Ok I'm redoing a 47 chevy truck pulled the engine last week checked the casting numbers and its a 261. I'm going to sell it complete with all parts, so here's the question. I did a search on Craigslist and ebay nationally, found 2 cores on ebay for 1600 and 2100 and a rebuilt for 7500. Other than those 3 there are no e for sale. Am I missing something, is this rare or are these people on the pipe thinking g they will get that kind of money. Any help welcome,
They're dreamin'. I bought a running rebuildable 261 last year for $300. Ended up not using it, and sold it for the same $. They are fairly rare, but not that rare. Hard to get any more $ for one than a 235. You might get $500 for it, but it might take a while, too.
A fresh 261 with some performance parts might be worth a few grand because that's what it costs to build one.Yeah,a running engine is worth 500 bucks.But all running 235-261's turn out to run not all well.
Gotta ask to see the "captain's bars" on the side of the block...casting features unique to the 261. And/or the serial number stamped on the machined pad directly behind the distributor.
They're certainly more rare then a 235 or 216. After a bore you can be pretty close to 300 cubes out of a Chevy inline. Done right a six will run great and there are many who would kill for a 261. Dom
7500 maybe with a Wayne 12 port head but not a stock 261. I paid 200 for a complete running 261 with a 848 head! Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
In Canada the 261 was the base engine in full size Pontiacs from 1955 to 1962. And Pontiac was one of our biggest selling cars. They still turn up from time to time.
To start out, unless the motor has those captain bars it it wont be 261. So you really gotta check for the captain bars. If it dont have those it wont be a 261. Valuing this motor is kinda hard. It really depends on demand. Yes some people really want em(myself being one). I paid 400 bucks for a bad one and just got one recently with an 848 head off of a 235(undrilled head) for 150 bucks. They are hard to ship so finding someone out of state who wants it will be tough. I think if you priced it withing the 150-300 dollar range(if it is a 261) you should be doing good. Would be worth building though and keeping it in your truck honestly though
I'm thinking some one forgot the decimal points................. probably should be $75.00 and cores for 16.00 and 21.00 , that or there hitting the pipe like said above
Simply said, you can pay as much as you want. I, and most people that work for there money wouldn't pay more than 300 for a rebuild able one. It will cost around a grand to rebuild it, depends on what your after. I say, more research is needed on your part. Keep looking, I have cores I didn't pay more than 200 for. there not that rare, some old codgers ordered them 1/2 tons cause they were stuck on 6s, and that one was the **** in the day.
A well built 261 will do about anything a well built 270 GMC will do plus it can be put where a 216 was easier than a GMC can. They are desirable to the Inline crowd but at reasonable prices. List it in the Swap Meet forum at http://www.inliners.org/. At a good price you'll find a buyer. And he probably won't be driving a dump truck.
Like another post said, very common in Canada and in most Pontiac's. The family farm in Manitoba has a running driving 61 Pariesienne (sp) with 261, 3 on the tree and it is worth s**** value.
so my local prices of $1,600.00 and $1,200.00 for a running-stock 261 are totally bogus? they all say they're getting hard to find, blah, blah, blah. i need to swap out the 216 in my 50 and need some 235/261 reality. thanks
I'd give $500 if it runs and I could put it in my car and go, I can go to the old salvage yard down the road and pick a few up this weekend, not that rare.
Seeing as how this is an older thread, I think prices may have changed a bit. Anyway, I've given $500 ea for the last two builders I got.
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