one vette two engines which one to use.

[David Stegmaier]

I have a 57 vette. I have two engines.The car was built 2nd week of May 1957. #1 engine is an original 121EG engine.The other engine is correct but it is a restamp 404EG with correct broach marks.OF course the April engine fits the build date of the car better, but which engine makes the car more valuable and more likely to score higher at a NCRS event.

Thanks,

Dave #5633

[Tom Freeman]

Re: one vette two engines which one to use.

"...which engine makes the car more valuable"? The one that came in the car. Anything else is a clone. Instead of asking which will make it more valuable you should be asking which will bring the car back closest to original. You can create a car that has correct numbers, just don't pass it off as original.

Just my two cents worth.

tom...

[David Stegmaier]

Re: one vette two engines which one to use.

Tom,

I am not trying to pass the vette off as original. Neither one of the engines is correct for the car. I just wanted to bring it back to as close to original as possible. I never thought about trying to pass it off as factory correct. Thanks for a nothing answer.

Dave,

[Tom Freeman]

Re: one vette two engines which one to use.

Dave, sorry you saw it as a nothing answer but the "make the car more valuable" just did not sit right. One of the goals of the NCRS is to preserve originality. To make a choice based on value received does not support the preservation of originality.

I am sorry if I may have came across wrong. Perhaps I should have said to choose the engine that is closest to original and put concern aobut what will make the car more valuable as a second tier concern.

tom...

[Bill Baird]

Re: one vette two engines which one to use.

I plan to be at Carlisle this year. This will be my third time. It's one hell of a show.

Bill Baird

[Bill Baird]

Re: one vette two engines which one to use.

Oops - ignore that last post. I inadvertently posted it in the wrong thread.

Bill Baird

[Edward M.]

Re: one vette two engines which one to use.

According to NCRS rules, either engine fits within the 6 months prior to build date. However, experience (I judged 56-57 cars for many years) tells me that the April engine makes more sense. Most of the cars that I saw, and that I believed to have their original engines, were within a month of the build dates of the car.

My only concern would be whether or not the restamp can be detected. I would have a number of people look at it CAREFULLY before I decided on that engine.

Keep in mind, stamping the numbers is the easy part, getting those broach marks correct is tough. Also, there was an article in a past issue of The Restorer specifically concerning the correct style of engine numbers on 1957 engines.

Good luck on your efforts here. I, personally, have no problems with a restamp.

[Kent Lowry NCRS # 3053]

Re: one vette two engines which one to use.

Hang in there Dave. I know your car, and it is one of the finest cars of it't age. I agree with the last post, that is make it as close to original as you can, but also give the restamp a very critical look.

[David Stegmaier]

Re: one vette two engines which one to use.

Thanks Kent and ED for your positive come back on my request.

The restamp and brouch marks were put on by a gentelman from Nebraska. His restamps continually pass the Bloomington Gold every time, so I don't think there will be a problem.

I have two good engines. I never intended to represent the '57 as a original engined car. I just wanted some feedback as to what would be the most acceptable choice for the engine.

Thank you.

David