I have a ballpark on what an engine might be worth, but I'm looking to nail it down a little more. Had a guy call me today wanting to know if I wanted to buy an old engine. At first that wasn't too interesting- until he told me he bought it new over the counter in the mid-sixties and only used it for racing his '61 Corvette. It's a "Marine Block" 327 (stock bore) with ALL the '60s go fast goodies and tricks- still ready to run (super clean in & out) with a couple hours work. He said the block casting number is 3858174- but as an over the counter replacement block it has no serial number and also the really thick block walls that only came in the marine blocks. Also has .202 camel hump "Fuelie" heads and NOS Corvette valve covers (never bolted down to the heads). Inside was a list of all the good stuff like a forged crank, TRW pistons and rods, special cam with oil pressure limiters, alum. Schaeffer clutch and flywheel, and special GM 6 quart pan. The package ALSO comes with a bought over the counter Aluminum case Super T-10 Muncie trans with both a Lakewood ****tershield and an NOS Corvette belhousing, and a Husrt ****er installed. The only thing missing is the early Edelbrock Torquer manifold and 750 Holley he sold to a friend years ago. It is set up for 11 to 1 compression and needs 104-plus octane to run properly. So what's it worth? I won't confuse it with my own estimate. I would love to have this badd-*** combo, but I'm still selling my own stuff to keep the shop open. Thanks Jim He knows the engine is worth something- BUT he recently sold the '61 Corvette with all the pieces he took off to race it 40 years ago for 6K!!! That was a score.
Well not to be sarcastic..but it is only worth to you what you are willing to pay for it..and not a penny more. but seeing that he sold the car for 6k..maybe hes open to "reasonable"offers..i wouldnt worry about insulting him., i would make your offer at what you feel comfortable with, and see where it goes from there.
Yep, like said.......... its not a Corvette engine because it didn't come in a Corvette. Its a replacement engine with some speed equipment. Its worth what you want to pay. Remember that you can get a 350 for a decent price these days and this is a 327. I have a couple in my garage similar condition. Costs more to rebuild than a 350, that's why they're still there. There are lots of heads around that make more power but you could sell them to a early Vette restorer probably. The trans/flywheel/housing ***y is probably worth as much as the engine. I'd say..... $700 - $800 for the whole mess. This is sight unseen, maybe a little more if everything is usable. Check that transmission CLOSE if it was in a 'race' car. And, its either a Super T-10 OR a Muncie. The T-10 is a Borg Warner transmission.
First comment is that it is not a special block. That casting number is merely a small journal 327 block, probably from 1966, but could be 64 to 67. Second comment is that high compression 327's are great engines. However, if this one has been raced, you will want to dis***emble and magnaflux everything. Those small journal forged cranks will break if they have been sufficiently abused. (Ask me how I know). As long as it is apart, you may want to mill some of the dome off the pistons and rebalance the ***embly. Or you could sell the camel humps and put some later 76 cc heads on to lower the compression a bit. Regarding the value, I would suggest that you estimate the value of the parts and see what the sum comes up to. All of the parts would be easy to sell. The block and heads have to be worth $800 or so. The valve covers go for $100. Shifter $75, etc, etc. Sum it up and then figure what it is worth to you. I would suggest you grab it if you can get a decent price. Gathering up all that good stuff would take a while if you did it piece by piece. Good luck.
Jim I think your question can best be answered by going to a place that lives and breathes Corvettes. http://www.corvetteforum.com/ Ol Blue
There were (and are) many subtle differences between marine and automotive engines but even though there were many SBC's built for marine applications there weren't any 327 blocks specially cast for marine use. Most marine engine blocks are based on the HD versions of the more common street, truck or industrial motors offered by the big three. The casting number listed above is not unique or specific to a marine application. The 'special GM pan' is probably a baffled vette pan with a windage tray as well. Its all been in a race car....therefore you can bank on it not being 'ready to go' and you can bet on it being pretty beat up. From what I've seen over the years its extremely rare to get anything engine/trans related out of ANYTHING this side of a wrecked low mileage car or a well maintained grandma special that needs no work at all. Another thing to think about, beside the hard life its all led, is the fact that "all the '60's go-fast goodies and tricks" are made of lesser materials than comparable parts today and have been sitting stagnant for over 40 years.....not to mention they are, for the most part, obsolete as far as making power is concerned. So, ***uming everything on the list needs a least a little bit of something done to it to be useful again figure on 800 bucks for the whole lot. Consider the 327 and four speed decent cores to start with....hopefully. The clutch should probably be tossed for safety reasons and the rest of the stuff a bunch of cool old-school doodads to unload for money you'll need to rebuild the engine/trans or just hang on the wall. -Bigchief.
I've done this same deal almost. Do you need it? No and you'll spend alot more than you'll expect to make it a cool street engine. Low ball him with the points everyone else made and start at 500 for all. He called you hopin you'lll spend big on his junk. Keep the ball in your court. Good luck
Jim, I think you and I both know what all the parts are worth...somewhere in the $1500-$2000 range. The last factory Corvette 6 quart oil pan I saw sold for over $300. The Corvette 11" bellhousing in my coupe was $250. Just my .02 cents. If you buy it, I'll give you $300 for the oil pan.
That would be a nice score for a couple hundred. I bought a marine 230 horse 305 from the junkyard for $50 and put a hundred thousand on it. Since it was raced, you are buying a core that you may get lucky on, no more.
Jim, Your very aware of what this stuff would bring on Ebay. Is the seller Ebay smart? If not your probably going to score on this one. Seeing he sold the Vette for such a reasonable price it underscores the kind of offer he may entertain. I'd try to lowball him but don't be rediculous, that usually backfires. Let us know how you do, so we all can hate you. Frank
It's weird- I thought it was worth more and actually gave him a range that was higher than discussed here. I don't want to buy it- just thought it would be worth more as a rare piece of speed equipment. I will drop it since it would be hard now to go and tell him it's not worth anything as we both thought it was worth 2K-plus. I thought those early aluminum 4-speeds were bringing at least a grand?
That pan is worth that much larry? I have one, that is on a 327 block that has been mmy fathers and my "MOCK" up block for about 20 years or more...the block is trashed, but the pan is good. Sorry to hijack this Jim...
Around here you can't buy an aluminum 4-speed for under $500, Muncie, T-10, whatever. Only reason the ****** alone isn't worth $500 is if it's trash, and that is super easy to check out. And then add the bellhousing, shifter, and flywheel. Might the unstamped block be worth something to a restorer who wants to fake his VIN? I've heard that a new decking job might remove old numbers, but the hatch marks are wrong. Here you have the perfect block for that SS Chevelle restorer to fake his numbers-matching car.
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