WIW: Original Engine

[roundyrounder]

So I just found out that the guy I bought my '70 charger from (base model, 383HP, 4spd, 3:23 sure grip) 12 years ago still has the matching numbers engine in the back of his shop collecting dust. I bought the car with a running 400 with the original trans and rear end. I stopped at his house to ask him if he would sell it and how much. He wouldn't give me an answer but I could tell he thought he was sitting on a pot of gold. Obviously it's worth more to me than anyone else and he knows that but what would be a reasonable number to throw at him? He said it needs to be rebuilt, it has a spun bearing and someone put a dual quad set up so it doesn't have the original intake. I'm doing a restomod but it would be cool to have the original motor back.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

$500.00



But since he knows what he has and will try to make you pay, I'd say he could demand 10 x that ammt.  

[richRTSE]

If it were my car, I'd want the #s engine. I'd probably offer him $1000 for it, might be willing to go as high as $2000. He may like having the engine in his garage "just in case" he ever picks up another project..maybe trade him another engine and cash? To anyone else other than you, I'd think its only worth about $500...

[v21hemicharger]

I'd offer $500 and tell him you'll give him another $1500 whenever you sell it.  Mike

[1974dodgecharger]

why didnt he sell it to you when he sold the car awhile back?  Is this something you think he planned out by keeping the engine and selling you the car and then later on sell it to you specifically to get more money?

[GT]

Trade him your known/good/running engine for the one original. 

[tan top]

 tell him he can keep the duel quad set up too  


like whats been mentioned m he will prolly crank the price up  , as its only worth something  to the owner of the car !
you got to get your matching  numbers original motor back dude 
wish i had a chance at getting mine back 

[roundyrounder]

I was thinking about $1000 would be a fare number. I was going to start off by offering him $800 and go from there. He's a grumpy old bastard and I hate dealing with him. I bought the car from him for $700. I was 17 at the time and really didn't care about matching numbers. He had mentioned when I picked up the car that he might have the original motor kicking around but thought his son put it in his truck.
I just don't have those kind of funds at this point to put towards a motor that still needs a rebuild. I've owned the car for 12 years but i'm basically starting the whole restoration over again from the ground up. $1000 could buy alot of other parts 

[RyanNJ]

There is only one original engine. Take some cash and wiggle it under his  nose. Be fair with your number. I bet he will bite.

[Troy]

It's a 383 needing a rebuild. Around here you can't give those away - I have a running one that I can't manage to sell! The only person it's worth any money to is you. He *might* be able to get $100 for the heads if he disassembles it. The original engine would be a bonus for you but I'm not sure how much value it will add to your car (again, it's a 383 "base model" as you say). Having said that, I'd probably pay more than it's worth to get it but I wouldn't do anything stupid. Maybe $500?

Troy

[Scaregrabber]

It might be worth $500 to you but it's worth basically nothing to anyone else. If the guy is unrealistic let him keep it.

Sheldon

[ck1]

get sneaky and send some over there besides yourself to buy for you later down the road

[roundyrounder]

Thanks for the advice. I don't want to spend a ton of money on getting it back since I have a good stroker candidate under the hood right now. If it was a R/T, 440, or Hemi car obviously it would be a different story. I was thinking maybe I could find a running 383 and trade for the original. The day I stopped and talked to him I happened to have $300 cash on me so I offered it and told him I would load it myself but he seemed offended. I reminded him that I only payed $700 for the whole running car! He said the thing was swiss cheese anyway and that didn't matter (what an asshole). He wouldn't give me a price when I asked him what he thought was fare. Then he said never mind he was going to keep it and put it some Dart that i'm pretty sure he doesn't even have. The grumpy old fart really ruined my day. I'll have to work on him and i'll keep ya'll posted. Or i'll send some one else in like CK1 said.

[tan top]

 aww thats bummer     

[charger_fan_4ever]

If you offered $1000 he probably would have loaded it for you 

[Cooter]

I'd be interested in that 2X4 intake....

[redgum78]

Wait until his kids put him in a old peoples home then buy it cheap at the clearance sale.

[roundyrounder]

Wait until his kids put him in a old peoples home then buy it cheap at the clearance sale.

Haha I'm going to start watching the Obituary section a bit more closely now