Ok, so I have an opportunity to buy some flathead speed parts from a guy and being someone who is just getting into flatheads speed parts. I need to find out what some of these parts might be worth. I have never really seen any of these for sale but if people can recall what they have seen heads put for sale for, please let me know. A good estimate price is good and is all I need. The parts I have the opportunity to buy are: Kong Flathead heads w/Kong distributor Harrell aluminum heads Kogel Cast Iron heads Evans aluminum heads Eddie Meyer distributor with manual advance. Also the Harrell heads supposably have some electrolysis corrosion around some of the water holes. Is this an issue, its minor and is it something that the gasket would seal over? The Kong distributor cap has a crack in it. It has been repaired but is this also an issue that I should stay away from? Please let me know your thoughts, it will be greatly apprecaited. Thanks!
You should just order some new parts from speedway or flathead jack or something? then you'll know what they are worth! jk Why don't you tell us what the asking price is for each item you listed and well tell you if it's a good deal or not? Ok, so I really don't know what they would be worth but I am curious and you have my attention..btt Josh
ah they are not worth anything send them to me and I'll get rid of them for you, na actually they will probably net a bundle on Escrew, as now it seems everyone and their uncle wants flattie stuff and people are paying way too much just to hang them from their wall, I'm really sticky on who gets my extra stuff, if you are going to use it and put it back on the road then the price is right, if you want to stick it on your wall then you don't have enough money to buy it......simple
You dont know how much I agree with you. I dispise more then anything someone who takes perfectly good parts in general and hang them on a wall. I read a post the other day with a guy who bought Champion heads just cause they would look cool. USE the parts if they are still good. Sure, if the heads are warped or cracked, perfect to hang up, but if they are still good, use them. I plan to use all these parts if I get them. Being 20 years old, buying these parts takes about all my money out of my pocket so I want to make sure I am making the right choice when doing so. The KONG heads and distributor are a little under 2k and everything else is much less. All in all, I just wanted to get a feel what people have seen the heads sell for. Just helping me out. Thanks again!
That's bitchin! If I had that, I'd tweak on it till I got it running...There's gotta be a way you duplicate it(Cap)?? or fixing it?...
What year engines are the heads for? Any pics? Heads can be chancy, good if you can look them over before buying. Sounds like a real good lot of parts. Flatman
If you can send us some pictures of the heads, combustion chambers, etc - it will help. Look for broken fins, stripped threads, over-milling, etc.. The Kong distributor is a good piece, but nobody make parts of them - so they are a real bitch to run and keep running over many miles. If you like screwing with distributors, have a distributor machine, etc -- then most of these early distributors can be made to run . . .they just need to be setup properly. I've ran Harman Collins distributors and mags on flatheads for years - they work great if you have them setup, but you need to know as much about them as possible for daily drivers. If you want strict reliability and easy access to parts, you'd be better off with a modern ignition or something closer to stock. Heads: It really depends on the overall condition -- so many of them have been over used, over milled, abused, etc.. It is hard to find really nice early heads -- so really pay attention, post pictures and ask for help. Best of luck. Dale
Searching ebay will give you an idea what the parts are worth. Big part in valuing heads is the condition; corrosion, number of times milled, etc. For us to shoot a price without seeing good pictures is of no use for you. Good parts bring good money. Neal note, expect the worse for condition if going by pictures.
Dale, great info that you made me aware of and thank again for sharing your thoughts and opinions. The Kong distributor I am a little nervous about being so new into flatheads, I am going to want a more streetable/drivable ignition setup that I can run on the road, instead of competition use. I would use ebay as a place to price parts but I have never seen parts like these sell since iv been in the hunt for heads for me car. Here are some picture I have of the heads I can buy. Wish I had more detailed shots but maybe its good enough. I doubt it because its not of the underneiths but this is all I have right now.
As you mentioned, can't tell much from just the tops -- other than they all look to be in pretty great shape, except maybe the Harrell ones (see the broken fins and what looks like a screwed up plug hole). If you can checkout the combustion chambers, threads, etc -- that will help you a lot in determining the overall condition. Heads like Evans, Kong, etc -- are fairly rare in that they just weren't as mass produced as Offys, Edelbrock or even Edmunds. You can still buy Sharp heads from Wilcap, but I don't think the block letter style you're showing has been made for awhile - so they might be worth something as far as period pieces. You might be able to talk to Pat at Wilcap - he may know. As far as prices - if the combustion chambers are good, they haven't been milled too much, etc . . . I'd say they are worth between $500 - $1000 a set. Of course they're only worth what somebody will pay for them . . . and that may be you! The Kong heads are really not a traditional style -- more of a purpose built race piece -- you see them more at BVille and other places where looks don't mean crap . . . . it is all about speed. I have never liked the looks of them, probably wouldn't run them on a hotrod, but that is just me. But, they are somewhat rare and they are probably worth closer to the $750 - 1000 mark if they're in good shape. If you need more info, you can always PM me -- always willing to help "first time flathead" guys out!
The cracked "cap" is just the separate dust shield, and is electrically irrelevant. If the actual cap below is cracked...OUCH, but the thing (I too believe Kong) is still wildly valuable. Corrosion...if it is in only the area left exposed by holes in gasket, it is likely not a problem. If it is on actual sealing surfaces or if water jackets within are heavily pitted it needs very careful evaluation.
Post # 3,....Flathead Jack is no longer in business,....I drove to his place a cpl months ago, and learned from the property manager that he left there over a year ago. i was unable to learn if he's still doing any mail order business or not, but I haven't seen his ads for a long time. 4TTRUK
Some guys have been known to hang parts on their walls for as long as you have been alive,while collecting the rest of the parts they have in mind for a particular project. Just the other day Ryan got some trim I think he has been searching for for, I think 15 years. Please don't hate these guys.
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