information on buying a used engine

[David T.]

I have a 1964 vette that numbers don't match on I've seen advertised a '64 vette 327 365 horse power engine this would be the corrct size for my car. I would like to know what to look for to see if this engine would be worth buying. I would like to know if anyone would know what the price range would be on this engine. Would this be a good investment for me? I would like to know if there is any other information that I need to know before I purchase this engine. I haven't called on or seen this engine yet.
Thank you for your help. You may contact me on this site or e-mail me at justacrazyone@aol.com
David

[Tom L.]

Re: information on buying a used engine

It would still be an NOM car, so I don't think that it would be a "good investment" for you as it won't enhance the value of the car. Moreover, people will pay a premium for a block like that if the casting date matches their application. If the casting date is not important to you, why pay extra for a vintage block.
Regarding condition if you decide to buy it, you won't know for sure until it's magnafluxed, but you can measure to make sure it's standard bore. Make sure it has it's original main caps. That may save you some additional machine work.

[Tom L.]

Re: information on buying a used engine

It would still be an NOM car, so I don't think that it would be a "good investment" for you as it won't enhance the value of the car. Moreover, people will pay a premium for a block like that if the casting date matches their application. If the casting date is not important to you, why pay extra for a vintage block.
Regarding condition if you decide to buy it, you won't know for sure until it's magnafluxed, but you can measure to make sure it's standard bore. Make sure it has it's original main caps. That may save you some additional machine work.

[Chuck S.]

Re: information on buying a used engine

While it will not recover the full value lost with the original engine, this action WILL help considerably with judging deducts if the engine is appropriately casting and assembly dated. The engine pad judging rules are detailed in the Judging Reference Manual...they allow points for each part of the pad stamps that is correct.

Changes in the rules for judging engine pad stamps will allow the lion's share of the judging points to be recovered if you're lucky enough to find the right engine. Your efforts in this regard will mean a lot more to the average NCRS collector than to the superficial "numbers matching" crowd. I wouldn't expect to buy the engine in order to flip this car and make a lot of money; probably won't help much there.

The appropriateness of buying the engine will depend on your personal values and priorities. If the engine is guaranteed to have no cracks/big problems and there is credible evidence for this being true, the price is reasonable, and I planned to keep the car, I would probably do it. After all, you are already committed to a NOM 64 Corvette...you either got it at a discount or you could take a hit when you sell. Maybe it's throwing good money after bad, but I would be tempted to try and get it as close to original as possible if it's otherwise a nice car.

Keep in mind that if the replacement engine turns out to be sound, you should then be able to sell the current engine to recover a little more of your investment...hopefully it's either a Corvette engine, or built as a Corvette engine.

[Chuck S.]

Re: information on buying a used engine

While it will not recover the full value lost with the original engine, this action WILL help considerably with judging deducts if the engine is appropriately casting and assembly dated. The engine pad judging rules are detailed in the Judging Reference Manual...they allow points for each part of the pad stamps that is correct.

Changes in the rules for judging engine pad stamps will allow the lion's share of the judging points to be recovered if you're lucky enough to find the right engine. Your efforts in this regard will mean a lot more to the average NCRS collector than to the superficial "numbers matching" crowd. I wouldn't expect to buy the engine in order to flip this car and make a lot of money; probably won't help much there.

The appropriateness of buying the engine will depend on your personal values and priorities. If the engine is guaranteed to have no cracks/big problems and there is credible evidence for this being true, the price is reasonable, and I planned to keep the car, I would probably do it. After all, you are already committed to a NOM 64 Corvette...you either got it at a discount or you could take a hit when you sell. Maybe it's throwing good money after bad, but I would be tempted to try and get it as close to original as possible if it's otherwise a nice car.

Keep in mind that if the replacement engine turns out to be sound, you should then be able to sell the current engine to recover a little more of your investment...hopefully it's either a Corvette engine, or built as a Corvette engine.