What are aluminum 215 V-8s worth?

I know of three aluminum 215 V-8s, one of each: Buick, Olds and Pontiac.

None run and all have been stored (indoors) for decades, one's completely disassembled. (At least into major components.)

What are they worth? Worth more to a collector or to a rodder? Anyone collect/restore these things?

Doc.

 

4bbl. intakes make the pile more valuable, and standard shift flywheels and/or bell housings make it MUCH more valuable. If there is a stick bell housing, make sure it's the '62-'63 version that uses the common GM transmission pattern, and not the '61 bell that has a small, unique pattern. They make good engines in lightweight rods, and I hear the MG guys like to put them in MGBs. If they still turn and are complete, $100-$150 a piece, considering them cores.

 

I have seen them used in old speed boats.

 

I just sold my complete 215 2 barrel automatic with an extra 4 barrel intake and complete bellhousing, clutch and tranny for $350 to a guy from the MGB board in Lousianna.
We both bot a deal.
I'm sure it was 'worth' more, but no one else wanted it.
r

 

I ran across a guy who had one in his scca car. The car sat in his garage for 30 years. He had two of them one stock and one had 13:1 compression. the car was hand built with hand hammered aluminum body tr6 front end and f100 rear. that thing was sweet

 

They also use them in homebuilt aircraft.

 

used to put them in Vegas, and upsidedown in airplanes...

 

That's another thing worth mentioning. The Olds F85s with 215s had Olds style heads that were different from the Buick 215 heads, which looked like baby nailheads. If you bolt Olds heads on a Buick short block, you end up with 11.8:1 compression. There's your low buck, high performance tip of the day!

 

www.aluminumv8.com
They have some neat stuff for them an a Buick 300 crank makes it a 248. Only weighs about 300 pounds compete and will run like stink. They also sell converters to run a different tranny so no isues with that.

 

The "Pontiac" should be just like the Buick or Olds, I forget which, they're pretty rare - not a lot of cars got them and '63 Pontiac used a small version of the steel V8. But I researched the '63's a while back because I found a convertible, and discovered I could buy the whole car in mint condition for like $5000 or so.

 

I didn't realize there were 3 different versions. I understand the Buick version tooling was sold to Rover long ago and that's what the Rover V8 is that many of the guys in the UK like to use. I understand another application popular is in frame buggies.

 

The rover v8 got all the way up to 4.6 liters (~280 ci) stock in recent years and use the same external parts as the 215 from what I understand. So if I was looking to hot rod something I would rather have one of the rover cores to start with. The original 215 are probably worth more to a restorer.

 

got any way to polish one? It would look killer in a hoodless car...
The olds had turbos on them also...if the turbo manifolds are there, could make for a cool good power motor...assuming you built it for the purpose.

 

Yep, Rover 3.5 ltr V8s were the motor of choice for years over here - they still are to an extent, although crate Chevies and Fords are usually cheaper, especially if you want to make some horsepower! I understood that Buick were having trouble casting the ally block, so went to a cast iron one - 300ci I think, with some interchangeable parts? Rover bought the tooling and the rest is history! Although they are no longer fitted to any Land Rovers, an aftermarket company is producing them under license for the many speciallist vehicle builders who still use them.

I just bought an old 'glass T-bucket with a Rover V8: nice little aluminium block, heads, and intake - the original builder back in the '80s painted it all with a rusty red Hammerite, including the carbs! So if anyone has a 4-barrel or other nice intake to replace the old twin-SU one on there, or aftermarket rocker covers, please let me know.

 

I would PM MilesM. I know he has likes them and may have a use for them or a project to put them into.

 

I like the Buick motors. I plan to put one in my T truck. They are a little hard to find in PA.

 

Just find your nearest crusty Range Rover and you have a 3.5 or 3.9 for cheap. Range rovers have an aluminum body shell but dont let that fool you...they rot like crazy everywhere else, at least the ones in Taxachusetts do. You can see one on a lot that looks good from a distance but go open the doors, look at the tailgate, etc. Its probably rotten and a cheap runner. Running Rovers can be found here for 500-700 bucks that need body work. Thats MUCH cheaper than starting with a 215 that needs rebuilt.

 

Yes, for the first year of 300s ('64), the block was cast iron and the heads and intake were aluminum. The '64 heads are highly sought after as a high performance replacement on 215s. Also, any year 300 exhaust manifold can be bolted to 215 heads, and they've got larger passages and outlets than the 215 manifolds.

 

Yeah,I'd like one if anybody knows of one in Central PA,especially an Olds.

 

I always wanted to grab one of those to put in a Track T. Thought that would make a screaming fun ride...

 

Back when they were $50 cars. My Father had a Buick w/ the alum. head 300. Hads lots of issues. Like head gaskets and running hot.