BryanB75

I'm pulling the L-48 motor and Th400 trans out of my 75 Corvette. It is being replaced with 355 & 700R4. Not that a L-48 has a huge resale value anyway. Just thinking about selling it off to recoup some $$$ while I'm going through this whole car.

Thoughts?

vettebuyer6369

The numbers matching motor and transmission are basically the entire source of the value of that car. The car with an NOM takes a huge value hit, on an entry level car as it is. For the few dollars you would get selling them, you would lose many times that in future value.

Keep the original drivetrain WITH the car for the day when you sell. It will come.

Vette5.5

I'd keep the original drivetrain, although handling a 500 engine isn't the easiest thing to have around. You can get a small engine dolly on caster's or make one like I did. I stored an engine in my back yard shed, and just layed down a couple pieces of plywood on the lawn to get it there. Really didn't get in the way much, as just layed some wood on it and used it as a storage shelf.

7T1vette

If your intention is to just get rid of the motor/tranny and get some money for them, put them on eBay. But, unless you rebuild them to new specs, don't expect much for them. Now, if you car is pretty much the same as it came from the factory [really stock condition], selling the original engine and tranny is foolish...if you ever intend on selling that car in the future. Having all the components to a completely stock C3 is what gives the car its highest value.

Easy Mike

Keep both: original engine and original tranny. Both have VIN derivitive stamps and a future owner may want both.

Alan 71

Hi,
I agree... save the engne and transmission if they're the ones the car left St. Louis with. The next owner will want them.
Regards,
Alan

Save the remains of your front bumper too.

jordan89

markdtn

couperdecar

Personally - I would sell it. Nobody in their right mind is going to pull a decent motor and tranny out of that car and stick the sickly L48 and TH350 back in. I've got a '79 with the same combo. The TH350 is gone. I have no wish to trip over the damn thing for 20 years so some guy down the road 'might' put it back , but 'probably' won't. I've got buddies with old cars and shi-tte parts all over their garage. Looks like a bloody junk yard. I couldn't stand it. And as far as value .... If I saw a stock '79 (or '75) vette with the L48 and TH350 in the classifieds and a nicely done vette with the healthier 355 , 700R combo - I'd pay MORE for the 700R combo. So would alot of people.

bluthundr

Sell it. Numbers matching on a non-chrome bumper is way overrated unless you are planning on selling the car to only NCRS people in the future. The car will be more valuable with more valuable parts. If you do decide to keep the motor and tranny, they will just be in your way and something you will have to drag behind you if you move.

baxsom

People always yell about resale value and numbers matching. Forget that. For me resale value has no meaning because I just plainly wont sell it. So if you have the room to store the engine in tranny then why not but if you can make some cash on it then go for it.

couperdecar

I just re-read your thread. You've got the th400 behind a L-48.
I've always wondered why the heck GM would stick a heavy - tough as nails tranny behind a 190 hp engine when a th350 would have been lighter and still been MORE than enough tranny for that engine? Did GM just have a bunch of heavy duty 400 trannys they couldn't use anywhere else?

Easy Mike

Not true. A future owner wanting to restore this car would pull whatever was there and install the original engine and tranny if the original pair were available.

BryanB75

This is even better. In 75 the L-48 was only 160 or 165hp. When I looked under and saw the TH400 pan I laid there in disbelief for a few minutes

dugcyn

Its your choice but if it were me i would keep it. not enough $ to make it worth while besides once you get that vette project done what are you going to do. remember the numbers are on the block and heads. you can work that thing over with spare change and spare time to whatever you want. pretty cool taking a 160 hp to 300+. especialy without a time schedule. kinda wish i would have gone crate just so i could have some thing fun to work on now. cant mess with mine cause it aint broke and dont want to go broke and aint no way to fix it.

baxsom

...and if there is no future owner? What if he plans on driving his car instead of selling it?

Vette5.5

Good new's is, if you decide to sell the drivetrain should be a pretty a big market, even some guy with an old truck. Probably a good idea to get some video of the car starting up, running, driving down the road, ext before pulling it out.

markdtn

Market and value are 2 very different things. I would expect to buy a running used 2-pc seal 350 for $200 or less (less carb, distributor, accessories). The transmission is a core, $75. There is no value to selling it used. Even if you find just the right buyer, maybe $500 for all of it? It will be worth way more than that at resale or when the kids resell it. I still say if you have the room save it. I am keeping the original 350 from my '83 K20 truck. I pulled it complete to put in a TPI motor. Will it ever be really worth anything? I don't know, but it's not worth anything to sell.

...Roger...

If you have room keep it otherwise its probably doubtful it will find its way back into the car.
When I part cars I keep the vette motor around until I find a vehicle on craigs that is in need of a transplant , pickups , monte carlos and etc sell very well when they have a "vette" motor in them.