Yes, an age old question. I'm debating now, and would appreciate some input regarding the value of maintaining what I am told (but haven't verified yet) the original engine/transmission in my '71 Cutlass S. The car itself is nothing special - 350 SBO, TH350 column shift, bench seat in ok driver condition. It will never be a show car while I own it, but I do plan on having fun with it.

If I found a built up 350 SBO in another car and did a swap (not keeping the original '71 engine in my possession), would any decline in value be worth factoring into my decision or would it be negligible given the "ordinary" factor of the car?

I have no issue with the "it's your car, do what you want with it" approach or decision but I don't want to be second guessing myself about possible later regrets of a decision made now.

 

Its tough to read the future but i would say a 71 350 s would not be a high value collectable even if all stock as most A bodies wll eventually decline in value just as the model T did so I would say do what you want with it unless you truely value originality

 

I would do what makes you happy and not worry about future worth, value, or collectability. Make the car what you want it to be and have fun.

 

I would tend to agree to agree with ^^. The other option is to sell your car, and buy another that has had some mods....i am rebuilding a 350 to my specs and putting it into a Cutlass for the fun of it. The only difference is I am keeping the original motor and drivetrain....in terms of value, I think it would end up being negligible ....

Ted

 

I have basically the same car, almost apples to apples. I've owned it 28 years now.

Only a small part of me wishes it were still a bench seat and 350 2bbl car. I have no regrets at this point with a no numbers matching car. I figure its petty much worth the same as if it were stock. I do wish I had kept the AC though.

I like my car, but to be brutally honest, it is just a pile of parts that are assembled together. Still looks pretty good....from 20 feet. I'm happy with it.

 

So why not do a nice build on the engine you have?

 

I would verify the numbers first. I would think if the numbers didn't match that would hurt the value of the car, unless the motor was a 455. I would say do some upgrades to the numbers matching 350 or swap in a 455.

 

A good compromise might be to build the original engine the way you want it
instead of trying to find one already built.
Your car would still be a matching number car.
Buying something someone else has built and taking their word
for the condition and amount of "wear and tear" is risky,
plus no more matching numbers if you don't keep the original engine.
The matching numbers thing is a matter of opinion.
To me, being able to say the car has the original engine, even if modified,
is a plus.
Yours appears to be a nice car, even if it's not a more desirable model.

 

If the car was a really low mile car, it might make a difference. I think the car will sell better with some performance mods whether it is to another engine or your original engine. You and always push the original engine over the the corner of the garage and save it. As others have said, do what makes you happy with the car and enjoy it.

 

Why not have your cake and eat it too? Go ahead and install a "built" engine and hang on to the old one on a stand in the garage. I've made a few (mostly minor) modifications to my 442, but in every case I've kept the original parts and will hold on to them all until I either croak or sell the car.

 

I wouldn't 'second guess' the loss of matching #s with that particular model VI Cutty. At least not during my lifetime (I'm in my late '50s). Which is exactly what I'd do with that nice car of yours.

 

i agree, keep the engine, and have fun, come get one of my 425's and build a noisy monster

 

Thanks for the input fellas...confirms my feelings and doesn't feel like there's anything I'm overlooking.

That's my first option, but I'm looking at a car with an engine/trans that already has the work done. I don't want the other car, so an engine swap would leave me with a better setup in the '71 and I could recoup most of my money reselling the other one as a running car. A lot cheaper than doing the rebuild myself...IF I find myself a properly built engine.

I've done that with my '57 VW, keeping the original engine, transaxle and so on. I don't want to wind up with a pile of engines and such underfoot. Maybe if mine was a 442 though!

Hmmmm...we'll have to talk Stan! I've already denied her a 403 due to my 455 pipe dream. A 425 could be a reasonable compromise :-)

Yes, a very real concern and a road I've been down once before.

I think mine looks better in the photos than she does up close and personal, but all in all the car is complete, running and original.

 

Your car looks like it is very nice.

 

Keep the original engine if you want to put another engine in it. You will get more
money if, when selling, you sell the performance engine by itself, and the car with
the original powertrain back in it. Deliberately separating a car and its numbers matching
powertrain by selling the engine is such a dumb decision that it would probably physically
hurt.

 

No dubs, please no dubs.....


Just speaking for myself stock drivetrain/matching numbers matter when when I purchase a car. I'll pay more for unmolested, but that's just me.