How much is to much

[Jerry Clark]

Re: How much is to much

Don:

It appears, (now that you are in a selling position), you are attempting to rationalize the price gouging that prevails in the Corvette hobby. The parts houses can claim overhead, you aren't in that situation. Evidently no amount of peer opinion will deter you from your pursuit of potential profit so have at it , just don't piss and moan the next time you have to pay top dollar for a part.What goes around...

jerry

[Michael W.]

Re: How much is to much

So Don,

If this original block would increase the value of the car by $15,000. are you trying to look like 'the good guy' by only charging $2500. to the owner?

And you'd like somebody here to agree with your logic?

Oh dear.


Quebec NCRS Chapter

[Michael W.]

Another thought.....

Don,

If you are so dead set against re-stamping, are you not actually encouraging the practice by trying to gouge the guy so badly?

my 2 cents (original mint stampings) that are worth 2 cents and that I paid 2 cents for.

Mike


Quebec NCRS Chapter

[Carl R.]

Have dealt with folk like this over the years...

I'm sorry, I just had to post to this, as with everyone else, this seems to have touched a nerve...

I am fortunate to have the original engine in my 1967. If I didn't and I ran into someone selling for $2500, would I buy it? Yes. And I'd consider you a despicable forever more. Having said that, if I had someone else's block and I found them, would I sell it? Yes, for what I paid for it. I'd be so happy, maybe even give it to them! Better yet, I would see if they had any parts to swap I might need. Your point on increasing the value is valid, your point on restamping is debatable, but...don't you have a job? Do you really need the money? Are you truly this mercenaric in regards to your hobby? I hope for both of your sakes you sell the block for the price you paid. Otherwise there are no winners here. Isn't the whole point of this NCRS & BB to actually HELP one another? Perhaps I am mistaken.

Carl

[Tim Genovese]

Don - How much did you pay?

Don - The one question I haven't seen asked is, "How much did you pay for the block?" I could understand a small profit for your time and trouble but you'll find no support on this board for blatant price gouging. Tell the owner of the '63 that after researching the value of the '63 FI block you now realize that your price of $2500 was way out of line. At that point cut him a good deal. You'll be glad that you did.

[John M.]

Re: Have dealt with folk like this over the years.

I couldnt agree with Carl more. My very first request on this board brought help from Joe Lucia who found some captive nuts for the torque converter on my 60 and sent them to me at no cost! Joe's comment struck a chord with me "I'm not in the buisness of selling parts". I will often purchase items at swap meets even though I do not need them if they are a good buy simply to pass them on to someone who can use them. I might feel different if I was in the business but I'm not and I feel that I owe this to the hobby.

[Gary H.]

Re: How much is to much

Having read your initial question and about a dozen responses, I had to respond. Although I agree with most all of the respondents regarding the price, the responses bother me as much as your post. I have a 63 FI coupe that had the original FI but wrong block and acquired the original short block in a way very similar to your situation. I paid the NCRS member, who aquired it just like you did, $1300. for my original short block. I am very proud of that car. I also have another original FI Corvette that I rescued from the drag strip, without its original motor or FI. I paid one of the NCRS judges who posts here on a regular basis $750. for a correctly stamped block. My intent is to restore it, the best way I know how, to its original condition. I am very proud of that car. I also have an original motor big block mid year vette with a restamped engine, thanks to an overzealous machine shop. I am very proud of that car. My point is, if you are fortunate enough to have or purchase an original motored vette, thats wonderful, more power to you. For the rest, we have to try to bring them back to their original condition the best way we can. My friends, as well as any future owners of these cars will know the exact situation with each vehicle. Regarding the price- its supply and demand. A dollar is a dollar and all you have to do is look in the Driveline and see that these same people are not giving parts or engines away. They are asking what they think they can get, or what they would expect to pay. I once paid $15. for a nice set of 58 trunk spears and sold them shortly afterwards for $650. I used the money to pay for some overpriced parts for other Corvettes. Can't we all just get along?

[Zachary K.]

Re: How much is to much

Yo Don, I left you a post yesterday at 4:30 and I thought nobody would have read it because of the many other posts that have followed. Boy you have poured salt in the wound. I really think that you have to re-evaluate your stance with the NCRS which is to restore, preserve, drive and enjoy. The "BUCK" has obviously gotten in your way. These discussion boards wouldn't be, if members were charged, for needing help. How many people do you think give their time to help with "FREE" advice. We all should help each other, no matter what, we are in this hobby together for the same reason, to see that these great cars are enjoyed by all. Don't you see that if it wasn't for your stubborness with making a buck that you are actually forcing this person to seek a re-stamped motor, of which your totally against. Where's the justice? You, as a member for many years and a judge should understand this. Just what kind message do you think you are sending to "NEW MEMBERS". LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I WILL OFFER TO THIS PERSON,(THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW), AS A MEMBER FOR POSSIBLY AS MANY YEARS AS YOU, IF YOU SELL THEM THIS BLOCK FOR WHAT YOU PURCHASED IT FOR OR FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE (to compensate for the advertising you did) AND IF THIS IS THE ORIGINAL SHORT BLOCK FOR THIS CAR, AND THEY AGREE TO PAY FOR ALL PARTS AND MACHINE WORK THAT MAY BE NEEDED,I WILL TEAR DOWN AND REBUILD THE SHORT BLOCK (AT NO CHARGE). AND WHEN THE ENGINE IS COMPLETED (LONG BLOCK) HELP INSTALL THE ENGINE IN THE CAR SO THAT THIS PERSON CAN HOPEFULLY ENJOY THE HOBBY AS WE HAVE DONE FOR MANY YEARS ALREADY. MEMBER #9838 ZACHARY KING. P.S. I would consiser myself one of the very lucky few that has been able to match up an original car with it's original engine.

