What Would You Pay-Orig Engine?

[Velosopher]

Okay, so I tracked down the original 140 engine from my 65 corsa hardtop. It has been in storage for 25 years. It has extra carbs etc. Please read this statement from current engine owner:

"It has stayed dry this whole time and I moved the crank enough to know it is not seized. The rags we put in the intakes are still intact, and it still has the old AC R44F plugs installed so no junk has been inside. I have the original modified carb set up with most of the linkage (I may still find the rest, it was a combo of the positive reacting primary and secondary linkage from 1965 mated to the locking secondary Rochesters carbs from 1966) I paid $350 for the carb modifications in 1979. Repositioned and polished jets, polished throats and all Teflon bushings. Plus there are 2 more full sets of stock carbs, two air cleaner assembly crossovers and center buckets, with one top cover, most of the original fuel lines, some misc extra tin, plus an extra head that I got to replace the one with the dropped seat. When the motor was built for me in ’79, he upgraded all the seals to Vitton (sp?) and I only ran it for 4 years before I cooked the seat. I had a pin hole leak in the rubber on one side, causing it to run lean and hot on one primary, thus overheated the valve and cooked it. You should have a great starting point for the rebuild with no real surprises inside. It still is mounted to the bell housing and I forgot that the oil pan is apparently a Fitch or Yenko. We could never positively identify it, but it is extra capacity finned aluminum and is not an Otto.
Basically, all you may need to get this running are some pretty generic tin, alternator and fuel pump, and some 1965 or later 140 carb linkage."

I want to be fair but obviously there will need to be more money invested in the motor since it sat so long. I don't want to insult the man but not going to pay big bucks for an engine that does not run. He's asking me to throw out first price.
So what do you think it is worth? Or more importantly what would you pay not knowing the condition of pistons etc??
Thank in advance for your time posting a reply!!

[cvair4life]

I cooked the seat. I had a pin hole leak in the rubber on one side, causing it to run lean and hot on one primary, thus overheated the valve and cooked it....Basically, all you may need to get this running are some pretty generic tin, alternator and fuel pump, and some 1965 or later 140 carb linkage."

Well he's not exactly correct in the "all you need to do to make it run"... if he really did "cook" a seat or valve then you will be investing time into head work on at least one side... and site unseen... who knows how much head/piston work it may need.

Also at this point in time none of the viton seals or carb work mean anything. 25 years of storage = tear it all the way apart, inspect, repair, and replace all seals and gaskets. You don't want 25 years of mystery and who knows how many years of unknown prior to that coming back to haunt you again and again and again. Corvairs have a nasty tendency to plague their beloved owners with those types of things.

At the end of the day a 140 block and heads is worth a good deal, even if it's messed up. I really don't know how much but I'd probably expect to give him $200 or less considering the site unknown of the dropped seat/valve issue. I am curious to know what others on here think though.

Everytime I've told somebody to "name the first price" I've been surprised that they offer more than what I wanted or expected...

[flat6_musik]

Sounds like this seller is suffering from over-optimism.....not surprising though. Everybody wants the most they can get from their stuff. The first line I like to throw out when I'm buying something like this is "you're not guaranteeing anything here, right?" ......just to bring out in the open that this engine is one giant question mark and who the hell KNOWS what it looks like inside, and he definitely doesn't want you coming back angry, holding a bent con rod in hand...lol. If he was truthful about the carb costs back in '79, then I would say it's probably worth plunking down between $350 or $400, that's my opinion. And who knows.....he might get that "insulted" look on his face even with those numbers, but I doubt it.

Oh and "only ran it for 4 years"? Hmmmmm. Well if it was a daily driver (which it probably was back then, not so collectible) then the internals could be a bit tired. Yes, it's one big question mark......but most likely I'd try to snatch it up. At least it was well cared for since then.

[Velosopher]

Thanks for the response. I thought $200 was significantly on the low side. Particularly since he has 3 complete sets of carbs, six primary, and six secondary. So I went ahead and offered him $350. Well he wasn't an ...hole about it but basically told me to get lost. My gut told me I was at least a little low, but need a point of negotiation. So my second offer is for $500 not including the two extra sets of carbs (don't need em anyway). I told him I would also pay him $25/ carb if he wanted to get ride of everything in one deal. That's 8 carbs at $25 or $200 more. I figured at $200 for 2 complete sets of carbs I can get my money back out of those on resale. So in total $700. Have not heard back yet. Complete engine with one extra head and 3 complete carbs sets with two air cleaner assemblies. I don't think I am overpaying...fair on both sides I think??
Your thoughts? He thinks everything is worth $1000+...ouch. Maybe parted out to different buyers over god knows how long a period. But he lives in a kind of isolated area, good luck, right? -Joel

[cvair4life]

Shoot I have a 140 I'd sell you for $400 (I don't have the carbs for it.) It turns freely but again... site unseen inside the heads. I ran the engine and something blew up... no idea what or where but it would be hard to find out. I'd take the heads off and shoot you pics and an estimate of what I think the damage is and what you'll have to do to it though. I'm in Salt Lake City, UT so shipping might be an obstacle. I'm pretty happy to negotiate it off to you though.

[flat6_musik]

I actually HATE when people give me that "throw out a price" thing......because so many times they get all weirded out making that "pssshhhhh" sound and shake their heads.....lol......hate that. Unfortunately, if that engine has all the sheetmetal and 140 exhaust manifolds and 140 specific distributor, it's got some decent goodies there, but $1000?.......I just couldn't do it unless he showed the insides.

You could ask him to pull the heads so you could check out the pistons and cylinders, maybe it IS that nice inside! (plus you could check if one of the piston tops has evidence of turning into "lava" sometime in its past) BTW, did he mention if it's got a better-than-stock cam or fail safe gear or better oil pump or freshly rebuilt distributor?

$1000?.....uhh, hell no. It's a friggin' blown engine fer cryin' out loud.

[Velosopher]

Zach,

I am interested in hearing more about your 140. I am in Phoenix so shipping via commercial carrier like Conway won't cost too much. The other deal fell through. I asked to see pics of engine with heads removed. I don't think he doesn't want to do it
because of what he'll find but just too lazy or busy to deal with it. But doesn't matter why just not dropping $800 on a non running motor with question marks. Anyway, still trying to negotiate the custom carbs. Maybe I can mate them to your 140. How complete is it?

Thanks,
Joel

[Velosopher]

Thanks guys. Well best he would do was $850 for the lot. Plus I would have at least $200 in getting it shipped. So no deal. More than likely the heads and at least one piston probably looked like Zack's which he recently posted..not good.
Update: Found two near perfect 140 heads, the 4 carbs, linkage, 12 fin oil cooler, exhaust logs, and air cleaner assembly for $295. The lesson if learned is if you get in a hurry you will overpay most every time.

[flat6_musik]

You might wanna keep in touch with him and on good terms with him. If it's outta your price range, it's outta your price range. You could also see if he wants to part some things out.....there's always options. Besides, who, realistically would pay $850 for it all?.....especially now?

Wear him down, man!

[4carbcorvair]

You could buy a running car for $850. :)

Deals can be found. I picked up a 140 with a dropped seat a couple years ago with a trailer load of parts fro $100.

Glad you found some parts tho. Definately, as mentioned, keep in contact with this guy. You never know......