Need some help with a couple Ebay searches

[Monty]

I've been using Ebay for years (decades?) and have found any number of rare and interesting items, most of which have been hobby-related.  Lately, however, I've been stymied by two searches.  

1) Unassembled small block Chevy TPI engine (Think MPC 1986 - ? C4 Corvette kits).  I've purchased other unbuilt engines I needed for various projects, so I assumed this would be an easy search, but so far, no.  

2) Can someone explain if the method for screening out unwanted items has changed?  I used to put a minus sign next to the unwanted item, which would cull out most of the undesired items.  Ex: Matador -Allison would remove most of the NASCAR entries leaving me mostly stock Matadors. 

In this case I'm looking for the Revell '70 Charger.  I want to keep the Fast & Furious entries out but my minus sign trick doesn't seem to work.

*** I don't want to buy a whole kit for an engine, and although I've done some great trades with a number of you, I don't have much to trade and would prefer to just buy what I need.  

 

[stitchdup]

I dont know if the corvette kits are like the 79 mpc and monogram firebird kits (mpc and monogram are pretty much the same parts other than scale)  if they are half the engine is molded to the chassis on th vette kits so the wouldn't be simple to part out. You would probably find it easier in the aftermarket or maybe from a camaro or firebird of the same era

[Monty]

The MPC C4 Corvette kits had engines and transmissions that were molded completely separate from the frame.  I had some in the distant past, which is why I'm looking for that engine again.  

Go to 2:15

 

[slusher]

Sometimes when I am looking for an engine  I will put 84 corvette parts and that help filter some but you will get other year corvette parts some…

[peteski]

There are couple of things against you here.

 

1. Search is only as good as the data it searches, and it seems that the sellers are often clueless as to what to put in the listing's title and description.

2. Even before eBay totally messed up the listing categories (which used to make sense), they started including not only exact search results, but also things that *THEY* think you might be interested in (even if they have nothing to do with what you are searching).  They also include all sorts of "sponsored" results, where sellers likely pay extra to include their wares in the search results.

Back in the day, eBay was actually very useful. Nowadays?  Not so much.

Edited July 6, 2023 by peteski

[Rick L]

1 hour ago, peteski said:

There are couple of things agains you here.

 

1. Search is only as good as the data it searches, and it seems that the sellers are often clueless as to what to put in the listing's title and description.

2. Even before eBay totally messed up the listing categories (which used to make sense), they started including not only exact search results, but also things that *THEY* think you might be interested in (even if they have nothing to do with what you are searching).  They also include all sorts of "sponsored" results, where sellers likely pay extra to include their wares in the search results.

Back in the day, eBay was actually very useful. Nowadays?  Not so much.

That nail has been hit on the head.

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

There is this 3d at Cults3d listed as SBC 383 TPI W/PROCHARGER:

If that helps. There may be others out there.

Edited July 5, 2023 by Perspective Customs

[Fat Brian]

On 7/4/2023 at 5:30 PM, Monty said:

I've been using Ebay for years (decades?) and have found any number of rare and interesting items, most of which have been hobby-related.  Lately, however, I've been stymied by two searches.  

1) Unassembled small block Chevy TPI engine (Think MPC 1986 - ? C4 Corvette kits).  I've purchased other unbuilt engines I needed for various projects, so I assumed this would be an easy search, but so far, no.  

2) Can someone explain if the method for screening out unwanted items has changed?  I used to put a minus sign next to the unwanted item, which would cull out most of the undesired items.  Ex: Matador -Allison would remove most of the NASCAR entries leaving me mostly stock Matadors. 

In this case I'm looking for the Revell '70 Charger.  I want to keep the Fast & Furious entries out but my minus sign trick doesn't seem to work.

*** I don't want to buy a whole kit for an engine, and although I've done some great trades with a number of you, I don't have much to trade and would prefer to just buy what I need.  

 

I found one that might work for you.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275863831978?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=YI9MooGrQNi&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=CNi_i6G9QKy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Another one

https://www.ebay.com/itm/155589655969?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=JR17lyJXTia&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=CNi_i6G9QKy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

Edited July 5, 2023 by Fat Brian