Whats it Worth

[Caseys69]

Ive come across a 427 4 bolt block with the casting number of 3935439. Im curious what it may be worth and what i should pay. The suffix code is LP which is for a 69 Vette 427 435 tri power aluminum head motor. Heres the bad part its already .060 and the bore is iffy. Ive included a picture of the stamp. There is a partial vin on it and for whatever reason the owner of the vette doesnt care about buying his original block back...... I know the picture isnt the best to say the least.

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u447/Caseybk/IMG_1561.png (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/Caseybk/media/IMG_1561.png.html)

[TimG]

The owner of the Corvette should have his head examined. That's an original L89 block. I'm not sure what it's worth, but the owner of the car should be willing to pay more than anyone, especially if there are questions on the worthiness of the block. Any chance you can acquire the car?

[Caseys69]

There's an interesting story behind it. The guy that has the car "supposedly" has the numbers matching motor in the car.

[Tracker1]

Vette guy probably has a pretty re-stamped "restoration block" between the fenders already?

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif

[rsinor]

My gut says this block may have been the first attempt at making a &quot;matching numbers&quot; motor and he already knows that. He - being the car owner.

[Caseys69]

That's my guess

[Caseys69]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rsinor</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My gut says this block may have been the first attempt at making a &quot;matching numbers&quot; motor and he already knows that. </div></div>

I thought about that too, but why try and do it on a .060 over block? The stamp looks good to me, but i'm no where near a pro when it comes to stamps

[rts]

The owner of the vette is crazy, I would buy it and store it away, and leave the stamper in it!!!
Just knowing I had the original block would just be a piece of mind for me!!!

[Caseys69]

My thoughts as well.....

[earntaz]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TimG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The owner of the Corvette should have his head examined. That's an original L89 block. I'm not sure what it's worth, but the owner of the car should be willing to pay more than anyone, especially if there are questions on the worthiness of the block. Any chance you can acquire the car?</div></div>

If the owner has not desire to get the &quot;born with&quot; engine back -- there are issues here ... I see RED FLAGS all over the place. TAZ <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/bs.gif

[Caseys69]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: earntaz</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TimG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The owner of the Corvette should have his head examined. That's an original L89 block. I'm not sure what it's worth, but the owner of the car should be willing to pay more than anyone, especially if there are questions on the worthiness of the block. Any chance you can acquire the car?</div></div>

If the owner has not desire to get the &quot;born with&quot; engine back -- there are issues here ... I see RED FLAGS all over the place. TAZ <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/bs.gif </div></div>

Questioning the authenticity of the block im looking at? Or the owner of the vette being nuts, or both?

[Charley Lillard]

I would have Al Grenning inspect the stamping before buying the block.

http://ccas4vettes.com/

[Fast67VelleN2O]

This just happened to me 2 years ago with an L89 block out of a 1968 Corvette. Wouldn't return any of my calls. His car had a restoration block in it but was sold as matching numbers.

[Caseys69]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would have Al Grenning inspect the stamping before buying the block.

http://ccas4vettes.com/ </div></div>

Thanks Charley, i appreciate the link

[Caseys69]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fast67VelleN2O</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This just happened to me 2 years ago with an L89 block out of a 1968 Corvette. Wouldn't return any of my calls. His car had a restoration block in it but was sold as matching numbers. </div></div>

Huh, thats weird

[MosportGreen66]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would have Al Grenning inspect the stamping before buying the block.

http://ccas4vettes.com/ </div></div>

Al won't give you a definitive answer unless you own the article. Outside of that, great service I've used many times before!

Dan

[PeteLeathersac]

It's happened to me before too w/ original 'Vette SB's but when cars are restored as #'s matching BB's, anyone w/ original engine/paperwork is THE last person these owners want to hear from.
Best always keep in mind that &quot;matching #'s&quot; and &quot;original engine&quot; are completely different things!
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif
~ Pete

[earntaz]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Caseys69</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: earntaz</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TimG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The owner of the Corvette should have his head examined. That's an original L89 block. I'm not sure what it's worth, but the owner of the car should be willing to pay more than anyone, especially if there are questions on the worthiness of the block. Any chance you can acquire the car?</div></div>

If the owner has not desire to get the &quot;born with&quot; engine back -- there are issues here ... I see RED FLAGS all over the place. TAZ <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/bs.gif </div></div>

Questioning the authenticity of the block im looking at? Or the owner of the vette being nuts, or both?</div></div> Owner! -- As already mention, it sounds like the owner may already know there are issues with engine. If I had this Vette and someone offered to me the &quot;born with&quot; engine block -- I'd jump all over it.

