How can you tell if a car is a real big block?
01-31-2013, 02:34 PM
#41
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Mike M asked: "What is the difference between a factory installed BB and a nicely faked BB other than somebody's perceived notion of value?"
You question has the answer in it. The perceived value is the difference. To suggest otherwise is wasting everyone's time here.
You question has the answer in it. The perceived value is the difference. To suggest otherwise is wasting everyone's time here.
01-31-2013, 02:54 PM
#42
After all, she still has the same original chassis!more questions than answers
01-31-2013, 03:01 PM
#43
Race Director
Begs the question; if before you met her for the first time she had big blocks, but later in life decided to go with smalls, how do you know what she had originally. Is her chassis set with a posture that can handle the weight? How about her legs; are there indications the her frame could handle the torque and sway of those powerful blocks?
more questions than answers
more questions than answers
01-31-2013, 04:29 PM
#44
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it was easy in the early seventies, they were cheaper
when i was looking for a 1967 corvette convertible in 1973-74, small blocks were more expensive ! while i wanted a small block, i settled on the 435 because i knew i would just use it for cruising, and was not concerned about gas shortages and high prices. probably lucky to be alive, as the car is not easily controlled with the power it has. who would have figured 
01-31-2013, 04:33 PM
#45
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If you're not having the car judged and you pay for what you're getting, there IS NOT PRACTICAL DIFFERENCE.
The OP that asked the O question should take note of this as this is where I was going with this.
01-31-2013, 06:40 PM
#47
Le Mans Master
MikeM is one of those guys who instead of swatting flies likes to catch them and rip off their wings, then drop them in a jar just to watch them spin around endlessly until they die. The jar sits next to his pc. The soft buzzing helps him think up his next retort to whatever mind games he happens to be playing at that moment.....
Because one came from the factory that way, built by guys making $2.50 an hour whose big concern in life was about:
a. Going to the Lake of the Ozarks that weekend
b. Going boating on the Mississippi on Alton Lake and above
c. Going hunting that weekend
d. If they were going to get a deer
e. Doing some drag racing at St. Louis International or maybe Hall Street
f. Going canoeing at Times Beach or on the Meramec.
The other came from some shop elsewhere, built by guys making $25 to $35 an hour, whose big concern was if this car would be good enough to get past the NCRS judges and the Bloomington judges, and the only way to ensure that was to be very careful with every detail and to do meticulous work.
You tell me which was built with more quality?
The sad part is that we have made these cars portfolios that end up sitting in garages and never seeing the light of day except to go to an auction. It is sadder that people who originally owned these or have wanted to all their lives most likely cannot due to the outrageous price on them.
And we are all happy since in the meantime, the "value" of our Corvette has increased and now we think we are "rich" because we own it.
Strangely, most cars have documents today.
Where were those documents 20 and 30 years ago?
01-31-2013, 06:53 PM
#48
A/C s/b cars have the trap door and battery on the left side also.
01-31-2013, 06:56 PM
#50
Le Mans Master
No, Mike is making you think. Why do you pay a lot of money for one car and not another? As stupid as I think the 21st Century Insurance commercial is, basically it is that point in Corvettes. They both look alike. They both have all the same equipment. Why is one $100,000 higher than the other?
Because one came from the factory that way, built by guys making $2.50 an hour whose big concern in life was about:
a. Going to the Lake of the Ozarks that weekend
b. Going boating on the Mississippi on Alton Lake and above
c. Going hunting that weekend
d. If they were going to get a deer
e. Doing some drag racing at St. Louis International or maybe Hall Street
f. Going canoeing at Times Beach or on the Meramec.
The other came from some shop elsewhere, built by guys making $25 to $35 an hour, whose big concern was if this car would be good enough to get past the NCRS judges and the Bloomington judges, and the only way to ensure that was to be very careful with every detail and to do meticulous work.
You tell me which was built with more quality?
Because one came from the factory that way, built by guys making $2.50 an hour whose big concern in life was about:
a. Going to the Lake of the Ozarks that weekend
b. Going boating on the Mississippi on Alton Lake and above
c. Going hunting that weekend
d. If they were going to get a deer
e. Doing some drag racing at St. Louis International or maybe Hall Street
f. Going canoeing at Times Beach or on the Meramec.
The other came from some shop elsewhere, built by guys making $25 to $35 an hour, whose big concern was if this car would be good enough to get past the NCRS judges and the Bloomington judges, and the only way to ensure that was to be very careful with every detail and to do meticulous work.
You tell me which was built with more quality?
But, I want the one built by the $2.50 hour guys who like to fish, hunt, boat and drag race. The car they built is the one I want, if I can have it. The restored/reassembled car is easy to find, the original example, not so much.
01-31-2013, 07:23 PM
#52
01-31-2013, 07:25 PM
#53
Safety Car
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2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C2 of Year Finalist (stock)
2015 C2 of the Year Finalist
This point is perhaps intellectually honest in that an original work of art from a master cannot be honestly compared with a mass produced machine regardless that many of us think of the car now as art or believe the original design is a work of art.
And what is debated in this thread is excellent fodder for a College intoduction to Philosophy class.
But to be fair, I think the only valid point to be made is that while a real one and an excellent fake are pretty much the same physical thing, one ought not pay for one and get the other unbenounced.
Dan
And what is debated in this thread is excellent fodder for a College intoduction to Philosophy class.
But to be fair, I think the only valid point to be made is that while a real one and an excellent fake are pretty much the same physical thing, one ought not pay for one and get the other unbenounced.
