A friend of mine is eventually getting a 31 with a 4-banger - he will sell it and has no idea what to ask for it. So what's a "fair" price for this combo (incl. transmission): B motor with a Thomas head & side plates, Hallock header, Mallory distributor, Zepher intake with dual Stromberg 81 carbs I have no idea in what shape the "internals" are but the engine is running good and strong for a B-motor... thanks!
2 large (USD) plus if it is all dialed in. but somewhere in that range, then there is the continental discount or premium...if you are the only market, get a discount. try the monthly banger thread...
From a parts standpoint, new Thomas heads are about 500.00. A dual intake is worth about 200.00 and rebuilt Stromberg 81s can sell up to 400.00 each. The side plate is probably 50.00, a new Mallory distributor is probably 250.00, and the header another 250.00. So, just is speed parts alone you have about 2,050.00 USD. Model B engine cores are start at 500.00 and go up. The counterbalanced cranks are at least a couple hunder bucks for a good one. I would think this unit could be worth in excess of 3,000.00 based on what it would cost you to find the parts and put one together yourself.
FONTI...ONLY MARKET? he can sell that baby for enough to buy a good s.b. chevy with a few goodies on it. if not here, well those aussies know what to do with it...POP.
he won't put a SBC in the coupe - it's gonna be a Flathead. On the other hand: why not try to put a T5 behind and look how qwick the coupe runs with the 4-banger...
A rebuilt "touring" engine is going for $4500 with a core. I have a '32 B-block with a CRAGAR head and a '31 A block with all of the goodies. Quite frankly, a banger equipped as fonti described it would be a great driver with a T-5, F-100 steering box and hydraulic brakes. Rule of thumb; you can buy two SBC crate motors for what in costs to machine and equip a banger!
it's always more expensive to take another route... what about reliability? the engine is in a full fendered, chopped 31 coupe. Is that strong enough to make longer trips, too? where are we HP- or torque-wise more or less? I am thinking about an original flathead... thanks!
I'm guessing that you're weighing in at 2500 pounds plus people. A stock A is 40HP and with a few parts and pieces, it's is easy to pump it up to 65HP and still have reliability. Of all my cars, I probably drive my '29 CCPU more than the others. In addition to a built engine, it has a T-5 and F-100 steering box. Those two items really make a big difference when it comes to longer trips. The T-5 is really a 4 speed with over drive. Easy on the engine.
How far are you talking??? I use to take my stock 29 roadster 2 hrs away all the time. I'll be able to anwser your question of long distance as I wanna drive my worked banger further soon... still working on the small stuff before a bigger trip. I'll keep you posted. I've got a couple back up motors if I'm unhappy. So far, The only problem I have had is cranking power with my high compression Miller/Schofield head. I just can't see wanting to use all this vintage stuff, and slap an Alt. on it. I've got a 6 Volt Mack truck battery coming with more cranking ability this week. Also have a future 2 speed Columbia project in the works if the banger stays, for long distance trips. So far I love it. All hot rods are great, but driving a vintage car with vintage speed is fun, not practical though. Lots of fine tuning an tinkering... but worth it. My car is being driven every day... You, may not want a everyday banger if you only have one car? But I'd buy that motor if you can get it for anything close to 2 or 2500 and build your sencond little one seater. Sounds like a killer motor... My car spins the wheels in both 1st and second, climbs hills well, and goes like a little ****d primate... maybe not an ape! My last car had a worked flatty V8 and a T5... also lots of fun. Two different monkeys!
...I also am lucky and have more than one rod. They used to have all SBC and now one is back to Flathead and T5 - great stuff!! much more fun... BUT: living here in Switzerland means that we don't just have back up motors, I'm not even speaking about vintage parts. There are no such things...we got to order every fu..... nut and bolt over in the US or spend a fortune when we go to the very few dealers here. That's why a lot of us guys drive SBC. Not because it's the hot rod thing, but it's not that expensive. And when you compare the prices in the US, you can sometimes double them and that's what we pay for it. AND: we just don't have that many guys who can repair the engines! We have to trail and error and hope that everything stays together...kind of like in the good old days ;-) I think I put another flathead in it, so I "just" have to have some SBC and Flathead spare parts... but thank you VERY much for your help! Once more: HAMB rocks!
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