Too much engine or complication for resale?

[Pat Landymore]

I’m humbly seeking input from fellow forum members…

When is a lot of engine ‘too much’ to find a buyer?

I’ve taken a couple of runs at selling the turbo big block truck with limited interest. Is my vehicle in that category?

With the engine currently out to repair the upper rear main leak, it wouldn’t be all that difficult for me to remove the turbo, plop on a LHS exhaust and call it ready for resale.

Investment…? Around $500 max. Change to resale value? Very little I’m suspecting. Does it change my ‘target audience’…? I’m really starting to believe it will.

I don’t think anyone is scared of a dual exhaust aluminum head big block, but starting to believe that adding a turbo greatly changes that equation. ???

Difference in power wouldn’t be too noticeable until a prospective buyer got well into the gas pedal. Just with dual exhaust the truck would be approx 550 lb/ft and 560-570 hp at the crank…even on 87 octane swill.

Trying to decide.

Any and all input will be very welcome.

Thanks!
Pat

[AC Bill]

Well, the market for your car in Canada is somewhat limited to begin with, and it will take a certain kind of buyer that appreciates the current package, so that may limit it further. But... I think with some patience you will eventually find that buyer. You may have a faster response by advertising it in BC and Ontario, where there is a larger audience.

That being said, some buyers are looking for something simple, and reliable. HP and torque are not necessarily a big attraction. They just want a cool looking car that they can take the wife out for Sunday drives, the odd show and shine, or car club meet-ups. They may never drive over the speed limit, let alone plan on racing it. Sometimes all the bells and whistles, will actually scare off someone who is not mechanically inclined.

Perhaps try contacting the Alberta Pharaohs Car Club to see if they have a classified section you could place an advert in. You can also join their Facebook group, (without joining the club itself), to put out some feelers. There are also Pharaohs clubs in BC, Ontario, and other Provinces. They also have a buy/sell group page for Canada you can join.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2639605136167174

Good luck with the sale. What are you replacing it with?

[J R Jones]

Pat,
Without changing or deleting parts you could run an ad with your alternative spec and see what responce you get.
Worst that can happen is that you have to follow through with your revision.
jim

[Pat Landymore]

AC Bill:

Thank you for your input. Don’t currently do Facebook (used to but bailed out a few years ago) obviously can again if it helps me find a buyer. I will look up the Pharos club this evening.

As to your question, I already own a fully optioned 2005 Corvette and have heads, cam, intake, headers and a tuning program in stock. Just need to clear the garage.

But if I’m left with a turbo, wastegate, carb hat and blow off valve just ‘sitting there’ …knowing me…all kinds of merriment could come my way! Ha!😂👍🏼

JR Jones:

As always from you…a very thought provoking question that (of course!) I’ll need to think on. What I can say in a moments thought however is that I might need to pull the big block again if it was put back together turbo’d and then a customer wanted it non…just because the pass side header fitment is obviously very tight.

But definitely on my radar to think about. Thanks!!

[VIRGIN MIKE]

my $0.02 is that someone looking to buy rather than build, might be intimidated by the bad boy engine

[Pat Landymore]

Thanks for your input Mike. I will be sort of incorporating your suggestion, amongst others.

What I’ve decided is to put it back together the way it was, but advertise it with a potential non turbo option….rather like Jim (J R Jones) suggested. No additional expense upfront, but it’s easy to change in a matter of days if someone offers up a deposit or shows really significant interest.

Thanks again!

[GoDadGo]

my $0.02 is that someone looking to buy rather than build, might be intimidated by the bad boy engine

I've got to agree with Mr. Mike.

A simpler set up may yield more interest, even if you retain the BBC as a N.A. version...Without a doubt, your Turbo BBC would totally be above my head to tune and service.

I know I limited the heck out of any possible future sale of my MK-4 because of my engine and transmission choice.

Redbone Roadster Graduation Link:
https://www.factoryfive.com/whats-new/customer-steve-l-graduates-his-mk4-roadster/

Good Luck!

