corzatrr

quick question. I'm looking to purchase a vette with numbers matching engine block, correct intake, carbs. However...The heads are Aluminum Edelbrock.

From a perspective of someone who wants to keep this vette for many years as an appreciating car..would this still be considered a 'factory engine' anymore?

lionelhutz

I don't see how it could be considered the factory original engine. Can't really see how that would cause it to depreciate though. Heads aren't stamped with the car VIN so you can always find the appropriate heads for it.

gve

You would need the original heads or you could find some original heads with the correct casting # to be a true factory engine. Anyone who wanted to buy your car with a factory engine would want all of the engine to be original.

Alan 71

Hi c,
The are zillions of opinions about "factory engine"!!!!
In my mind in addition to the "casting numbers" gve mentioned, I'd think the heads should have "casting dates" consistant with when the engine was built... which is stamped on the engine pad.
There are lots of other parts on the engine that would/should have appropriate casting/part numbers and dates too.
Regards,
Alan

7T1vette

Since the engine has been modified with [at least] new heads, you should not pay any premium for a 'matching numbers' vehicle...unless the seller has all the original parts and they are still servicible (in good shape or can be repaired with normal methods). If the original heads were damaged or discarded, you no longer have a complete engine.

P.S. Chances are the seller also changed out the camshaft and who knows what else in that engine. And, that was all done to make more power. And, you know what that means...lots of WOT use.

No "factory correct" car, anymore....

Vette5.5

I'm with "7T1", as the car's no longer the way it was manufactured from the factory. If the seller includes all of the original parts, then no problem. The Edelbrock aluminum heads likely flow better than the originals, so if not done already, some additional carb tuning and timing set up, would surely help the whole package run better.

69 Chevy

Mighty quick answer...NO.

BTW are all your questions quick questions or are there some that are regular and some that are slow?

randyredleg

What year is the car in question? For some of the more desirable years this might be a consideration, for others not so much. By "appreciating", do you mean enjoyment or increasing in value? It's probably a good idea not to look at most cars as investments.

joewill

i would say it is 'original engine block' and leave it at that

dmrodco

apparently according to every chevy ad i have seen every car has a CORVETTE engine which must mean there are no corvettes with original motors cause there are WAY more corvette motors that actual production number corvettes i have enven seen boats listed with CORVETTE motors

lionelhutz

Ya, and I've never figured out how most can be called a "Corvette motor" when it has be rebuilt with new pistons and rods and crank and heads and instake and cam and.....

Easy Mike

Does it matter to you? If yes, pass on this one and keep looking. If no, moot point if you want the car and the changes made to it

dmrodco

makes me laugh my butt off there are more CORVETTE motors than corvettes !!!!

BBCorv70

With the original block, assuming the partial VIN matches the vehicle VIN, you could truthfully say it's "matching numbers" by the definition used by many. The lack of original heads and intake may turn off some but not nearly as much as a non original block....

aaroncorvette

It depends what you want, i'd prefer a set of ali heads over the heavy stock items. but that's just me.

What engine is it? If it's a rare engine the correct parts are what makes the car rare (427, LT1 etc) if it's just a run of the mill motor ( like mine, '71 350) then I wouldn't worry too much, GM made millions of the things and I personally wouldn't pay any more for a 'matching numbers' run of the mill car ( especially if it's a post '71 low compression engine), mine's got a Chevelle 350, i'm cool with that as it's still a SBC.

Like others said, you could always pick up a set of stock heads somewhere if you wanted.

If you like the car then buy it, there's plenty of other potential pitfalls to look at when buying a Corvette, birdcage, crash damage etc....