Technical Dressed Flathead: What's it worth?

Yeah, I know; whatever the buyer (me) is willing to pay. Here's the deal:
This combo came out of a friend's Daddy's 40 Ford in the 70's. Engine running when pulled, made good power, but used oil (rings?)
No signs of water leaks, oil normal color, has compression

•59 block, turns over
•Edelbrock block letter, twin hi-rise intake with two pristine 97's and NOS air cleaners
•Fenton 8BA (!!) (don't know why) heads in nice condition
•Tube headers
•45-48 stock distributor
•39 (chk'd #)*******
•NIB Cal Custom gen cover
•PLUS: two new So-Cal(?) finned rear brake drum covers
•PLUS: new Brookville 32 filled grille shell (door prize)

Is it worth +\- the $1000 he's asking?
Do I need it? Yes, No, Maybe

 

Yeah, I figured short block needs going through.
Heads, intake, carbs = $6-750
Grille shell = $1-200
Tranny = $1-200
Drum covers = $100
Engine****y's = $100

 

Are you*****tin me?! there's a guy on a local CL ad sellin' a bare block, A BARE BLOCK, for $800!! guaranteed no cracks (yeah, right). There's more than a thousand in just parts on that. Get it quick before it's gone!!!!

 

The icing on that cake is worth that. See if he will throw in that cool sign in the background.

 

Sounds like it is worth more than the $1000 he is asking.
Do the right thing and offer him more.

 

I'd buy the package, hell if the block turns out to be cracked you can still save all the internals. Might even have a merc crank and johnson lifters. Price out all the brookeville and so cal parts and they're probably half of that $1000 brand new.

 

Your value on the Edelbrock Regular intake is far too low. These intakes should fetch in the $750. range. With the Fenton heads and the intake alone you already have your $1000. back. Great deal here!

 

Back in the day, those engines were bored WAAAAY out, and the pistons fit loose. Believe it or not, I took one really good running engine apart, and it was running with .015 piston clearance. A stocker, used .0015! The cool thing to do is find another block, and bore it to fit those pistons with a .004 clearance. Or, hone the snot out of it, and order new custom pistons to fit that bore. (Expensive).

 

Never imagined that the intake would get that $$!

 

Sounds like a great buy, Try to buy those parts indivualy you will spend $2,500

 

If the block is just worn, I already have a good Merc crank, new
MCF 3- 5/16" x 4" pistons/rings, and a new 400Jr or L100 cam with new adlustables and springs. Just need bearings, and valve train. HMMMM.... Even MORE tempting, now that I've put my thinking cap on.

 

what Walter said....and might I add....here's yet another guy that spent no telling how much on an old flatty back in a sbc world....and saved it...now offering it up and some would say - damn an sbc is cheaper to build.....hell give the guy some money !!!

 

I'll take it!! Where do I send the money??

 

You haven't bought it yet?

 

Well I guess you realize by now. IT"S A NO BRAINER. Buy it.

 

BINGO!!

Bought it. $900 and a '32 Tenn. license plate.
Hopefully no internal disappointments.
Going in my 33 5W.

 

glad you made the right choice. Good score.

 

$100 1963 US dollars, or there abouts.

 

Way to go Bill can't never have enough flatmotors. Think I'll go after the stocker I just text you about. I think he has two more. Sounds like a bundle deal.

Lee