I have the original engine to your car!

[Bob H.]

How many would love to get that call? What if you were missing the original engine out of your otherwise nice 67 435 convertible car?

Through a lot of research I just found the owner of the car that the JE 435 engine I have in my possession belongs to. I ask what engine he had in the car. I guess I blew up his world as he told me he bought the car from a nationally known dealer as a restored "number's matching" car about 10 years ago. I have the history on this engine going back over 20 years but don't know why they were separated.

He said he never really checked the numbers and relied on what he was told at the time of purchase but is now going to have a knowledgeable person look at it.

If you had a correctly dated engine in your car and had the original arise from the ashes, what would you do, leave it alone or jump at the chance to get the real deal?

Does anyone keep track of cars with restamped engines?

[Pat M.]

Re: I have the original engine to your car!

Having the real deal would be extremely important to me. And I'd have one or two interesting questions for that "nationally known dealer" if the engine was passed off as original.

[Jack H.]

Re: I have the original engine to your car!

Imagine how the story would have played out had you called the owner of the "numbers matching" 427/435 car...that he/she paid 6 figures to buy...to tell him/her that you had the original 327/300 engine.

[Dave S.]

Re: I have the original engine to your car!

How many would love to get that call? What if you were missing the original engine out of your otherwise nice 67 435 convertible car?

Through a lot of research I just found the owner of the car that the JE 435 engine I have in my possession belongs to. I ask what engine he had in the car. I guess I blew up his world as he told me he bought the car from a nationally known dealer as a restored "number's matching" car about 10 years ago. I have the history on this engine going back over 20 years but don't know why they were separated.

He said he never really checked the numbers and relied on what he was told at the time of purchase but is now going to have a knowledgeable person look at it.

If you had a correctly dated engine in your car and had the original arise from the ashes, what would you do, leave it alone or jump at the chance to get the real deal?

Does anyone keep track of cars with restamped engines?

There is a big difference between "numbers matching" and an original engine. Numbers matching cars exceed original engine cars by a very large margin. The dealer most likely did nothing wrong. The buyer was the one who most likely made the mistake if in fact a mistake was made.

[Bob H.]

Re: I have the original engine to your car!

Yes, I guess it may be numbers matching. Sadly, many buyers are not aware the the word games played.

Like Jack said, it would really hurt to find out your 427 is really a 327. Like I told him, no one made this engine up special for his car except GM!!

[Mark D.]

Re: I have the original engine to your car!

Bob,

That is awesome that you contacted the owner of the car with the good news about what you believe is the original motor to his car. Since the story has been shared with all of us, it would be great if you would post a mega pixel PIC of your stamp pad. I'm sure you are right, but, it would be very educational for the rest of us to see an original pad. It would also be fair to let us know who the current owner of the car is...now that we have been brought into the goings on concerning this 435. One last thing, how much are you asking for the original motor and is it a bare block, short block, a complete motor maybe? Again, none of it would normally be any of my business but, since you brought it up.

It is my opinion that to bring in 'someone' to look at the engine now is, to say the least, a little late. I agree with Dave Strickland that there is a well defined difference between matching numbers and born with motor. I don't consider it word games and I believe that anyone considering the purchase of a high dollar Corvette, such as a 1967 435, should either know what they are looking at or, have a knowledgeable person represent their best interests.

Jack,

Your comment is one of the most astute I have read here on the TDB in a long time. You are on the money, IMHO. When the current owner picked up the phone to hear the original 435 HP motor was found, I would imagine a wave of relief and validation swept over him. I like the way you think, Jack.

Oh yeah, who is the 'nationally known dealer?' He should have an opportunity to defend himself although only an unsubstantiated claim about what he did or didn't say in representing the car has been made.

Let's get everyone involved and all the cards on the table. This could become very entertaining.

Regards,

Mark

[Jim C.]

Re: I have the original engine to your car!

I'd try to get the "real deal" if it was affordable.

[Bob H.]

Re: I have the original engine to your car!

I bought the engine from someone that has had it 20 years. I got it with the heads, crank, rods and several other parts.

I have collected all the parts necessary to put it together and all machine work has been done. It was standard bore and not in bad condition. We did go .030 over. That's why I wonder why it was ever separated from the car!

My current block is built to 435 specs but is the totally incorrect block. This block is date correct perfect for my car (VERY close # to my car) and I considered having it decked and re-stamped. I decided AGAINST destroying it and the plan was to use it as is. I am trying to get the car more correct without deception.

I then thought, how cool if I could find the car? Actually, I never thought I would. Doing so actually opens a can of worms.

I'll post some photos once the owner gets back to me. When you see the pics, there will be no doubt where this engine belongs.

I started this thread to solicit debate and I would ask, if the owner says "I don't want it", should I reveal the photos and number so the word is out there?

Heck, I would buy the car if priced right!

[Edward M.]

Re: I have the original engine to your car!

Seems to me I heard a similar story about one of the ZL-1 cars. Has a numbers matching, dated correct aluminum block. Goes through all of the various judging activities with flying colors.

Then, years later, a damaged ZL-1 block shows up with the same VIN number.

Haven't heard any more about it, but have often wondered how that situation turned out.

[Mark R.]

Re: I have the original engine to your car!

It seems to me when originality is of primary concern to a buyer numbers matching is not enough. I believe complete owner history, with the ability to speak with all the previous owners is the ideal. IMHO

Mark

[Bob H.]

Re: I have the original engine to your car!

I'm sure he paid dearly for the car. I agree when spending so much on a car, you should have done your research. It's sad but it seems you have to verify what anyone tells you these days.

[Mike G.]

Re: I have the original engine to your car!

you never know that the block you have is the original block for the car. back when these blocks were not hard to find i know of people that had them sitting around waiting for a car to put them in. if they were to stamp a block and it did not look right they would stamp another one. put the best one in the car and send the other back to the machine shop to un-do their mistake. unless you know the original owner, who knows what a car was born with. some people are so good with stamps now its hard to tell the differance. just about every car you see for sale now is "numbers matching". if you buy a numbers matching car and then sell it as the same, who did anything wrong? buyer beware!

[Paul J.]

Re: I have the original engine to your car!

We don't know what he paid for the car 10 years ago. It's obviously less than what the car is worth today, original engine or not. If he bought a numbers matching car thinking it was all original, then he made a mistake. However, it appears that no one did anything wrong.

This guy has a rare opportunity. I hope he takes it.

I hope we're not going through this numbers matching stuff all over again.

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...ching&uid=2972

I'm particularly fond of comment #8.

Paul

[Mike M.]

Re: I have the original engine to your car!

Commendable, Nice effort, Bob.
I'm more curious as to how you got hooked-up.
HaND

[Bob H.]

Re: I have the original engine to your car!

Hi Mike:

If you mean how did I find him, it was just a lot of searching on the internet

I did use a program that by the serial number let me search old records of various states but it is a hit or miss deal.

I did find the entire records for my 67 from 1969 to 2009 by searching records in Oregon. I finally was able to get the entire records with all the names redacted per state law. I worked through a Corvette Club there that was able to get me the records with all the information right back to the original owner!!

When I was searching for the car to this engine, I was probably just lucky to find an old record off the vin with a name and tag number, I searched the vanity tag number and found it was unavailable so I assumed the same person still owned it, Through more searching I found them in Ohio.
My friend had this engine stashed for the last 28 years