Dr.Jass
Pastor of Muppets
I had a good conversation with my friend Kevin this morning, and we got into the subject of throwing things away, selling for scrap, etc. What started it was that another friend had just recently scrapped five 318s, because he didn't need 'em and they were consuming space.
His point was that big-block stuff has gotten to be valuable because guys that don't (or didn't) see value in them years ago scrapped so many of them, even 440s so even though they were once commonplace, now they demand a premium even in this economy. "In 10 years, you'll be looking at $750 for a good 318 LA core" was one of his comments.
I'm starting to think he may be right. They don't make this shit anymore, unless you want to buy wildly-overpriced stuff. I've been trying to sell a good core 360 long-block for months now for $150 and I've not gotten even a single nibble on it. It seems like guys always want to toss their 318s or 273s for a bigger engine, but no one wants this thing. I'm considering scrapping it and if I do, the 360 LA just got that much more rare. Do I want to scrap it? No, but this place doesn't pay for itself, either. No, one engine doesn't make a difference but how many other guys are doing the same thing? I've junked a bunch of 318s and 383s because I saw no value in them. I never even considered keeping a 273 or 361.
I have limited space, and an even-more limited budget. I have two 340s and two 360s; why hang onto my 318? Hell, why hang onto the 360 long-block, if I can get a decent scrap price out of it? Maybe I'll scrap my extra pair of J heads, too. I'd cringe to do it, but I like a warm house more than I like parts on the shelves of a cold one. I can go days without eating but the dog can't make it 12 hours. I may even scrap my LA tunnel ram. If 68R/T puts me off on that trans too long, it'll be on a trailer too (no offense, 68). I'd love to continue to hoard, but I think a lot of stuff will be going to the scrapyard... and in a few years, I'll be hated for doing so because someone can't find an 8¾" gear case, a set of J-heads, or a C-body axle housing and shafts that can be cut down to fit an A-car.
It's all going away, guys and gals... and I don't mean my stuff alone. I'm just one of how many people in the same position. Sure, Ted Stephens will have whatever I've got, but he wanted $1500 for a '69 B-body front bench-seat frame with no usable cover or foams as of 4 years ago. Now's the time, my friends. Stuff's being melted down every day. If you think you're going to need it, get it while it's still here. If it turns out you don't need it, it's only going to be more rare when you decide to get rid of it.
This is not a shameless plug in which I'm trying to sell my stuff... this is just what hit me like a ton of shit talking to Kevin earlier. Every day, this stuff becomes more rare and people in my position are taking the same stance. I'd rather eat.
Sorry for the rant.
His point was that big-block stuff has gotten to be valuable because guys that don't (or didn't) see value in them years ago scrapped so many of them, even 440s so even though they were once commonplace, now they demand a premium even in this economy. "In 10 years, you'll be looking at $750 for a good 318 LA core" was one of his comments.
I'm starting to think he may be right. They don't make this shit anymore, unless you want to buy wildly-overpriced stuff. I've been trying to sell a good core 360 long-block for months now for $150 and I've not gotten even a single nibble on it. It seems like guys always want to toss their 318s or 273s for a bigger engine, but no one wants this thing. I'm considering scrapping it and if I do, the 360 LA just got that much more rare. Do I want to scrap it? No, but this place doesn't pay for itself, either. No, one engine doesn't make a difference but how many other guys are doing the same thing? I've junked a bunch of 318s and 383s because I saw no value in them. I never even considered keeping a 273 or 361.
I have limited space, and an even-more limited budget. I have two 340s and two 360s; why hang onto my 318? Hell, why hang onto the 360 long-block, if I can get a decent scrap price out of it? Maybe I'll scrap my extra pair of J heads, too. I'd cringe to do it, but I like a warm house more than I like parts on the shelves of a cold one. I can go days without eating but the dog can't make it 12 hours. I may even scrap my LA tunnel ram. If 68R/T puts me off on that trans too long, it'll be on a trailer too (no offense, 68). I'd love to continue to hoard, but I think a lot of stuff will be going to the scrapyard... and in a few years, I'll be hated for doing so because someone can't find an 8¾" gear case, a set of J-heads, or a C-body axle housing and shafts that can be cut down to fit an A-car.
It's all going away, guys and gals... and I don't mean my stuff alone. I'm just one of how many people in the same position. Sure, Ted Stephens will have whatever I've got, but he wanted $1500 for a '69 B-body front bench-seat frame with no usable cover or foams as of 4 years ago. Now's the time, my friends. Stuff's being melted down every day. If you think you're going to need it, get it while it's still here. If it turns out you don't need it, it's only going to be more rare when you decide to get rid of it.
This is not a shameless plug in which I'm trying to sell my stuff... this is just what hit me like a ton of shit talking to Kevin earlier. Every day, this stuff becomes more rare and people in my position are taking the same stance. I'd rather eat.
Sorry for the rant.
Scrapping or getting rid of things we may need someday sucks, but I find that once they're gone, I don't miss 'em.
Sadly when I get my taxes in and can afford new tags, rear tires:shifty::toot: and some fluid changes, the 533s will be swapped out for a set of 355s. 
Those gears are beyond fun but, they kill my pocketbook driving it from pay check to pay check. :doubt: