Thread: How much can I change my engine & still have matching #'s car

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How much of my engine can I change and still have a "matching numbers" Trans Am? Can I strip the thing down to the block and change everything else...or to have a "matching numbers" car is it little things like air filters & hoses and leave everything else original. I am not looking for direction, just the facts. Thanks!

The value of a "Matching Numbers" car is it's originality. Collectible cars that are completely original right down to the hose clamps and chalk markings on the undercarriage carry the most value to collectors. I am not a collector so I am not sure how much the original engine would impact a car that has been modified otherwise.

hmmm...good point Pat. So what your really saying is that technically matching numbers won't matter if i've changed everything else...then i've taken the "originality"...hmmm...if that's the case then...it's already not original. The car has little value now, but T/A enthusiasts predict that 10 years from now it will, I don't know why i'm asking anyway because i'm not going to sell the dang thing. I didn't buy it for the investment...duh, maybe i'm answering my own question.

Anybody got a different take on the "matching numbers" thing?

If you keep the 301, people put new intakes on original car or new cams, possibly headders, you get the picture, the car would still be numbers matiching, to the block at least, as the block is unique to the car, it has the sequential numbers from the car's Vin stamped on the engine pad, the hi performance parts you would put on, like the intake, I'm not shure if it would cause that part to become non numbers matching because, nothing says the original intake is original to the car because, yes it does have casting numbers but, has no refrence to the car itself, meaning numbers like the sequential vin numbers. If you changed the block all togther, the car wouldn't be numbers matching.

Having matching numbers helps keep up the value of a collector car, even if some of the other parts have been changed because a good restorer can use NOS miscellaneous parts to "make the car whole" again.

And just because you have matching numbers doesn't mean the value won't be decreased if you start changing all of the other stuff.

If you want to maintain collector value, don't change a thing unless you have to. Then when you have to, use a NOS exact replacement.

If you just want to have fun, change anything you want - but keep the original parts in storage. You might change your mind someday.

i believe if a true collector raised the hood and saw a HOLLY bolted on in place of a Q-JET he would loose interest in it, unless it was the last one or at least it would throw up a red flag. every time i say im gonna save something and put it back later it never happens. i belive eather leave it alone or cut it up.

Why not build another engine? Like a 400 on the side, then swap engines and leave the 301 bone stock and in the garage.

That way you can whoop on the 400 and not have the risk of toasting the original engine, and you'll be able to put it back to "numbers match" if need be.

Yep, Blue, that's a good idea too...however, if I change the engine, i'm going to want to change other things too...so it would be tough to try to restore once I got through with it...I think i've waffled about this enough...six months on the fence...I think i'll just cut her up as you suggested Mike...an like Dave Severenson says: "Anybody can restore a classic, takes a man to cut one up" ha ha! Be a man Jeri!!! Ha Ha!

Originally posted by Jerilynne1965
Yep, Blue, that's a good idea too...however, if I change the engine, i'm going to want to change other things too...so it would be tough to try to restore once I got through with it...I think i've waffled about this enough...six months on the fence...I think i'll just cut her up as you suggested Mike...an like Dave Severenson says: "Anybody can restore a classic, takes a man to cut one up" ha ha! Be a man Jeri!!! Ha Ha!

now you talking. ill help you cut it up.