Dan
01-31-2013, 07:27 PM
#54
So you and others think one of these over restored, restamped trailer queens represents originality eh? I am no longer confused about where you and others are coming from. 
I am so humiliated! I think I will take my unworthy cars and lock them in a garage and never let them be seen in public again lest I take a chance on them diluting the Corvette gene pool.
Show me a car with original paint, original body parts, original glass, original drivetrain parts etc. and I'll show you a car that has some value PLUS quite a lot of character!
I am so humiliated! I think I will take my unworthy cars and lock them in a garage and never let them be seen in public again lest I take a chance on them diluting the Corvette gene pool.
Show me a car with original paint, original body parts, original glass, original drivetrain parts etc. and I'll show you a car that has some value PLUS quite a lot of character!
Old corvettes, whether original or not, don't really have inherent value. They are simply worth what people want to pay. That's the point I was trying to make. Nothing more. You want to read more into that, you'd be making a mistake.
Second point is that when you are buying a car, you should care about this issue only insofar as you might end up being taken to the cleaners by paying for something you never received.
Pat
01-31-2013, 07:38 PM
#55
Le Mans Master
You're putting words in my mouth, which I never said, and then debating those words. Hope you're having fun.
Old corvettes, whether original or not, don't really have inherent value. They are simply worth what people want to pay. That's the point I was trying to make. Nothing more. You want to read more into that, you'd be making a mistake.
Second point is that when you are buying a car, you should care about this issue only insofar as you might end up being taken to the cleaners by paying for something you never received.
Pat
Old corvettes, whether original or not, don't really have inherent value. They are simply worth what people want to pay. That's the point I was trying to make. Nothing more. You want to read more into that, you'd be making a mistake.
Second point is that when you are buying a car, you should care about this issue only insofar as you might end up being taken to the cleaners by paying for something you never received.
Pat
Well, they really do. They have inherent value in that they can transport you and another person (or two) from Point A to Point B, the same as a Corolla, a pickup or a bicycle. They also are a value based on parts. You can take the heads and sell them for $xxx and the transmission for $xxx and so on.
Traditionally, I have always said they are one heck of a good $3000 sports car and that is about what they are worth. But sum of the parts are higher than that, now. Good front clip can bring $2000 to $4000 or more. I saw an original '63 front clip priced at $4800 at Kissimmee last weekend.
So real value? Maybe around $10,000.
The $50,000 and the $100,000 and the $250,000 prices are not the inherent value. They are just what someone is willing to pay.
After all, someone was willing to pay $4 million for the Batmobile.
01-31-2013, 07:41 PM
#56
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This point is perhaps intellectually honest in that an original work of art from a master cannot be honestly compared with a mass produced machine regardless that many of us think of the car now as art or believe the original design is a work of art.
And what is debated in this thread is excellent fodder for a College intoduction to Philosophy class.
But to be fair, I think the only valid point to be made is that while a real one and an excellent fake are pretty much the same physical thing, one ought not pay for one and get the other unbenounced.
Dan
And what is debated in this thread is excellent fodder for a College intoduction to Philosophy class.
But to be fair, I think the only valid point to be made is that while a real one and an excellent fake are pretty much the same physical thing, one ought not pay for one and get the other unbenounced.
Dan
I hope the OP, if he is in fact looking for a car, can read between the lines here and get a good education.
10-15-2014, 07:18 PM
#57
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Apples to Apples
Or if you are from Arkansas: "You can put lipstick on a pig, you will still have a pig". 
10-15-2014, 07:43 PM
#58
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Nuts
OK, let's play...
Imagine you married a woman, love of your life, high school sweetheart and all the history. When she was born, she had all her original parts, but much later in life she decided to get some cosmetic upgrades. Is she 100% original? Probably not, but she's mostly. So what is she? Well, she was born a female. There were many females born, but she's the one you like. Was she born a blonde? Probably not, but she looks good, doesn't she.
Now, imagine for some odd reason, less and less females are around. So in our imaginary world, they begin rebuilding males to look, sound, and operate like females, maybe even more feminine than born females. Hey, maybe you like them better....
But your girl is an original.
Imagine you married a woman, love of your life, high school sweetheart and all the history. When she was born, she had all her original parts, but much later in life she decided to get some cosmetic upgrades. Is she 100% original? Probably not, but she's mostly. So what is she? Well, she was born a female. There were many females born, but she's the one you like. Was she born a blonde? Probably not, but she looks good, doesn't she.
Now, imagine for some odd reason, less and less females are around. So in our imaginary world, they begin rebuilding males to look, sound, and operate like females, maybe even more feminine than born females. Hey, maybe you like them better....
But your girl is an original.
...or still drives me/my nuts 
Last edited by reincornation; 10-15-2014 at 07:46 PM.
10-18-2014, 11:17 AM
#59
My car (just a 390 hp) still has the tank sticker in place and I have owned it for almost 45 years and know all the history. I have everything but the bill of sale and I thought I had the documentation thing covered only to find out you can get anything you want to pay for and they will even age the paper. How can any BB be worth anymore than a small block to the average person with all the counterfeits that are out there?
10-18-2014, 11:41 AM
#60
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Have you ever heard the phrase "Comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges"? You cannot compare a factory installed small block Vette...(an orange), to a factory installed big block Vette ...(an apple) Chevrolet made less big block Vettes than the small block Vettes, hence a higher demand for the big block Vettes...or you just like a neutered dog and just don't get it? Or if you are from Arkansas: "You can put lipstick on a pig, you will still have a pig".
Or if you are from Arkansas: "You can put lipstick on a pig, you will still have a pig". 