Advice needed on potential purchase

[DMC Fanatic]

I found an 81 for sale in my area. Here's what I know: Car runs, drives, panels are perfect, frame is solid. Needs mostly cosmetic work. The only thing that concerns me is that it doesn't have the original motor and instead has a chevy v6 which runs great. Seller wants $20,000. My question is, would having a different engine devalue the car than one with the original PRV? Is the seller asking too much? Trying to get a ballpark on what it could be worth. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures at the moment but I am going to look at it next week. I should mention that I am a former owner so I already know what to look out for.

Thanks

[DMC Fanatic]

Forgot to mention- Car is a 5 speed nov 81 build and mileage on engine is unknown

[powerline84]

To me having a chevy v6 devalues the car but for example I would be all over the delorean at dcs 18 that's the supra swap car. It's all a matter of opinion. I think generally in the classic car Industry right now origional cars or restored cars that are done with a stock type or origional mindset are bringing top dollar. In my opinion this car would be cheaper then the equivalent prv car. I would be all over a running driving prv delorean for 20 grand depending on condition . This car I would be Leary on and would have to get cheap. I would probably then junk the Chevy and put an ls in it.

[Michael]

My short and sweet opinion. In most cases an engine swap hurts the value to most people. To a further degree however, it is the execution of the modification that matters more. If your prospect is a clean well maintained car that has v-6 Chev swap with a degree of professionalism, then 20k seems very reasonable albeit it may take a little longer to sale in the future.

I'll take a clean well executed engine swap car that is in good working order any day over some left to be forgotton relic in someone's basement that will be a PITA for the next year....and that's about what 20k gets you these days.

Take the LT-1 V-8 swap here. I think his nake is Nick? That is one damn nice engine swap car and would most likely command more than many well respected stock cars.

[DMC Fanatic]

Thanks for the response. If I got the car I would definitely consider finding a PRV. Do they pop up on eBay or on here regularly and if so, how much do they typically go for? I know I could get a crate motor for around 8000 or so from one of the vendors but that’s more than I’m willing to spend.

[David T]

As a general rule, the more a classic car departs from stock the less it is worth against a car in similar condition but original. If the motor was "swapped out" to a different kind of motor, not only the motor was modified but all of the auxiliary systems had to be modified to make it fit. Workmanship also affects value. If it looks like it was done by an amateur, the swap is worth less than if it looks professional. If you have documentation as to exactly what was done it can help. For instance, what kind of oil filter does it need, air filter, etc. A Delorean vendor will be of no help so you have to be able to obtain the parts and service the motor yourself. IMHO I would price the car based on it's condition and deduct what I thought it would take to return it to stock. It will take more than just a motor. For instance the frame may have been modified to attach motor mounts. The wiring harness was probably hacked up. The fuel system had to be changed, etc. Some of the small bits can be very hard to find. In such a case it is more efficient to get a "donor car" to get all of the parts and a motor.

[Michael]

Thanks for the response. If I got the car I would definitely consider finding a PRV. Do they pop up on eBay or on here regularly and if so, how much do they typically go for? I know I could get a crate motor for around 8000 or so from one of the vendors but that’s more than I’m willing to spend.

If you want a stock D, then reverting a previously swapped car is definately not the way to go...especially if 8k is too much to spend.

[powerline84]

If you want a stock D, then reverting a previously swapped car is definately not the way to go...especially if 8k is too much to spend.

What he said.

[81dmc]

After my headache with the stock POS KJet PRV, I'd rather buy a car with a swap already done. However, the swap would have to be very professional and up to my very own standards. So honestly, if that car looks professional enough, jump at it, but then again, that's just my $.02...:)

Now if you want the PRV, just buy a car with the stock engine. Engine swaps sometimes involve major wiring mods. As a result, it would be a nightmare to convert back to stock without sometimes buying whole new harnesses.

[Jonathan]

I think the answer to your question is right there in your description:

Nov 81 5-speed with perfect panels, a solid frame and runs well. Some cosmetic issues to be addressed.

How much would a car that like sell for right now if it had a stock engine in it? My guess would be under $40,000, but no less than $30,000. Call it $35,000 + or -.

