Engine parts or iron ore???

I've gotten a lead on some old 331 cubic inch poly or hemi blocks and poly heads that have been sitting "out" for a long time.

The owner says they are "stuck", but from his pictures, I'm thinking more than just stuck, they are returning to the iron ore they came from.

I wonder how to determine if they are salvageable with molasses or electrolytic derusting _before_ the fact.

And I wonder what they are worth as rusty old lumps that MAY be salvageable.

I've had experience trying to sell metal scrap and being refused because it was "mixed" metal, and not all iron, steel, aluminum, or whatever.

So, when and if it comes to a possible purchase, what should I offer? Scrap metal price? Something lower, because it's mixed metal and is going to take work, time and money to even find out what I have?? Something higher because it's old hemi and poly parts that are just "stuck"

Or is it better to just leave it alone and let it return to ore!

BC

 

Heads can usually be saved if the bottoms of them are not badly pitted. Hemi blocks can take a pretty big bore, so the key there would be no pitting in the journal surfaces. If it's been all together all this time, it may be savable, but you never know. Years ago I pulled a head off a Pontiac 389 that had sat with no hood or air cleaner; the cylinder liners were cracked down the sides and one intake valve stem had rusted clean through, another was almost there. The head though was okay, a little pitting in one chamber but nothing terrible unless you were looking to build an all-out race motor.

as for scrap, it's up right now, and blocks are short steel so it's worth more than complete cars, by weight. You shouldn't have any problem unloading them if they're junk.

As for the price, I'd just tell the guy there's no way to know without a lot of work if they're good, or junk, and you don't want to get into it without being able to at least break even when you're all done - and offer about half what they'll bring at the scrapper. Unless he finds someone with a hardon for Hemi parts, that's probably the best he's going to do anyways.

 

Thanky RNY! That's exactly the kind of logical, reasoned, experienced answer I was looking for. Anyone else care to chime in before this thread scrolls down so far nobody will find it?

Oh, and happy thanksgiving to all!
I hope you all feel as blessed as I do!

BC

 

unless you can take them apart first to inspect them , no one really knows if they are savable..and being mixed metal they are not even worth scrap price in my opinion

i just hauled a junk SBC to the metal recylcers and got $28 for it

if he thinks they are worth big money , then he should give you a guarantee

 

The isn't much value in poly heads. Are the blocks long tail(overhang) or short tail (modern, flush) at the back? If itsa long tail it's worth a lot less even if its salvagable. Check for cracks around the freeze plugs, check the lifter bores & cylender bores for pitting.

 

I know a guy who pulled a 409 out of a car in a swamp that was so rusted and seized. the oil pick-up tube rusted through and fell off inside what was left of the pan.
That engine runs like the French now!
A single cracked cylinder or two can also be sleeved...

Brad

 

A 1940 Ford flathead that sat on the ground since @1948 and rotted the pan away to nothing and a spair crank that was next to it was worth $18.00 last week.

 

The guys we were buying cars from were getting good money for the loose engines, transmissions and other iron they could pick up, they were getting a short steel price if I remember right. The place I got the '48 Hudson from had a seperate price for motors and transmissions, and per ton it was more than car bodies with or without motors.

 

Like I've said before - Coke will free up stuck motors. Do a search on here for "Coke", and you'll be surprised at what comes up.

~Jason