Learning about 1981 engine
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Good comments, Joe (aka, Bikespace).
To elaborate on my comments above about the engine being in the $200-500 value range:
If that engine is a totally complete 1980 Vette engine with its correct, original carburetor, stock exhaust manifolds, stock intake, and all of its emissions equipment installed and intact, it could be worth close to the $1K range as Pierson suggested. This would be to a guy who needs the right engine with all the correct accessories to put his 1980 car back to stock. If it is missing the carb, missing all the accessories and equipment, the engine is nothing more than a bare 350 engine. The 1980 block and heads are not desirable for any performance application - all the engine components are poorly suited to adding power and modifications, as Rebelyell has pointed out. If someone wants to build a high performance small block, the 1980 engine is not the starting point anyone wants to use. So it has little value to anyone other than the owner of a 1980 who wants to "restore" his car. The fact that the engine is not mounted in a chassis, and cannot be started up to verify that it is in running condition, further depreciates its value.
More and more States are implementing California-style emissions testing and enforcement requirements. It has always been a Federal Law violation to tamper with, or remove, any emissions equipment on any 1975+ vehicle, but few States have enforced it. Now, quite a few States will no longer allow licensing of any 1975+ vehicle that does not pass tailpipe emission testing, and that does not have all of its original emissions equipment installed. That means that a 1980 Vette that has had a modified engine installed, or that has had it's original engine altered with aftermarket components & exhaust systems, cannot be licensed and registered in many States. In order to sell a 1975+ Vette to buyers in many States, the car has to be restored back to its original configuration. This is increasing the value of original, all-correct engines and systems, since many owners of modified 1975+ cars are finding that they cannot sell their cars to the money-paying lucrative market areas of the country.
So, if your engine has all of the original, correct components and accessories installed, it may have some value. $1K may not be unreasonable. If it has no carb, or an aftermarket carb system, and if all its emissions systems have been stripped, it has very little value to either a hot-rodder or a restorer.
Good luck with the sale.
Lars
To elaborate on my comments above about the engine being in the $200-500 value range:
If that engine is a totally complete 1980 Vette engine with its correct, original carburetor, stock exhaust manifolds, stock intake, and all of its emissions equipment installed and intact, it could be worth close to the $1K range as Pierson suggested. This would be to a guy who needs the right engine with all the correct accessories to put his 1980 car back to stock. If it is missing the carb, missing all the accessories and equipment, the engine is nothing more than a bare 350 engine. The 1980 block and heads are not desirable for any performance application - all the engine components are poorly suited to adding power and modifications, as Rebelyell has pointed out. If someone wants to build a high performance small block, the 1980 engine is not the starting point anyone wants to use. So it has little value to anyone other than the owner of a 1980 who wants to "restore" his car. The fact that the engine is not mounted in a chassis, and cannot be started up to verify that it is in running condition, further depreciates its value.
More and more States are implementing California-style emissions testing and enforcement requirements. It has always been a Federal Law violation to tamper with, or remove, any emissions equipment on any 1975+ vehicle, but few States have enforced it. Now, quite a few States will no longer allow licensing of any 1975+ vehicle that does not pass tailpipe emission testing, and that does not have all of its original emissions equipment installed. That means that a 1980 Vette that has had a modified engine installed, or that has had it's original engine altered with aftermarket components & exhaust systems, cannot be licensed and registered in many States. In order to sell a 1975+ Vette to buyers in many States, the car has to be restored back to its original configuration. This is increasing the value of original, all-correct engines and systems, since many owners of modified 1975+ cars are finding that they cannot sell their cars to the money-paying lucrative market areas of the country.
So, if your engine has all of the original, correct components and accessories installed, it may have some value. $1K may not be unreasonable. If it has no carb, or an aftermarket carb system, and if all its emissions systems have been stripped, it has very little value to either a hot-rodder or a restorer.
Good luck with the sale.
Lars
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3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2025
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If you really want to get into the weeds, the VIN of the car that engine came from is:
1Z878AS431318
Corvette, coupe, L48 engine, 1980, made in St. Louis, car 31318 made of 40614.
No other options possible in 1980 with the "ZAK" suffix.
I wonder what happened to it. Did they leave any other Corvette parts? I couldn't give away my 79 L48 engine for $200-. Hopefully you can do better. Sell it as a "Corvette" engine, and don't mention that it has a 2-bolt main, and some of the worst heads to ever appear on a Corvette.
Good luck!
1Z878AS431318
Corvette, coupe, L48 engine, 1980, made in St. Louis, car 31318 made of 40614.
No other options possible in 1980 with the "ZAK" suffix.
I wonder what happened to it. Did they leave any other Corvette parts? I couldn't give away my 79 L48 engine for $200-. Hopefully you can do better. Sell it as a "Corvette" engine, and don't mention that it has a 2-bolt main, and some of the worst heads to ever appear on a Corvette.
Good luck!