[Caseys69]

I agree with you Taz, im thinking he restored his car and the true original block popped up after the fact. However that still wouldnt change my opinion about buying it anyways

[TimG]

I recently found an original '67 L71 block, Al verified the stamp as original. Same deal, the owner of the car didn't want anything to do with the block as he had a Bloomington Gold car already with the restamp. It went Gold years ago.

[SBR]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fast67VelleN2O</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This just happened to me 2 years ago with an L89 block out of a 1968 Corvette. Wouldn't return any of my calls. His car had a restoration block in it but was sold as matching numbers. </div></div>

It's amazing to me that the majority of people still believe that matching numbers means that it's original.

[black69]

This is an easy fix.

Buy motor, get certified by Al as Charlie suggests. Its a gamble, as you may be buying a restamp.
Then if positive, post the VIN here. I think your liability towards a lawsuit is low, if its certified.
This thread will come up down the road when the car goes up for sale (they all do). <span style="font-weight: bold">The internet keeps things forever</span>.
Anyone buying an L89 vette WILL do a background search. They will plug in the VIN. That is a big big dollar car.
Everyone will find you on this yenko.net thread.
You can also remind the current owner sooner than later, this will all playout as I have outlined, and shorten the whole dance. He has to deal with you unless he is retarded. I think he will deal with you.

[Caseys69]

I sent Al an email and he said he only deals in corvette related parts. Am i missing something? Im 99% sure i read it correctly that LP is in fact a corvette suffix

[69biscayne]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: black69</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is an easy fix.

Buy motor, get certified by Al as Charlie suggests. Its a gamble, as you may be buying a restamp.
Then if positive, post the VIN here. I think your liability towards a lawsuit is low, if its certified.
This thread will come up down the road when the car goes up for sale (they all do). <span style="font-weight: bold">The internet keeps things forever</span>.
Anyone buying an L89 vette WILL do a background search. They will plug in the VIN. That is a big big dollar car.
Everyone will find you on this yenko.net thread.
You can also remind the current owner sooner than later, this will all playout as I have outlined, and shorten the whole dance. He has to deal with you unless he is retarded. I think he will deal with you.



</div></div>



If it was my car I would buy the block (if verified as original). Then you can have it with the car or bury it where no one will find it.

[Ls6 Ragtop]

Casey,
By looking at that deck I have concerns about it being original.
Before I spent any money on it I would measure deck height as that will answer a bunch of questions.
Chris

[Caseys69]

How would i go about measuring the deck height properly? Never done it before

[Caseys69]

Here are some more pictures. The block is now in my possession and will be getting magnafluxed and cleaned. The stamp reads T09I6LP and the vin read 19S702487 The date is F 14 8 June 14th 1968

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u447/Caseybk/IMG_1579.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/Caseybk/media/IMG_1579.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u447/Caseybk/IMG_1580.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/Caseybk/media/IMG_1580.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u447/Caseybk/IMG_1581.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/Caseybk/media/IMG_1581.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u447/Caseybk/IMG_1584.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/Caseybk/media/IMG_1584.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u447/Caseybk/97cec69b-ab64-4276-ac2e-01c88a2500be.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/Caseybk/media/97cec69b-ab64-4276-ac2e-01c88a2500be.jpg.html)

[bergy]

Broach marks should be perfectly parallel and deep ones should be fairly continuous. I'm saying re-stamp. JMHO

[black69]

Its hard to tell, without WD40 cleaning with a rag. I would still have Al G look at it.

[Caseys69]

After using WD40 and a rag
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u447/Caseybk/IMG_1589.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/Caseybk/media/IMG_1589.jpg.html)

[Rixls6]

Will need a closer close-up to see the broach marks better.
Zoom in tight as you can on each set of numbers separately.

[Caseys69]

Ok, I will get those shortly. Thanks Rick!