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Opinion: Original or Modified Engine

Discussion in 'Engine Topic' started by jmbz28, Mar 19, 2019.

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  1. Mar 19, 2019 #1
    jmbz28

    jmbz28 Member

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    I'm in the middle of restoring a 79 Z28 with the original block. The machine shop called and said the original heads we cracked but fixable. I'm debating on fixing them or going aftermarket aluminum heads. There are originalists out there who prefer all original parts, and there are those out there who like the looks of a nice high polished shiny engine bay. Originality can attract higher prices, but so can performance. I'm not keeping the car, I'm restoring it and selling it. So what's your opinion, all original with as much HP as possible, or shiny aftermarket performance parts?
     
  2. Mar 19, 2019 #2
    BonzoHansen

    BonzoHansen Administrator Lifetime Gold Member

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    It depends on the rest of the build. Is the rest of the cast stock?

    Hope the engine shop doesn't deck the numbers of the block.
     
  3. Mar 19, 2019 #3
    Coadster32

    Coadster32 Veteran Member Lifetime Gold Member

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    IMHO...the market for original, higher priced cars isn't as big as the market for non-original, lower priced cars.
     
  4. Mar 19, 2019 #4
    BillyDean7173

    BillyDean7173 Spirit In Black

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    Since you are selling it, I would go with the aluminum heads and include the original heads with the sale. Let someone else fix the originals.
     
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  5. Mar 19, 2019 #5
    Zspoiler

    Zspoiler Veteran Member

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    You can make the engine "look" original but upgrade the parts,
     
  6. Mar 19, 2019 #6
    COPO

    COPO Veteran Member Lifetime Gold Member

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    Fix the heads and sell it. Easy.
     
  7. Mar 19, 2019 #7
    tom3

    tom3 Veteran Member

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    I wouldn't run fixed cracked heads, but for a flip, maybe.
     
  8. Mar 19, 2019 #8
    Lowend

    Lowend Administrator. .a car, a man, a maraca. Staff Member Lifetime Gold Member

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    I wouldn't put a dollar into stock 1979 heads.
    Build the car for you, not for the next guy.
    keep the factory heads and give them with the car when you sell it
     
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  9. Mar 20, 2019 #9
    EVILFACE

    EVILFACE Veteran Member

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    This. Paint the new ones to match the block.
     
  10. Mar 20, 2019 #10
    jeff swisher

    jeff swisher Veteran Member

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    I have had some shops tell me my stuff was cracked and I told them give me my parts back.
    I looked for the cracks they talked about and never seen them.
    Your heads need to be shown to you and show you the crack.
    Lot of scammers out there.

    And if I do have cracked Iron heads I will not have them fixed.
    You are more likely to get more money from it with it being a quick car than it being a turd.

    But years ago i used to buy old cars and fix them up and try to sell them.
    They would be 100% reliable and I would drive them across the USA and back without hesitation.
    But I could not sell them,,, No one wanted my vehicles.

    My problem was I did not paint them.
    People want shiny.
    My buddy Paul would take the same type of vehicle and have Maaco paint them for $275 and he would paint the carpet and head liner and all interior parts.
    He got good money for his vehicles and they sold very fast.

    Bald tires and ticking and smoking engines.. he did not have 1 reliable car but they looked new inside and out and they sold for what he wanted.

    I tried it I got some industrial polyurethane enamel, royal Blue and got a $200 Ford truck I think it was a 1977.
    I did a quick sand and tape job and painted the entire truck inside the bed also.
    Paint and sanding cost me right about 60 bucks. and took about 3 hours start to finish.
    Sold it for $1200 the day I advertised it.
    It had a bad miss but would go down the road.
     
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