I've got a 1951 Cadillac 331 with about 20-25k original miles on it. It has a newer Holly carb, custom exhaust headers, an updated oil pump and a Pertronix electronic ignition conversion. All original internals. Runs great. It was pulled out of a wrecked '51 in '54 with (I'm told) about 10k miles on it and went into a '36 Ford until '83 when my grandfather bought the car. He pulled the engine out and put a flathead back in. The 331 was on a stand in his garage up until 2015 when it went into my '50 F1 truck. I've put about 800 miles on it without a single issue (except the points, hense the pertronix). I've got a 390 on my floor I'm going to swap it out for but curious what this 331 is worth?
Depends where you are. You didn't put your location in your profile, so we can only guess. Around here you'd be lucky to get a hundred bucks for it. Some places you could get a grand or more.
Unless you can start it for the prospective buyer, it is only a bunch of parts and not a running engine no matter what the seller tells you. For top dollar, borrow or build a cheap run stand and fire it up.
True true, once I drove 80 miles to hear an engine the seller, over the phone, said would run. When we walked into his garage I was shown enough parts to make 2 motors. ?
If you can prove it runs well and you’re okay playing the long game you could probably get some good money for it . if you want to unload it fast and can’t prove it runs well …… well, you will get core prices and some extra for what’s attached to it ( carb , pertonix etc) sad to say but most guys want an ls or other modern silliness as that’s “ the new” and easily built and better supported ( read cheap) compared to a cool old CAD mill . I should add , up here complete running in good condition you could get $1500-2000 if your patient maybe more if you find a guy who needs it “ right now “ No proof and in a rush $500 bucks or less
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