Hey Guys, I'm looking for a motor that is a little out of the mainstream and that has a lot of visual punch. I'm really leaning toward a Chevy "W" motor and have actually found one that isn't too far away. Is $800 too much to spend for a 1958 348 that is complete from pan to four barrel carb and water pump to flex plate including the exhaust manifolds? The owner says the motor spins freely and it looks clean in the picture. Are there any things to look for specifically with these motors? My dad had one of these motors years ago in a '61 Impala convertible. The car had the tripower and it ran like a ****d ape but that is the extent of my experience with these motors. Thanks in advance for your help. Thor UPDATE: I talked with the seller and we arrived at a price we could both live with - the seller said we had a deal. Got his address so I could run it through mapquest and made arrangements with him to pick it up Sunday in the early afternoon. I got an email from him about a half an hour ago and the little ******* said he had gotten a better offer, sold it to someone else, and it was gone. Well...on the bright side he at least emailed me. I guess you can't ask for much more these days - it's a whole better than me driving a hundred miles to his place and THEN finding out he sold it to someone else and THEN beating him to death with a tire iron and THEN...
If it was around here I'd grab it in a heartbeat. As long as it's complete I don't think you can wrong hell oil pans alone are hard to find unless you buy them new and they are over 300 now. Don't think just buy it
Look for signs of overheating in the '58 year....they made a water p***age change in '59 (intake manifold). Sounds like a good deal from what I have been hearing lately on the W motors.
the tri power manifolds for those are cheap at the swaps. And they use the bigger 2 barrels that are easier to come by
Grab it! I love mine...all stock except 409 cam and roller rockers, running the tripower. And it runs like the ape got ****d in the ***!
Grab it! I paid $650 for the one I'm putting in my '40, three years ago. It was complete, but all apart.
I agree with all above, 58 348s in that condition bring as much as $1100, more in some cases. (plus shipping!) If youre just looking for a 348 and dont care if its a 58 or not, then you could find a cheaper one off a 59,60 even 61. But the one you found is a very good deal.
Jesus, I'd give my left ****in nut for that!! I have friends, family and the Kiwi Konnection on the hunt for the exact same engine for my 58 Chevy. Runner or builder! I'm SOOOOOOOO jealous!
I know this is off the subject, but... what did you sell that you got a left nut for, anyhow? $800 is a steal for a decent W-motor of any stripe. If it was me posting like that I'd be saying, "I just paid $800 for this '58 348, think I got screwed?"
I had that happen on here once with some parts I wanted to buy. You have to be a real ***hole to make a deal with someone and then turn around and screw them over for a few more bucks. But at least now you know - $800 or less for a good complete W-motor = buy first, ask if it was a good deal later.
Rusty, The only time I can go pick stuff up is typically on the weekend unless it's really close by. I'd like to believe that when you make deal with someone that they are going to honor their end of it. This will probably happen to me again as I can't drop everything to go running for parts at a moments notice. I'm going to have to keep trusting people and probably keep getting screwed on stuff periodically. It really makes you appreciate those people that still have integrity. Thanks for the therapy doc! Thor
A little OT, flashback to my mom about 40 years ago... "Bob this car doesn't work right" (59 chev, 4bbl, 348) "Whats wrong with it, Arlene?" "When I pull-out, it bounces and smoke comes out. I think the transmission is broken. I'm afraid to drive it with the kids"...... About 10 minutes later..... "Arleeeeeeeeen! There's no tread left. You burned up the new tires. No tread! Won't p*** inspection. God damn it, Arlene."
Keep in mind too in the future, if you get one that needs rebuiding, you have to have a special bore bar to machine them, and they are a ***** to put the pistons and rings in. The top of the deck is not square witht the cylinder, so your typical boring bar and ring compressor don't work...
I've been known to bet men on things who offer up a testicle. So YES even tho I'm female, I still have a mantle of testicles. I've already got a machine shop set up for rebuild on a 348.........find a good shop or you'll ruin that block.
my dad picked his 348 about seven years ago from a junkyard in minnesota near Fargo, North Dakota for $50. turns over freely too! Jordan
The Jalopy Journal
