Value of unstamped engine cases

[RSwannabe]

Hi. I'm clearing out some of stuff from storage. Over the years I managed to pick up three unstamped, factory replacement engine cases. All are used (not NOS) and in good shape. One is a 1R/2R for a 2.0. One is a 3R/3R for a 2.2? The last is a 4R/5R for a 2.2 or 2.4.

I believe the fact these are unstamped cases make me worth significantly more than a basic used case. I wanted to get people's opinion on the value for them.

Thanks,

[Richardnew]

It's sort of like buying a blank canvas. You can create any sort of motor you want. Restamping is a cottage industry and it's a whole lot easier to stamp a blank case than one that the factory stamped.

The restampers have gotten so skilled that very few people (no one actually) can testify with assurance that the stamping was done in the last six months.

I would hold out for good money on these cases.

Richard Newton

[steve shea]

I do not look at it like a hall pass to fraud. I think it is the most valuable case you could have for your car other than the original. Given the proper case that is. Why? Because it is a factory replacement, no attempts to fool anyone. The fact that it is blank tells the story it certainly takes the least hit in the value discussion. Plus, fringe benefit, honesty. Back in the day these were commonly available and most were not restamped which is how it should be.

[JT912]

Stamped or unstamped it is still a non-numbers matching case.

[Eminence Gris]

Hi. I'm clearing out some of stuff from storage. Over the years I managed to pick up three unstamped, factory replacement engine cases. All are used (not NOS) and in good shape. One is a 1R/2R for a 2.0. One is a 3R/3R for a 2.2? The last is a 4R/5R for a 2.2 or 2.4.

I believe the fact these are unstamped cases make me worth significantly more than a basic used case. I wanted to get people's opinion on the value for them.

Thanks,

My observation, from selling a few blank mag cases, is that they are worth double what a stamped case is worth.

Having said that, installed in a car, they do not add value unless there is complete and careful documentation of what's inside.

[beh911]

It's sort of like buying a blank canvas. You can create any sort of motor you want. Restamping is a cottage industry and it's a whole lot easier to stamp a blank case than one that the factory stamped.

The restampers have gotten so skilled that very few people (no one actually) can testify with assurance that the stamping was done in the last six months.

I would hold out for good money on these cases.

Richard Newton

What a depressing post

[Harvey Weidman]

My observation, from selling a few blank mag cases, is that they are worth double what a stamped case is worth.

I would assume the value is because they are new VS a old/used stamped case? I would certainly pay double for a new case....
H

[sithot]

Agreed.

Would need to be "in the box" new. Used can always have issues, especially magnesium. If used, they deserve a line bore, case savers, new hardware (preferably ARP). That's a lot of money to sink into one before you even get started. Then there are oil squirters on early cases, oil pump upgrades for all as well as by-pass mods, etc. etc.

$ $ $ $

Ain't it great!

[csbush]

Given how easy it is to shave off and replace serial numbers, restamp nuumbers, and weld on magnesium cases, I can't imagine why they would be significantly more valuable than any other case. Heck, you could just grind off the stamped serial number (on a stolen (or not) case), and you have a unstamped case, that few could identify as such. Not implying in any way that is the situation with these cases, just saying that as a hobby in a global market with lots of $$$ at stake we don't control our environment.

The value is as described above. Were the case halves stored properly together, are they straight, proven crack free, not brittle from overheating, etc.
With a serial number on a case, even if it is the wrong one for your car, it tells you a lot about when it was built, etc.

[Frank Beck]

Given how easy it is to shave off and replace serial numbers, restamp nuumbers, and weld on magnesium cases, I can't imagine why they would be significantly more valuable than any other case. Heck, you could just grind off the stamped serial number (on a stolen (or not) case), and you have a unstamped case, that few could identify as such.

Not so sure. The tools available for forensic evaluation are better than ever. In addition we now enjoy a vast data pool and photo survey of hundreds of engine cases so any anomalies are subject to global scrutiny.