok cant afford) a 500hp car, but I'd like to ultimately improve the performance of my '72 350/200/Auto.
Please dont tell me "well you shoulda......"!!
I have what I have, I lean towards originality, I KNOW the true value in these cars lies with originality. So, my question is simply "would modifications to the original engine (intake, exhaust, compression) reduce the value of having an "original, numbers matching car" ???? I'm just looking for a little more seat o' the pants power, but driveability and dependability is very important. I'm sure theres a lot of us out here who dont want, or need, or simply cant afford 500hp!!! Sure I dont have a BB/4 speed/Vert.... but a rising tide floats all boats, and dont want to ruin the future value of my little Vette!!!
Thanks Guys!!!
Would "building" the ORIGINAL engine to achieve better performance reduce the "value" of the car??
OK, I'm new at this Vette V8 stuff, and dont want (ok cant afford) a 500hp car, but I'd like to ultimately improve the performance of my '72 350/200/Auto.
Please dont tell me "well you shoulda......"!!
I have what I have, I lean towards originality, I KNOW the true value in these cars lies with originality. So, my question is simply "would modifications to the original engine (intake, exhaust, compression) reduce the value of having an "original, numbers matching car" ???? I'm just looking for a little more seat o' the pants power, but driveability and dependability is very important. I'm sure theres a lot of us out here who dont want, or need, or simply cant afford 500hp!!! Sure I dont have a BB/4 speed/Vert.... but a rising tide floats all boats, and dont want to ruin the future value of my little Vette!!! Thanks Guys!!!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces NM
What folks can't see can't de-value a car. What I'm getting at is that if you swap to aluminum heads, an aluminum intake, super big cam and stroke it, folks are going to know right off the car's not original.
But, you can sneak in a little extra cam with no one the wiser. If you swap intake or heads, just keep the originals to either pass on with the car or swap back on before you sell.
Those "stock" drags are all about what you can do with the car being original....or at least sneaking by the techs as original. It's easy to pull the valve covers and see roller rockers, different heads, etc, but it's a lot more difficult for someone to verify the cam's not original.
Like I said, keeping the original parts does a lot for the value.
Chris
But, you can sneak in a little extra cam with no one the wiser. If you swap intake or heads, just keep the originals to either pass on with the car or swap back on before you sell.
Those "stock" drags are all about what you can do with the car being original....or at least sneaking by the techs as original. It's easy to pull the valve covers and see roller rockers, different heads, etc, but it's a lot more difficult for someone to verify the cam's not original.
Like I said, keeping the original parts does a lot for the value.
Chris