So I am at that engine rebuild point and again considering going 20b in my 94 fd3s... I haven't checked the turbos yet, but if they are shot, it will probably push me more in this direction...

I am having a terrible time finding the "value" of an fd3s 20b... I cant seem to locate completed auction or sale prices anywhere on the net. (well I see that one show car (banzai conversion?) went to auction and was let go for 35k)

So a 94 in great shape, mostly stock seems to be going around 15k at the moment, 20-25k for a low to mid range conversion... (doesn't include awesome tires, wheels, flares, front end, hood, ect...)

Looks to me like it might be very difficult to get even "most" of your money back post conversion. Not to mention what the insurance company might say its worth.

Anyone have sale prices on 3 rotor 3rd gens?

 

I can say this with confidence:

You will most likely lose a significant amount of money if you do anything with a car. Ever.

 

Id bet to say it would most likely be a harder sale than a mostly stock FD. LSx swapped cars can fetch mid-high twenties because they can be build "right" and legally. You can pass any state inspection/emissions tests, plus you have a car that is more appealing to the general car-buying public because it has a powerplant that is easily servicable by anyone. WIth the 20B, you have a engine that was never even available in the US, which makes the car more of a grey market its to have registered and insured legally. You really need to find the right buyer. There isnt enough 20b swapped FDs to get a general market value, and the ones that are out there vary greatly in terms of modification level. If return on investment is a concern at all, I would seriously reconsider your choices. LSx would be a much better route to go in that aspect, or just stick with the 13brew.

 

The car's value will generally go up by about 1/3 the amount of money that is put into it, assuming that everything is still in excellent shape by the time the car is sold. A crummy owner-built car may actually lose value, as indicated above by Rxmfn7. Sometimes a professionally-built car may retain its value better. For example, the Pettit Banzai car that you mentioned probably cost the owner about $50,000, and sold for $35,000, which is only a 30% loss... not bad.

Insurance companies will just use the standard book value for the year and model of the car. Specialized insurance for a "stated value" is expensive and/or places tight restrictions on how the car is used.