Your car with that same description, but with a non-stock engine is for sale right now for $20,000. So, that engine swap has devalued the car by $15,000. Plain and simple.

Your future value might be less than the equivalent car with a stock engine, but your initial investment isn't as high either. As was pointed out, it may take you longer to sell someday too. But you're driving a car that runs well and needs little. You absolutely won't be doing that if you buy a mess that sat for a while just to get the PRV.

[opethmike]

My short and sweet opinion. In most cases an engine swap hurts the value to most people. To a further degree however, it is the execution of the modification that matters more. If your prospect is a clean well maintained car that has v-6 Chev swap with a degree of professionalism, then 20k seems very reasonable albeit it may take a little longer to sale in the future.

I'll take a clean well executed engine swap car that is in good working order any day over some left to be forgotton relic in someone's basement that will be a PITA for the next year....and that's about what 20k gets you these days.

Take the LT-1 V-8 swap here. I think his nake is Nick? That is one damn nice engine swap car and would most likely command more than many well respected stock cars.

LS1*

And there are a growing number of us LS-ers :)

[CFI]

Nov 81 5-speed with perfect panels, a solid frame and runs well. Some cosmetic issues to be addressed.

How much would a car that like sell for right now if it had a stock engine in it? My guess would be under $40,000, but no less than $30,000. Call it $35,000 + or -.

Your car with that same description, but with a non-stock engine is for sale right now for $20,000. So, that engine swap has devalued the car by $15,000. Plain and simple.


I’d have to disagree. Within the last few months my brother purchased his D for $23,000, and I bought my Stage II D for $27,500. Both have perfect panels, solid frames, run and drive well. It’s a buyers market.

To the OP: $20k sounds reasonable based on your description.

[Maritime-elf]

If you want to make it original Delorean Industries sells refurbished engines.

http://www.deloreanindustries.com/1-factory-spec-engine-long-block/

Its an additional 10,000 not counting the time/labor to do the swap. Personally I would only buy the car with an original engine, or a car knowing I can afford to change it back to the original.

[Jonathan]

I’d have to disagree. Within the last few months my brother purchased his D for $23,000, and I bought my Stage II D for $27,500. Both have perfect panels, solid frames, run and drive well. It’s a buyers market.

To the OP: $20k sounds reasonable based on your description.

I don't have access to enough data showing actual prices any cars sold at to really say one way or the other. I can only base my comments on those I do see and that's where the $35,000 number came from. Sounds like both you and your brother did well then at those prices. Car values are always going to be somewhat arbitrary and inconsistent, depending on condition, the economy, the seller's motives, the buyer's motives, etc. We'll always be able to find examples of people paying low amounts and high amounts for what's basically the same car.

[David T]

The local market also has a large effect. The US is so large that different markets can have big differences in pricing.

[Jonathan]

The local market also has a large effect. The US is so large that different markets can have big differences in pricing.

Good point, David. Lots of supply versus very little. Or lots of new jobs versus factories that have closed. The cars can be shipped of course, but you're right that it won't be one rule of thumb on prices across all of the US. Or Canada for that matter either.

[opethmike]

So, as someone who actually owns an engine swapped car, and likely has owned his car longer than a good portion of the folks commenting, a few realities of look at engine swap cars:

1. Saying that engine swap cars sell for less (or would) is baseless. It's unknown. There simply haven't been enough swapped cars sold to have any sort of idea what it actually does to value. The Supra powered D put together by Eddie G. sold for VERY handsome money, but it's a single data point, so I can't say it raises value either. I tend to feel that engine swaps probably do lower value overall because people that want an original DMC aren't going to look at the car when considering a purchase, and people that like engine swaps are probably going to want to do their own. But again, there is insufficient data out there.

2. I personally strongly prefer swapped cars, as the PRV is an absolute slug of a motor. I'm sure I'm going to upset a number of people by saying that, but; sorry, truth hurts sometimes. Depending on how you feel about speed/power, this may or may not matter. I am a horsepower junkie, so it matters to me. Power aside, the PRV is reasonably easy to work on, there's a huge knowledge base out there for the motor, and of course you have vendor support for it. If you don't do your own wrenching, this is very important, and leads me to point 3:

3. Don't buy an engine swapped car if you don't have the skill to engine swap a car. Engine swaps, especially into a not great for swaps platform like the DMC, are highly customized by their nature, and when (not if) things go wrong, you're likely going to be on your own for figuring them out.