[Pat Landymore]

Go Dad Go:

Thank you VERY much for the story of your build and for your input!

I’m not physically committed to either direction yet as the engine is still on the stand.

You’ve really given me food for more thought…

Cheers
Pat

[GoDadGo]

Pat,

The good news is a BBC, SBC use the same engine mounts and share the same bellhousing configuration...Heck, if you are running a Standard Deck Height Big Block the distributor is even interchangeable should you want to install a SBC instead.

The 2nd generation LT1 Small Block can even be configured to use the standard carb and distributor if you pick up the conversion manifold & block off plate shown below:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-24502592
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12367600

Good Luck!

Steve

[ztoolman44]

Since the motor is out, find a nice small block to drop in. If a hotrod pickup with a small block Chevy won't sell the entire custom car world is in trouble. Then put the turbo big block in the next project. Build an engine stand and just start it up to hear once in a while.

Honestly though, I think it will just take time to find the right buyer. Desperate times call for desperate measures but if you have time, the right buyer will come along eventually regardless of which way you go with the turbo. Get the word out to the biggest audience you can, do car shows, burn out contests, whatever to let people hear and see it and it will sell itself.

Before I moved back to Canada, I was on vacation here from the States with my wave-runners. A guy offered me a reasonable price for them so I sold them to him. We went to the border and did the import paperwork retroactively. So if you happen to be in the States at a car show and someone happens to offer you a good price, it can be done. Just sayin.

Good luck.

edit- LOL looks like Go Dad Go and I on on the same page this morning.

[Pat Landymore]

Thank you Steve and Matt for your input…much appreciated!

I can guarantee I’m not going to leave the big block on the floor and go find a small block. To me that feels like completely giving in and giving up.

The whole thing becomes a question of (my) philosophy at some point…. I had a vision, a dream, and built it. But I must recognize my dream could be other folks nightmare…or at the very least something they’re not willing to entertain owning. By downshifting to a ‘regular’ big block, that doesn’t seem to feel like giving up…it feels more like a concession to most other folks reality.

I’ve had almost two years off and on fun driving the turbo big block and have felt the earth rotating torque it produced. I built it and no one can ever take that away from me.

So, onto Summits website I go and order up some side exit dual exhaust fabrication parts.

Thanks very much again to all who contributed. It means a lot that you did and know you’ve helped me a lot.

Cheers!
Pat

[GoDadGo]

Pat,

While I love Mighty Mouse Motors, nothing says real power like a BBC Rat Motor.
Ever thought about simply ditching the Turbo and changing over to Tunnel Ram?

Steve

[narly1]

At the risk of being a pile-on'er here, I think that the saying "A custom car is worth market value minus what it will cost the buyer to make into what he wants." is very applicable in this instance.

Earl

[Pat Landymore]

Not unless you’re funding it Steve! LOL 😂

I have a perfectly good 1250 HP 1 x 4BBL Super Sniper on it now…way more than enough for a 550 HP NA engine.

To go tunnel ram would require a different Sniper Setup in 2 x 4 bbl, linkage, lines, the tunnel ram and an entire new tuning experience. 😳 That would add up to over 4K Canadian $, less what I could sell my stuff for.

It will only be a 20-30 minute job for me to rewrite my current tune file to NA and it will run great!

I’m trying to avoid as much expense and complication as I can now the decision is made.

Cheers! 😊👍🏼


Pat,

While I love Mighty Mouse Motors, nothing says real power like a BBC Rat Motor.
Ever thought about simply ditching the Turbo and changing over to Tunnel Ram?

Steve

[Pat Landymore]

Yes Earl…definitely some truth there.

This is why I will take the least cost/most effective way to make this change…..as you said…the next guy will likely change it again anyways!!

Cheers 🍻
Pat


At the risk of being a pile-on'er here, I think that the saying "A custom car is worth market value minus what it will cost the buyer to make into what he wants." is very applicable in this instance.

Earl