[Michael V]

I would like to raise some money to complete a stroker engine for my race car. So some of my spares are going to be sold. I have three engines in various stages of completeness that I could part with. First and most likely is a ~complete minus carb running 1969 428. YH block date code B189 with 46 heads. It has been rebuilt by a Pontiac enthusiast who later went on to work for Warren Johnson. A completely different story… I know it runs very well as I put it in my sons Firebird while we were rebuilding his 455 and it was amazingly fun. I bought this engine years ago and I have no idea what a reasonable price would be. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[ponyakr]

"...Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated."

I've tried to sell 2 different, running, 455 bracket engines, in the last year. Haven't had a single SERIOUS offer on either. It seems that guys either don't have enuff money to buy anything decent, or they have enuff to build a new engine. There don't seem to be many in between these 2 groups.

But, good luck with your sale attempts.

[tom s]

I have found that trying to sell a used engine is just the sum of the parts.Stock cast rods are Zero along with stock cast pistons.Most everything else has value.Machine work also is virtually zero.Tom

[surfsama]

Location plays a part too because shipping is so expensive these days. Outside of a reasonable "pick-up" radius the cost of shipping cast-iron parts becomes hard to justify unless it's rare or really desirable.

[dmac]

I would love to buy a complete motor at a big discount, but you never know how hard it was run, if it was broken in right, if it has any issues you aren't being told about, etc, and the sales prices aren't discounted to take account of the doubts. Unless all receipts are available, and some way to know that parts on the receipt are actually IN the motor, you never really know what you are getting. If I saw a motor for sale with a 400 block, and edelbrock heads I knew I could use, to me the value would be about the cost of the block and heads and other parts I needed, unless I saw/heard it run. Hearing it run might add 50% more to the value but a video of it running previously means almost nothing

[ponyakr]

Originally Posted by surfsama

Location plays a part too because shipping is so expensive these days. Outside of a reasonable "pick-up" radius the cost of shipping cast-iron parts becomes hard to justify unless it's rare or really desirable.

I disagree with this. I've found that shipping an engine thru Fastenal is very reasonable. You can ship quite a long distance for $200 or less. You must attach it securely to a good pallet, and take it to a Fastenal store that ships. They will then deliver it to a Fastenal store near the buyer. My small local Fastenal store don't ship. But, the store about 25 miles from me does ship. So, all I'd have to do is load the pallet into our pickup, and take it to them.

It must be on a pallet, so they can handle it with a forklift. Also must have a decent wooden box built around it, in order to insure it.

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+...hrome&ie=UTF-8

[Michael V]

Great suggestion ponyakr. Based on the private messages I have received. It sounds like an engine like this would be worth as much as 1500.

[grivera]

This seems like a smoking deal:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...SRH94OgnpIf0Tw

[61-63]

Get it set up to ship via Fastenal (ponyakr is correct about that), put it on ebay starting @ $1,000, and see where it goes. Tom S. is correct also; selling complete engines or "kits" consisting of good blocks/rods/pistons is hard and a lot of the old original components are not worth much if anything at all.

Also put it on your local craigslist at $1500 and see if you get any hits.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by tom s

I have found that trying to sell a used engine is just the sum of the parts.Stock cast rods are Zero along with stock cast pistons.Most everything else has value.Machine work also is virtually zero.Tom

^^^^ This

[surfsama]

Originally Posted by ponyakr

I disagree with this. I've found that shipping an engine thru Fastenal is very reasonable. You can ship quite a long distance for $200 or less. You must attach it securely to a good pallet, and take it to a Fastenal store that ships. They will then deliver it to a Fastenal store near the buyer. My small local Fastenal store don't ship. But, the store about 25 miles from me does ship. So, all I'd have to do is load the pallet into our pickup, and take it to them.

It must be on a pallet, so they can handle it with a forklift. Also must have a decent wooden box built around it, in order to insure it.

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+...hrome&ie=UTF-8

I had no idea Fastenal offered that service. I've pass the local store many times... Good to know!

[Will]

Originally Posted by grivera

This seems like a smoking deal:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...SRH94OgnpIf0Tw

That was discussed on Paul's facebook page.

As far as I'm concerned, that's nothing but a pile of parts. Who knows who did the machine and assembly work and whether it's worth anything. Nothing is said about what went into the heads or the cam specs other than lift, which is the least important number as far as I'm concerned. I don't like the valvecovers and wouldn't want that carb for anything. And, there is no way this engine makes anywhere near 600 HP with stock heads.

If you bought that you'd be wise to tear it down and inspect everything carefully. At that price, might be worth doing so, but I wouldn't call it a steal or even a great deal.

[Will]

Originally Posted by Michael V

I would like to raise some money to complete a stroker engine for my race car. So some of my spares are going to be sold. I have three engines in various stages of completeness that I could part with. First and most likely is a ~complete minus carb running 1969 428. YH block date code B189 with 46 heads. It has been rebuilt by a Pontiac enthusiast who later went on to work for Warren Johnson. A completely different story… I know it runs very well as I put it in my sons Firebird while we were rebuilding his 455 and it was amazingly fun. I bought this engine years ago and I have no idea what a reasonable price would be. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Small valve heads, right? Any idea what parts were used in the rebuild? Pistons, valves, springs, cam, etc.?

[Traveler]

Originally Posted by surfsama

I had no idea Fastenal offered that service. I've pass the local store many times... Good to know!

Last I checked, Fastenal does not provide that service to California. I'd call first before committing to a purchase.

[grivera]

Originally Posted by Will

That was discussed on Paul's facebook page.

As far as I'm concerned, that's nothing but a pile of parts. Who knows who did the machine and assembly work and whether it's worth anything. Nothing is said about what went into the heads or the cam specs other than lift, which is the least important number as far as I'm concerned. I don't like the valvecovers and wouldn't want that carb for anything. And, there is no way this engine makes anywhere near 600 HP with stock heads.

If you bought that you'd be wise to tear it down and inspect everything carefully. At that price, might be worth doing so, but I wouldn't call it a steal or even a great deal.

You're right- too many questions to determine the value but if it was a good builder with documentation it would certainly change things. The price is negotiable and seller seems eager maybe it can be had for 2500

[Navy Horn 16]

Butler Performance is Atlanta, GA? Hmmmm.

[Michael V]

Thanks for the responses. I wish I knew what the internals consisted of. It would certainly help make a more objective price determination. I may end up buying some gaskets and taking a peek inside. If someone offered me $2500 it would be gone in a flash. With that and the 3000 I am getting for my four wheeler I will be well on my way to buying a few good parts.

[grivera]

Originally Posted by Navy Horn 16

Butler Performance is Atlanta, GA? Hmmmm.

I noticed that too...lol