Value of keeping my original motor

[68charger440]

My 68 Charger was originally a 383 car. When I swapped it out for a 1968 440 motor I kept the original 383 which still ran great.  I have had this motor sitting on a motor stand taking up space ever since thinking if I ever sold the car it would be worth more with the original motor. 
Is that true, or is the car worth more with the 440 even though it is not original?  I'm tired of loosing the space and watching it collect dust.  If I ever blow the 440 I would probably just get another 440 and build it using all of my current 500" stroker parts etc.  So how much added value will keeping this paperweight give me if I ever do sell it?  Also what is a bone stock 383 worth these days?

[cbrestorations]

ive found originality is worth more if it is a rare vin car r/t, hemi, six pack exc...otherwise people would rather have the bigger engine. i had a numbers matching 383 for a challenger i sold with a 5.7 hemi swap and the guy didnt even want the 383, left it with me.

[68charger440]

I kinda thought that might be the case.  What did you get out of the 383 or did you just keep it?

[tan top]

imo , keep the original  numbers matching motor  ,

  i'm a bit confused with 68 motors , were they all stamped with a vin , I know 440s were , has yours got a vin stamped ?   

[68charger440]

imo , keep the original  numbers matching motor  ,

  i'm a bit confused with 68 motors , were they all stamped with a vin , I know 440s were , has yours got a vin stamped ?   

I don't know if it is stamped, but i do know it is the original motor because I got the car from a friend who bought it brand new and i have had it for 40 years.

[Lennard]

It's one of those... It's only original once kinda things. Once the original engine is sold, it will probably never be reunited with the car again.
It depends on what kind of buyer you will have in front of you when you sell the car if it is worth more with the numbers matching engine or with the 440.

[ACUDANUT]

Big Block cars are worth more with their original drivetrain. 

[303 Mopar]

ive found originality is worth more if it is a rare vin car r/t, hemi, six pack exc...otherwise people would rather have the bigger engine.

 a straight up Charger with a 383 is not really rare, and there is not a big demand for 383's.  Sell it and put the cash towards your stroker!  

[Scaregrabber]

Engines worth maybe $500, probably adds $5k to the sale price of your Charger to the right guy. Your choice.

Sheldon

[Dino]

I would not separate the two.  If I was in the market for an original car I'd pull the 440 and stick the original engine back in.  Nothing wrong with a 383!

[Troy]

Is it a 383 2bbl or 4 bbl?

The engine itself (around here) seems to be worth about $100-150. I have a running, low mileage 383 HP sitting in my garage just because I don't feel like giving it away. I have nothing to put it in.

If *I* were buying the car I'd want the original engine (if available) and I'd certainly pay more for it. However, as I found out when selling my black 68, probably 95% of potential buyers don't care and don't want it. They will try to get you to keep all the extra stuff so they can hammer you on the price. I eventually waited it out and found the right person.

Troy

[68charger440]

It's a 4bbl.  I guess I'll hang onto it and if I ever sell the car then get rid of the motor if they don't want it.  Then again maybe I'll just be buried in my Charger like Willie the wimp in his Cadillac coffin!

[myk]

Buried in your Charger with the original 383 or the 440?

[68charger440]

Buried in your Charger with the original 383 or the 440?

!

Both, I'll throw the 383 in the trunk cause wherever I'm going when I die I want to get there fast, and the stroked out 440 can do that!

[ACUDANUT]

Why do you guys treat a 383 like a disposable 318 ? 

[68charger440]

Why do you guys treat a 383 like a disposable 318 ? 

The same reason you call the 318 disposable ...and the same reason the 426 Hemingway guys look down on the rest of us.  I guess it comes down to the age old who has the biggest dick contest.

[ACUDANUT]

Why do you guys treat a 383 like a disposable 318 ? 

The same reason you call the 318 disposable ...and the same reason the 426 Hemingway guys look down on the rest of us.  I guess it comes down to the age old who has the biggest dick contest.

Ummm Okay. 

[Ghoste]

If having the original engine wasn't a big deal you wouldn't see "numbers matching" being touted as an important feature in ads and auction descriptions.

[Mopar Nut]

If having the original engine wasn't a big deal you wouldn't see "numbers matching" being touted as an important feature in ads and auction descriptions.

[oldcarnut]

So what about this twist on it.   I have a 70 RR I've been in process of cloning into a Superbird.  I'm getting in the same way as the OP but I have the entire front clip from firewall forward, rear window, original 383, interior pcs etc.  If I ever had to sell the car,  folks would be buying as a converted car which not a lot of the originality is left.  Its starting to build up as storage space lost also.  What would be the opinion.of selling the RR parts on this? I have 1 440-6 and a rebuilt 440 for the project already and 383 on a stand is just more room.

[ACUDANUT]

That is a entirely different matter, if your making a non wing car into one. In that case the number matching drivetrain is of no concern. 

[Lennard]

You guys are both nuts!😝

[Old Moparz]

I'd keep it but only because I keep everything anyway. 

ive found originality is worth more if it is a rare vin car r/t, hemi, six pack exc...otherwise people would rather have the bigger engine. i had a numbers matching 383 for a challenger i sold with a 5.7 hemi swap and the guy didnt even want the 383, left it with me.

Seriously, if you can store it & not have it in your way, or you don't need a few bucks to offset what you spent on the car, then hang onto it. Since you said it's in the way, then maybe post it in a local classified ad to be picked up so you don't have to deal with shipping.

The value of a 383 isn't much, I once picked up a block with a few parts for free because someone was tired of it being in their way. I took it in case the block in a car I had bought was shot but sold the car. The buyer of the car didn't want it so now it's on a dolly under plastic in the corner of my garage.