FAT Performance Type-4 Engine

[jcwolff]

Hello-
I am considering buying a '71 914 with a tired looking body, but an engine built by FAT Performance with only 7000 miles on it. The engine was originally a 1.7ltr and is now over a 2.1ltr. It has oem 2.0ltr porsche heads (ported and polished), and oil pick-up baffles. Horsepower is spec'd at 148, which was achieved with a moderate race cam, dual Weber carbs, "stroker" rods & crank, streetlegal headers, etc. What would this engine fetch if sold alone? I am told they paid FAT over $7k, but there are no records to prove it. Any input is appreciated. Thanks. - J

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

No records? That significantly devalues it--for all you know, it could be a tired old 2.0 that someone cleaned up and dropped in. If you really trust the seller, that would bring back some part of the value, but since you still wouldn't know what is actually in it...

Some people would treat it as a core. Some would only pay a little more than core price for it, and treat any driving they got out of it as gravy. Some would value it at some specific fraction of what it "should" be worth.

Since I don't know anything about the car, the seller, or anything else, I'd probably say it was worth $500-$1K. Which means I'm rather on the "treat it as a core" end of the scale...

--DD

[Tobra]

Unless the seller is a trusted family member or longtime friend, their word is just something they said.

Who spends $7K on something and does not have a receipt? What, his house burned down? He is a Katrina/Gainesville, TX/Whatever the next Act of God Disaster happens to be victim perhaps. Have you driven it? 150 hp in a '71 would be fuchin' fast, got those funky 1950's VW cable wind-up windows in those light doors.

[jcwolff]

It is insanely fast. I know the seller very well. I have no doubt that he is telling the truth, but what worries me is when I want to sell it, I will have no receipts. I'm going to contact FAT and ask them, but I was just wondering what it would be worth if I were to sell the engine alone. Thanks for the response. - J

[Tobra]

Selling the engine alone with no receipts you would be lucky to get a grand.

[jcwolff]

If my friend or Fat can come up with receipts, what is it worth? Are these engines in demand? Is it a hard thing to sell? - J

[hardflex]

if you come up with the receipts, i will give you $750 for it....

[NOTASIX]

All of us in the custom engine business have had people "say" that our engines are used in cars for sale..

Here we stopped this crap by serializing all our engines and creating a full database of each engine..

If it doesn't have an invoice or serial number, I'd doubt that FAT built it.

[jcwolff]

This thread is really getting away from me. I know for a fact that FAT did the engine. The seller is a good friend of mine, that I was with, on a number of occations, speaking directly to FAT. I know the engine very well. I am not worried about buying the car and driving it myself. I am just curious about what an engine like that fetches when sold with and without receipts. Everyone can tell me what its worth without receipts, but does anyone know what they go for with full receipts. Thanks. - J

[maddeye]

after you and i become old friends like the PO is to you i will give you $755 for it.

[SandyI]

A race engine's value is determined by it's present condition and the number of hours on it, not how much was initially invested in it. Just because $7,000 was invested when it was built doesn't mean it doesn't need $9,000 in service now. So, how many hours/events have been run? What was serviced last? What needs servicing now?

[NOTASIX]

If you are positive on these facts and that FAT did build it I'd say go for it!

Our pricing for new stroker engines starts at about 10K these days and FAT is pretty close with that as well, judging from what customers have quoted to me..

[Kart54]

Assuming you can get receipts from FAT for the work done and the 7000 miles is correct and a compression and leak down test show an engine in good condition then it should sell from what I've seen on the various sites for somewhere in the $1200.00 to $3,000.00 range. If somebody is looking for an engine. If not, it could sit for a long time.
Many people are leary of race or performance engines where they can't verify how the engine has been treated since it left the shop and that seems to be doubly true in the air cooled community where heat can really kill an engine.
I would check this board, 914 world and the Samba board for values.
The last engine I bought where I wasn't sure what was in it I paid $150.00 to have as a spare for my race setup. It turned out to be similar to the one your describing. It was reassembled after a complete tear down with just new gaskets and bearings and is running today.
Kart54

[jcwolff]

Thank you very much for your input. Very helpful. - J