[Don Lemek]

Re: Don - How much did you pay?

I don't think most of you kmow what a short block is,or in this case what this short block is. The block was cooked with new cam bearings,new solid cam and lifters new TRW 11-1 pistons,moly rings,correct timing cover,original 6-qt pan, correct finned balancer. All oiled and wraped in plastic. I now sold that car. And went looking for the owner of the motor. I pd $1,700 in 1990.

[Bill Baird]

Re: Don - How much did you pay?

Yes, we do know what a short block is, however, you had not been specific about its condition. With those additional details supplied, and if the short block has survived storage and is truly in need of no additional work, then your price isn't as outrageous as it first appears. I still think it's a bit high, but my opinion doesn't matter. The only one you have to convince is the owner of the car for which the engine is original.

Bill Baird

[George Daina]

Gary, we do get along, all of us except for......

gougers.....$15.00 purchase and a quick sale for $650.00? Whoa bro, puts you in the same class as Don doesn't it. I guess for you the end justifies the means.

[Jerry Clark]

Re: Gary, we do get along, all of us except for...

Gary:

I think this falls into the "it takes one to sympathize with one category.

jerry

[Nate Spaitis]

Re: How much is to much

Well, as probably the newest member to NCRS (3 days old and counting...) and a frequent reader of the board, I am glad to be in congruence with the majority of respondants for this particular thread.

My only question is, which one of you have (and will part with cheaply) the original block for my '66 roadster?

P.S. I think someone lost sight of what this hobby SHOULD be all about...

[Duke W.]

Re: How much is to much

For about 20 years I had the TI ignition off the red '67 L-88 coupe that David Burroughs owned. I eventually got hooked up with Burroughs through another L-88 owner and verified to him that it was the system off that car because I knew the name of the original owner and details of the story that have never been published. I liked the idea of the system going back to the original car/engine, and I didn't want it to get in the hands of someone building a bogus L-88. It was completely original and intact including the original brown distributor cap, band, and the original vacuum advance can with the nipple cut off, which was essentially NOS because it had been in a box while the system was on my car (I ran a vacuum can.) I told Burroughs I was willing to sell it, but really had no idea what it was worth. He rattled off some prices for each component and when I added them up in my head I said: "That's 750 bucks." When I bought it from the original owner, who was a college friend of mine, we didn't know how to price it, so we agreed on the window sticker option price, which you can look up, but, for sure, it's a heck of a lot less than Burrough's offer, which needless to say I accepted.

The moral of this story is that I sold it for what the buyer was will to pay. He named his own price. I didn't bother to research what the "market price" was at the time. I took his word for it. If he had said $250 I probably would have sold it for that. I think the way to approach this would be to explain to the car owner what you've got and what you have in it. Then ask him if he's interested in buying it and what he would like to pay. If he offers you at least what you've got in it, then you've got a basis for negotiation. If he lowballs you then he's just as bad as the gouger as far as I'm concerned. To another long term NCRS member and serious enthusiast I would only ask what I have in the deal and not look for a profit. If you're in the hobby for the long term what goes around will eventually come around. I'd rather make a friend than a few hundred dollars. Greed is a strong innate drive in the human species, and sometimes we've got to work hard to control it because it can do a lot of damage.

Duke

[George Daina]

Me too, Duke, me too...

Around '84 or '85, I took a 427/435 tripower system, complete w/air cleaner, intake manifold, carbs, & gas lines, no likeage, as a settlement on a $400.00 debt. The intake was a pre-production unit for the 70 454, but never saw the light of day, the carbs were dated for a 69 vette. About a year ago I sold the intake to an idividual who had no use for numbers, just as long as the intake was good without any cracks. Intakes w/out cracks were and still are selling between $500-600.00, I sold it for $400.00. When I mentioned the price, the buyer could not get his money out of his pocket fast enough. The carbs, rebuild, and still had the factory coating, could have passed for NOS, I sold for $390 for all three cause the guy NEEDED the dates and did not have any more to spend. I made out all right, I kept the air cleaner base and lid, and made two people happy, both walked away with a big wide grin.