Enough to make him want to cry.

[CTMopar]

My brother is starting on his project a 68 Coronet R/T. At some point the 440 had been replaced with a 383. He has a decent paper trail and the car has been in state its whole life so he started his search with the second owner (last to have it registered). The 2nd owner wouldn't return any calls so he took a ride. There was a Dakota and a new Camaro in the driveway. The guy answers the door and my brother explains that he is restoring the car and he believes the man to have owned it. The reply is "Yeah I owned that car". At this point my brother says he is trying to track down the original engine to make the car numbers matching. The guys answer "I have that motor it's right in my garage". What are the odds of that? The next thing he says is "I won't sell it". When asked if he had a project that he was using it for, and told that and told that he would even be given a replacement 440 his reply was "That Camaro is my first Chevy I'm not into Mopar anymore so I have nothing to do with it". He said that he pulled the engine and gave the body away intending to put the engine in a 67 Plymouth with his brother. His brother was killed in an accident before they started the project so he will never sell the engine as it has sentimental value to him. So the numbers matching engine for his R/T is sitting 30 miles away but out of reach.

 

[Cranky]

To each their own.....oh well

 

[detmatt1]

That sucks, I wouldn't give up on it though. This guy just might be playing hard ball with your brother to see how much he is willing to offer.

 

[iraqivet01]

It not about money. His Brother died and when he see that object, it reminds him. You want that motor, you have to earn it. That mean you need to get to know the old guy, make a friend, get to know each other, become part of his inter circle. After a time, (could take years) he'll let loose of it at his terms and conviences.

Heck you play your cards right, you will get your motor and have a long term friend.

If your not willing to do that, only other choice is to wait for an estate sale when he passes on. At least you know where it at.

 

[Cranky]

Sentimental = mental to me. If it's really sentimental, put it to good use instead of letting it sit and rot. Other words, let it live on to stand for the good times instead of dwelling on the dead. Life doesn't stop because someone dies. When I die, I don't want a freakin funeral but instead a party to celebrate the good times and the fact I've gone on to a better place and all the junk I leave behind had better be put to good use!

 

[Bigal75]

Oh well, build a HEMI instead.

 

[shag766]

irish?

Sentimental = mental to me. If it's really sentimental, put it to good use instead of letting it sit and rot. Other words, let it live on to stand for the good times instead of dwelling on the dead. Life doesn't stop because someone dies. When I die, I don't want a freakin funeral but instead a party to celebrate the good times and the fact I've gone on to a better place and all the junk I leave behind had better be put to good use!

i have already prepaid for my party at the legion. just wish i could be around for the auction.

 

[Jonnyuma]

I agree with iraqivet AND Cranky. Stay in touch, if possible. As great of a guy as you may be, you're nuthin' to THAT guy. Get to know him if you can and maybe he'll eventually see you as a friend and let the motor go. That's the practical approach.

Even so, I think that kind of manufactured sentimentality is weird. People attach emotionally to all kinds of objects for various reasons, ever watch Hoarders? Or to a lesser extent CleanHouse? I say lesser extent because most of that show is a put-on and those people aren't sick, just slobs.
On the other hand, if dude's old, just enjoy your 383 and wait for the estate sale. You'll probably score ("Grandpa had some old junk in the garage. I don't know what any of it is. It's all greasy. Take your pick") big.

 

[cr8crshr]

Or...If it is not all that important with the resto then get a "date Coded" correct 440. It won't be numbers matching...which really isn't all that important if you are just building a real nice street cruiser. However if the intent is a correct show car then by all means stay on top of it. Even in this crappy economy people eventually have to let things go. Me I feel that all this "numbers matching" stuff is highly over rated...but then my rides are for driving..not trailer queens.

 

[CTMopar]

He's not making a trailer queen but it is a restoration so that's why he would like to have the correct engine for the car. As it is currently unavailable he is looking for a correct year block. That's why I went for a satellite rather than a road runner or GTX, I can do what I want without the guilt that I changed something that should have been restored. If I had a RR or GTX I would feel wrong making any deviations from stock but that's just how I feel. If we all felt the same way things would get boring.

 

[shag766]

thought

you know what i would think about. get it mobile and looking good. stop by with the car to see the guy and he will be able to see it is being looked after and cared for. offer a ride in it, ask his opinion on the project. he might just soften up after he see's it is being cared for properly.
everybody mourns in a different way when a loved one is lost. i know about this. my wife passed after 23 yrs. at age 45, 10 yrs. ago. it took me 2yrs to track down her motorcycle and buy it to put it on the wall of my shop. now it is going to my son who rides when my turn comes.
anyway, he might just change his mind if he see's it is cared for.

 

[CTMopar]

shag766 its funny that you say that because that is his plan. He showed him the pictures of it when he found it but that didn't do it for the guy. I guess a picture of your old car covered in black primer doesn't show your intentions. He even mentioned trying again with some in progress pictures.

 

[shag766]

shag766 its funny that you say that because that is his plan. He showed him the pictures of it when he found it but that didn't do it for the guy. I guess a picture of your old car covered in black primer doesn't show your intentions. He even mentioned trying again with some in progress pictures.

none of my business but, i would wait till it is shiny and mobile.
when you show pics and stuff it is opening a wound.
-
show up mobile with an album of the progress and it is one time. my .02 cents

 

[ram250098]

you know what i would think about. get it mobile and looking good. stop by with the car to see the guy and he will be able to see it is being looked after and cared for. offer a ride in it, ask his opinion on the project. he might just soften up after he see's it is being cared for properly.
X2 What a great plan shag..that just might do it.
Al