As you know, I've been researching this heavily for about six weeks now since my original block took a dive. And I mean heavily.
Going rate for a good street quality rebuild is between 1500 and 2500 bucks, depending on parts you specifically ask for and the shipping costs. I probably have 15 solid offers to either rebuild mine or ship me a rebuilt/reman long block, and they all fall into the 1500-2500 zone, including shipping. If you want a dragstrip engine the price of course goes up, up and up. I just want to drive my bird and make noisy smelly tire tracks a few times a week.
My mistake is that I've let this researching go on too long, and now I can't make up my mind. Cut-off date is 1 FEB for me, decision will be made by then (pay-day too!).
'68 428 HO M3 Monster, 4-on-the-floor! Need I say more?
LOL Dawniebaby in Gladwin MI. She's looking for her ticket to the big city! She probably has a 'budding' singing career and needs 4K to make it to the Grand Ole Opry. Here's a thought, she probably could deliver it on the way Nash.
My mistake is that I've let this researching go on too long, and now I can't make up my mind. Cut-off date is 1 FEB for me, decision will be made by then (pay-day too!).
I'd rebuild the original if you want to keep a better value on your 'bird. If you want to modify, buy another and keep original block to rebuild to stock spec or close to.
I would never base my decision on syntax semantics and style. Despite popular belief, it's a poor formula in which to guage any aspect of anything other than skills that only reflect rote memory. By the way, stuides indicate that holers of rote memory have at best average intellegence. But the definition of average intellegence makes the point moot. The point is that it's proven that there is a large portion of people whom don't fit spell check's mole who operate on a high intellectual level.
For instance, one of the more clever sales pitches is to appear less intellegent than the customer. In a bargining setting, no one wished to confront someone of whom has a higher intellegence level. Anytime a buyer belives s/he is more intellegent than the seller, the buyer perceives an advantage over the seller.
The more clever folks who recognise the spell check mentality harness the situation. A sure fire way to give the customer the intellectual advantage would be to make a sign that says "For Sale by Oner."
My issue with engine and cars on eBay is that I would be more than cautious about buying anything, regardless to the writing style. It doesn't matter how the ad is written. The little fly-by-night freebees notwithstanding, most newspapers--at least the paper in my area--won't accept seller written advertisments. The reason is that they want a uniform writing style. (If you try to submit something such as the car for sale, it reflects on the paper. Not that newspapers do a satisfactory job, even with junior high school grammer rules, but would you buy a newspaper with something such as car-for-sale published in it?)
I would be a little more concerned with carefully crafted written discourse; simply, the more carefully crafted, the greater possibility hiding the truth. Don't they cover this in school, something called persusavie writing, or are different geners something that's only covered in high-level college writing courses?
And I would feel just as confidant with the car being sold by the poorly worded seller. In fact, in a crap's shoot, you would probabaly stand a better chance with the poorly worded ad as with properly worded. (Obviously there are no professional automechanics on this board. Otherwise, this lack of writing skills wouldn't be the factor on which to judge products.)
The bottom line is that regardless to how the ad was written, I wouldn't buy an engine at a rebuilt price unless it came from a reliable rebuilder. And I wouldn't buy a car without looking at it, regardless to how it was worded. Even so, I wouldn't rule out a look at the car based on the seller's writing ability.
Obviously those of us who hold our tickets also hold our tongues on some things!
I think that the point is the time that a seller puts into the ad sometimes reflects his/her desire to represent the vehicle correctly. However, as you pointed out, a sloppy ad doesn't mean as much as a good look at the car or even a quick talk with the seller. It's just that first impressions do count in a lot of things.
And there are definitely some ads that should win awards for creative writing! I'm amazed at how some people can make the lowliest ball of scrap sound like the opportunity of a lifetime!
As you know, I've been researching this heavily for about six weeks now since my original block took a dive. And I mean heavily.
Nash,
Going to be in Bicknell Indiana to pick up a NOM 67 Firebird. Jen bought it for my B'Day.
I still have that 71 GTO block assembly if you need a starter. I'll call Tom (Louisville KY) and bring Vikki with me if she can put up with me for 14 hours. Maybe make a dinner out of it?
Si Vis Pacem Parabellum
1967 Starlight black PMD Engineering 400 Auto 1968 Alpine Blue 400 4 speed 1968 Verdoro Green 400 HO 4 speed 2013 1LE 2SS/RS Inferno Orange Camaro.
Obviously those of us who hold our tickets also hold our tongues on some things!
And there are definitely some ads that should win awards for creative writing! I'm amazed at how some people can make the lowliest ball of scrap sound like the opportunity of a lifetime!
I think it's a safe bet that the seller isn't into selling real estate........
Is there a restaurant and hotel in Bicknell, Indiana? I'll do some research on the town. I was born at a Strategic Air Command Airbase in Indiana!!!
I do not need the short block anymore, as I'm sure you've concluded yourself. It'll be either a remanufactured long block or a known good running complete block for me.
As always, thanks for the below-market-value offer you gave me on the short block. Go ahead and sell it for big bucks. Now that you and others have educated me, I've figured out that I don't have the knowledge to deal with a short block project.
But I'll meet up with you, Tom (KY) and Vikki anyday, and cover the dinner of course. Now let me do some Mapquest work and see where this Bicknell town is. When are you heading there?
'68 428 HO M3 Monster, 4-on-the-floor! Need I say more?
Hey guys, Bicknell is just a little town but I went to college at Vincennes which is about 10 miles from there. Decent hotels and places to eat. Buy the way I bought my 66' GTO just a stones throw from Bicknell a few years back. Good luck with it.
Anyone is welcomed to join in for the "event". Hopefully I'll have a solid date set within a week. I have 2 local members going down plus picking one up in Ft. Wayne.
Nash will have one helluva bill, but we'll go Dutch.
Would like to pick it up when the weather is at a lull.
Ponch,
Would you be up to checking the motor sequence number, carb number, and take a written inventory of any parts that are missing for me? I would hate to get there after the seller told me "it is all there" and it not be. I'll have the PHS by tomorrow. My main concern is that the complete drivetrain is correct, the filler (X-A/C panels) are there, and that there is no missing critical pieces. The car, in essence should be in pieces, but all there. I am especially concerned with the 7027272 carb as this carb alone costs $8-1000 and the distributor 1111250 roughly costs $1-200.
I can give you a written rundown on everything for the motor code/seq #, and would like to know if A/C components (comp/evap/cond/case) 400 grills, correct wheels, etc are all there.
Would save me a debate with the seller if I have to call seller and work down the price for what is missing before we all meet up. According to the seller, this car is from Texas and is all original and complete.
Or everyone can meet to pick up car and nitpick the car to death and see what is really missing. Eight sets of eyes are better than 2 or 3.
Si Vis Pacem Parabellum
1967 Starlight black PMD Engineering 400 Auto 1968 Alpine Blue 400 4 speed 1968 Verdoro Green 400 HO 4 speed 2013 1LE 2SS/RS Inferno Orange Camaro.
Banshee, its a hop, skip and jump up the road from me here. Let me know when you plan to go and I'll definitely meet up with you there. Again, I'll buy dinner. Photo op!
'68 428 HO M3 Monster, 4-on-the-floor! Need I say more?
Any FGFer member and FGF car owner here that shows up for this event has ONE FREE DINNER paid for by me.
Not your girlfriends, not your boyfriends, not your nephew or uncle. You can cover all them "local helpers". I'll need to know who is gonna be there by the Thursday prior to ensure funds are onsite. We'll nail down who is coming on this website before we hit the road. No last minute surprises please.
I'll pick the best restaurant that town has to offer and foot the bill, but you darn well know drinks aren't part of that deal my friends!
Bottoms up! This offer expires Sunday, 18 FEB 2007.
'68 428 HO M3 Monster, 4-on-the-floor! Need I say more?
Tom, this is only a few hours away from me, but I can't drive there until Saturday (maybe Friday). I'll do that for you if the seller agrees to wait until then. Then I'll call you onsite and go over the numbers and the condition.
Serious, I'll drive up there for you. Let me know and pass me the sellers info so we can talk and work out a time to visit him.
'68 428 HO M3 Monster, 4-on-the-floor! Need I say more?