have a 1972 el camino ss 454 that i just found out on this site the engine
is from 1974 and not original , was wondering if i should not restore car
without original engine, this was ebay buy 72 with w in vin redone 454
and interior with buckets and console , inside is just redone, no rust or
scale under car at all , bed is very clean , lots of rust bubbles around the
wheels front and back , my body shop will cut out all rusted areas and
replace with metal then strip car to bare metal and repaint with stripes
for 7000.00 , i paid 7500.00 for car, car rides perfectly , seems to be about
300 hp is it worth putting 7000.00 in a non matching nubers true 454 ss
forgot to say car is auto and has a c , i am having it painted red with black
stripes car was originaly green with white stripe

Just my opinion, but I don't think the original engine is AS IMPORTANT as it would be on an earlier high horsepower model. I'd think the color change may hurt the value at least as much, probably more than a replacement block.

I guess the question is, is a 72 big block SS with a replacement engine and color change worth close to 15K? From purely an investment standpoint, I'd guess probably not, but the old car hobby should be more about buyin'/building what YOU like than what something's worth to somebody else.

I can't answer your question in regards to reduced value, but I do know it is worth less. But hopefully you also paid less when you bought it due to non matching numbers.

But on a side note, I have a 70 camino that I very much like, and it too does not have a matching numbers engine. In approx a week, I will be taking it in for body and paint for around 7000.00. I doing this because I really like the car and I do not plan on selling it. But also because matching numbers cars are basically out of my price range.

with car it is not an investment issue it is should i through good money after
bad, i love the car but i could have body done much cheaper way if value of
car is not worth it down the road, as far as red color change , the old owner
had car painted red from original green , and he had under hood and door jams
underside of trunklid all done in the red color , i would cost to much to change
back to green , plus to tell the truth since i was a kid i wanted red el camino
with black stripes

jj, if I was shellin' out 7 large for paint and body work I'd expect all painted areas to be METICULOUSLY done. Also, there's always a place for a REALLY nice collectible car with wrong motor and wrong but super nice paint and somebody somewhere who has it hit his tastebuds right will probably pay a fair price for it. What doesn't usually do well is a car that has corners cut. The point being, the having it done much cheaper part. I think if you're gonna do it at all, you should do it to the very best level possible. That way you'll be the most proud and happy with it and it should bring the most return if you ever do decide to sell it.

The way prices are going up...if you pay a little too much now, you will make it up later!

I Always do it my way, never what someone else or the next person wants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I Always! drive what I build, thats why they call it a car/truck! Not for static display only. <--- that is for models. Thats what I always tell my brother, who doesn't drive what he builds.

Pat

Finding a correct block for that 72 super sport shouldn't be the hardest thing to do, especially since it is post 70 and is not pre smog era. Pretty much all GM motors were reduced in output for the 71 model year, rated at actual horsepower (net) instead of (gross) horsepower. I have seen 71 and 72 dated big block stuff around here going pretty cheaply, as it is considered "smog" stuff by machinists and others.

Finding a correct block for that 72 super sport shouldn't be the hardest thing to do, especially since it is post 70 and is not pre smog era. Pretty much all GM motors were reduced in output for the 71 model year, rated at actual horsepower (net) instead of (gross) horsepower. I have seen 71 and 72 dated big block stuff around here going pretty cheaply, as it is considered "smog" stuff by machinists and others.

But it will NEVER be the original engine, and if you are honest about it being a replacement engine, then the 74 and 72 "non-original" engines should have little value difference in the completed project...

IF you needed a new engine, and you happened to find a 72 block/heads, then it might be worth pickingthem up, but the increased value (IMO) would not be worth the cost of rebuilding another engine...

The people that would be willing to pay more for a "correct" 1972 engine are likely going to be the same people that will pay more for the correct original colors...

Enjoy the car as YOU want it... I think if you look at it as an investment, then DON't do the $7K paint job... Once it gets a few chips from driving, that will lose most of its value...

wrong vin on block, wrong engine regardless of date codes