4. Especially don't buy an engine swapped car with the plans to return it to stock. The 2.85 PRV found in the DMC is absolutely stupidly overpriced, and the expenses for undoing the swap won't stop there. A swap touches pretty much every system in the car, so you're going to have buy a whole lot of parts and then figure out how they were originally put together. But if you really do want to return it 'close to stock', the 3.0 PRV can be had for a few hundred dollars, and while not a drop-in, is definitely easy to do by engine swap standards. Another benefit (again, as an 'if it matters to you') is that the 3.0 doesn't typically ruffle purist feathers as it is still in the PRV engine family. From a technical standpoint, it also has a few minor but still nice benefits over the 2.85 such as EFI, the smoothness from being even-fire, and less likely to explode from a turbocharger so much as merely looking at it.

5. Michael is a very handsome DMC owner, eclipsed only by how phenomenally well taken care of his mostly stock car is, and can give great advice on how to use turtles to clean the interior of your car.

[opethmike]

Also, if the car really only truly needs cosmetics, and the engine swap is well done with a motor that really does run great, then 20k is an excellent price if you want a swapped car.

The curious side of me would like to see some pictures of the engine bay, and get some info about which V6 it is. Probably the 4.3?

[DMC Fanatic]

Thank you all for the comments! This helped a lot! Yes, I believe the motor is a 4.3

[81dmc]

5. Michael is a very handsome DMC owner, eclipsed only by how phenomenally well taken care of his mostly stock car is, and can give great advice on how to use turtles to clean the interior of your car.

This is some great info! Now where to find those turtles...

[Rich_NYS]

So, as someone who actually owns an engine swapped car, and likely has owned his car longer than a good portion of the folks commenting, a few realities of look at engine swap cars:

1. Saying that engine swap cars sell for less (or would) is baseless. It's unknown. There simply haven't been enough swapped cars sold to have any sort of idea what it actually does to value. The Supra powered D put together by Eddie G. sold for VERY handsome money, but it's a single data point, so I can't say it raises value either. I tend to feel that engine swaps probably do lower value overall because people that want an original DMC aren't going to look at the car when considering a purchase, and people that like engine swaps are probably going to want to do their own. But again, there is insufficient data out there.

2. I personally strongly prefer swapped cars, as the PRV is an absolute slug of a motor. I'm sure I'm going to upset a number of people by saying that, but; sorry, truth hurts sometimes. Depending on how you feel about speed/power, this may or may not matter. I am a horsepower junkie, so it matters to me. Power aside, the PRV is reasonably easy to work on, there's a huge knowledge base out there for the motor, and of course you have vendor support for it. If you don't do your own wrenching, this is very important, and leads me to point 3:

3. Don't buy an engine swapped car if you don't have the skill to engine swap a car. Engine swaps, especially into a not great for swaps platform like the DMC, are highly customized by their nature, and when (not if) things go wrong, you're likely going to be on your own for figuring them out.

4. Especially don't buy an engine swapped car with the plans to return it to stock. The 2.85 PRV found in the DMC is absolutely stupidly overpriced, and the expenses for undoing the swap won't stop there. A swap touches pretty much every system in the car, so you're going to have buy a whole lot of parts and then figure out how they were originally put together. But if you really do want to return it 'close to stock', the 3.0 PRV can be had for a few hundred dollars, and while not a drop-in, is definitely easy to do by engine swap standards. Another benefit (again, as an 'if it matters to you') is that the 3.0 doesn't typically ruffle purist feathers as it is still in the PRV engine family. From a technical standpoint, it also has a few minor but still nice benefits over the 2.85 such as EFI, the smoothness from being even-fire, and less likely to explode from a turbocharger so much as merely looking at it.

5. Michael is a very handsome DMC owner, eclipsed only by how phenomenally well taken care of his mostly stock car is, and can give great advice on how to use turtles to clean the interior of your car.


Great post....solid hit on all 5 points.

I'd like to see the engine bay as well, and for 20K I'd like to consider buying it if it's sexy enough and the OP passes on the deal.