A friend of mine has a '62 caddy 390 complete carb to pan w/ trans. It's supposed to be a good running engine although no one has seen it run. He asked me to list it on the net for sale. I found a '50 caddy convertible in a barn a couple of years ago, I rebuilt the 331 but am thinking that this might be a good thing for me to have. No Replacement for Displacement, right? I think he would give it to me if I asked, but I don't want it for free. Question is what is a fair price? What would it likely sell for if I listed it?
An honest price would probably be the engine's core value plus what ever made you comfortable. Check some rebulder sites and see what they are asking for the core deposit for such and engine and then add maybe 50 bucks to that. Guys will shoot you prices all over the place but it's still an unknown quan***y unless you can hear it run.
Around here, up to $500...but if you ask me, and you did, sorta, I'd go with the 331" in the convert. I put a '70 500" Caddy (all stock) in my '55 (and you can see my 5 1/2 year build here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=329070&highlight=the+best+55+caddy+build ...and put a T-400 behind it (stock rear)...thinking I'd get decent mileage...but nooo-oooo...I don't. We rebuilt my brother's '54 Caddy 331" engine ($1700) and had the ****** rebuilt ($1600) and he's getting 20 - 21 mpg on the hiway...got me beat all to hell. The 390" is a decent engine and if you can get it decently priced, it'll save you some cash IF it doesn't need rebuilding...rebuilding my 500" cost me $2000... PS, love the convert... R-
I am kinda thinking like 300 or 350. I like caddys and think that 390 would also be a good project motor for something. The 331 in the convert was bored .060 and 2 sleeves installed, turned the crank new pistons, balanced rotating ***bly, Isky lump stick. I'ts definitly going into the '50. it came with a 2bbl carby, will likely get a 4.
350 is not bad. I got mine for 400 and I knew it ran, but it only ran for a few months. One thing to think about with the 62 390 is that it has an oil filter ***embly that bolts to the side of the block that can interfere with frame rails on a hot rod, but there are ways to make adapters for remote filters..
390 Caddy motors are great check out 32coupedeville on here. Awesome motors. Good power right out of the box. kind of expensive to rebuild though.
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