what is considered factory engine
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
what is considered factory engine
quick question. I'm looking to purchase a vette with numbers matching engine block, correct intake, carbs. However...The heads are Aluminum Edelbrock.
From a perspective of someone who wants to keep this vette for many years as an appreciating car..would this still be considered a 'factory engine' anymore?
From a perspective of someone who wants to keep this vette for many years as an appreciating car..would this still be considered a 'factory engine' anymore?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
I don't see how it could be considered the factory original engine. Can't really see how that would cause it to depreciate though. Heads aren't stamped with the car VIN so you can always find the appropriate heads for it.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 479
From: Appleton Wisconsin
You would need the original heads or you could find some original heads with the correct casting # to be a true factory engine. Anyone who wanted to buy your car with a factory engine would want all of the engine to be original.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,274
Likes: 4,366
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi c,
The are zillions of opinions about "factory engine"!!!!
In my mind in addition to the "casting numbers" gve mentioned, I'd think the heads should have "casting dates" consistant with when the engine was built... which is stamped on the engine pad.
There are lots of other parts on the engine that would/should have appropriate casting/part numbers and dates too.
Regards,
Alan
The are zillions of opinions about "factory engine"!!!!
In my mind in addition to the "casting numbers" gve mentioned, I'd think the heads should have "casting dates" consistant with when the engine was built... which is stamped on the engine pad.
There are lots of other parts on the engine that would/should have appropriate casting/part numbers and dates too.
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Since the engine has been modified with [at least] new heads, you should not pay any premium for a 'matching numbers' vehicle...unless the seller has all the original parts and they are still servicible (in good shape or can be repaired with normal methods). If the original heads were damaged or discarded, you no longer have a complete engine.
P.S. Chances are the seller also changed out the camshaft and who knows what else in that engine. And, that was all done to make more power. And, you know what that means...lots of WOT use.
No "factory correct" car, anymore....
P.S. Chances are the seller also changed out the camshaft and who knows what else in that engine. And, that was all done to make more power. And, you know what that means...lots of WOT use.
No "factory correct" car, anymore....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
I'm with "7T1", as the car's no longer the way it was manufactured from the factory. If the seller includes all of the original parts, then no problem. The Edelbrock aluminum heads likely flow better than the originals, so if not done already, some additional carb tuning and timing set up, would surely help the whole package run better.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,302
Likes: 8
From: Avon, Indiana
What year is the car in question? For some of the more desirable years this might be a consideration, for others not so much. By "appreciating", do you mean enjoyment or increasing in value? It's probably a good idea not to look at most cars as investments.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,887
Likes: 1
From: Hill AFB area Utah
apparently according to every chevy ad i have seen every car has a CORVETTE engine which must mean there are no corvettes with original motors cause there are WAY more corvette motors that actual production number corvettes 
i have enven seen boats listed with CORVETTE motors 
i have enven seen boats listed with CORVETTE motors
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
apparently according to every chevy ad i have seen every car has a CORVETTE engine which must mean there are no corvettes with original motors cause there are WAY more corvette motors that actual production number corvettes i have enven seen boats listed with CORVETTE motors
i have enven seen boats listed with CORVETTE motors 
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,887
Likes: 1
From: Hill AFB area Utah
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
With the original block, assuming the partial VIN matches the vehicle VIN, you could truthfully say it's "matching numbers" by the definition used by many. The lack of original heads and intake may turn off some but not nearly as much as a non original block....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 845
Likes: 54
From: Bangor, Northern Ireland
It depends what you want, i'd prefer a set of ali heads over the heavy stock items. but that's just me.
What engine is it? If it's a rare engine the correct parts are what makes the car rare (427, LT1 etc) if it's just a run of the mill motor ( like mine, '71 350) then I wouldn't worry too much, GM made millions of the things and I personally wouldn't pay any more for a 'matching numbers' run of the mill car ( especially if it's a post '71 low compression engine), mine's got a Chevelle 350, i'm cool with that as it's still a SBC.
Like others said, you could always pick up a set of stock heads somewhere if you wanted.
If you like the car then buy it, there's plenty of other potential pitfalls to look at when buying a Corvette, birdcage, crash damage etc....
What engine is it? If it's a rare engine the correct parts are what makes the car rare (427, LT1 etc) if it's just a run of the mill motor ( like mine, '71 350) then I wouldn't worry too much, GM made millions of the things and I personally wouldn't pay any more for a 'matching numbers' run of the mill car ( especially if it's a post '71 low compression engine), mine's got a Chevelle 350, i'm cool with that as it's still a SBC.
Like others said, you could always pick up a set of stock heads somewhere if you wanted.
If you like the car then buy it, there's plenty of other potential pitfalls to look at when buying a Corvette, birdcage, crash damage etc....