Chew on this for awhile...flows along the same blurred lines discussed at present.

A guy I know.....Paid $41,000 for a Ram Air 1 body with the original 3.90 rear, missing the engine and M-21. His intent was to find a RA1 or 2 engine, date code correct M-21 and build the car.

I asked him why..

He retorts, why not?

I stated, why are you spending $41k for a body that you could have had for $12-15k (assuming that per his intent was ONLY to build a non original Ram Air Firebird) another 2k for the rear...and you will still have to find the (A) RA 1 or 2 engine, AND a date coded M-21..

His reply?

Well the body has the correct dated 3.90 rear...

My reply was dumbfounded and fraught with disdain...I said, you are paying 30k more for a PHS documented RA1 car to make it, according to you, a non original ram air car with no intent to find the original engine? Again I state that a 400 roller would have sufficed more than adequately...and that you wasted 30k for what? A freaking 3.90 rear and PHS and a VIN?

This is my point...his personal intent has been stated, yes it is his money...but the cost/benefit ratio as with the 400 HO non original motor goes hand-in hand. Had he a line on the engine and trans AND had the car, would such a venture make some semblance of sanity.

Yes, it is his money, their money, your money...once a car is devoid of the nomenclature of what it is, said car is deplete of it's pedigree. buying a RA car or HO car for 2-3 x what it is worth, sans drive train, makes no arguable sense....any way you wish to argue.