Time to clean out the garage & get rid of some stuff... Any value to a 389 4 bbl out of a '63 Bonneville? Or should I just take what the yard will give me? Partially dis-assembled & needs a complete going through..... Thanks
I just bought a '62 389 core for $300 and drove 3 hours to get it, so there is still a market, you just need to be patient. If you weren't on the other end of the country, I'd be right over....
There's certainly value in the manifolds, pulleys and brackets. That stuff sells, and isn't too hard to ship, since you're almost guaranteed to have to ship it to get your buyer. I'd save all of that. The timing cover I believe has decent value as well as a good oil pan if it's not rusted out. All of the smaller pieces, basically. Kind of a shame to scrap the block, crank and heads, but that's stuff you'd really need to sit on for a long time to find the right buyer. If it was a 65 or 66 then I'd say differently.
As mentioned, easy to put the later trans on the later blocks. There's also the fact that GTO restorers will want certain blocks for the date codes and casting numbers (which would also include the '64 engines) that makes the later ones much more in demand. 65-up 389 heads also have the intake pattern (pattern or angle, not sure which) that they used clear through the 70's, where as 64-earlier heads won't take the later intakes, so there's less available for them.
The rub with the earler ones is getting a transmission that you actually want to use with it. Still it doesn't hurt to advertise it as rebuildable core 63 Bonneville 389 for around that 300 or so $$ and see if you get a cash in hand offer for it. I always that if it isn't something that is worth serious money anything more than I would get at the scrap yard is found money. When I sold the 52 F-1 Chasssis that I had bought and havested the front brakes, front shock brackets , steering box and crossmember and pedals off and then posted it for what I paid for it any cash waved under my nose was going to buy it. The buyer drove 170 miles and didn't even try to bargain. he didn't know that he was going home with it no matter what he offered for it.
Member just posted on Saturday that he bought 2 1962 Catalinas....may have desire for some parts/motor? Projects - Acquiring a pair of 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safaris | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com)
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