Hi folks, Made a HUGE mistake and posted this originally on Part for Sale....without a price...because I don't know what its worth... my sincere appologies. So I'm asking for help putting a dollar value to this engine/trans. It is unmolested. Its been stored in a dry gararge for 15 years. My dad got it to put into his 32 Ford 3-Window, but changed his mind and used the orginal flathead instead. The guy he got it from 15 years ago said it ran at the time he pulled it. My dad doesn't really know anything else about it. I have the orginal starter and another pump that came with it. The serial # on the block is S19-17569 the bellhousing is CB22059 1530835 the manifold is 1409376-2 with another plate showing 11-23-53 or 58 the carburator tag is 2070S other numbers available on request. I'm attaching a few pics and others are available. Again, my appologies for bad etiquette and for not reading the instructions (you would think girls would be better at this than guys but go figure!) and thanks so much for any help anyone can offer. Sandi View attachment 507534
It appears to be a 1954 276 cu. in. A guy stopped by my place about 2 months ago and offered me a 1955 291 cu. in. with trans. for $350.00. I knew of the car and the engine rolled over ok. I didn't buy it because I have 3 chrysler hemis already. So I guess it's worth what ever you can get out of it, but I wouldn't think it was worth a lot.
Don't listen to any of these people. That engine is worth nothing at all. You just give me ten bucks and a tank of gas, and I'll come over and get that ugly monstrosity out of your sight. "it ain't art if everyone likes it" dj
i gave 500 bucks for my 291 desoto and trans after i heard it run. it came with chrome valve covers, fan and other accessories. being that yours is a 276 and kind of crusty looking and no way of hearing it run, i'd say 300-400 maybe.
There is a guy that has brought a 291/Powerflite to the swap meets in North Texas for about three years now. He is asking $1200 for it and I guess he'll just die with it. I would say $500 tops...
If it's complete with spark plug tubes, water pump, acessory brackets, etc... Yea, $500 Unfortunately, your engine looks a little worse for the wear. Water pumps are tough to find and expensive to have re-built, same for brackest, plug tubes, etc. Of course, simply by virtue of the fact that it's a hemi, someone will want it, even if just for parts. What has me concerned is the missing plug tubes... Are there plugs in the holes? If not, the cylinders most likely have rusted and the motor is locked up solid. In the [visual] condition I see there, if it's locked up, it's only good for parts, so maybe $250-350. If it spins, I would advertise it as $500 OBO, and let a couple guys "bid it out". Just my opinion
The reason that the Desoto Hemis never sold well isn't due to anything bad about them. It's because up until recently, there wasn't ANYTHING available for a 276 intake except a Stock '55 291 4bl intake (276's only ever had a 2bl), or a scarce as hens teeth 6x2 log intake. Further, sources for any sort of cam for them dried up years ago. Well that is until very recently. One of the H.A.M.B.er's is , as we speak, producing modern engineered, cast aluminum, high quality intakes for them in various configurations. And if you don't want to go the regrind route, Chet Herbert STILL has the masters for every cam they ever made and will build you a brand new one at very competative prices. Hot Hemi Heads sells stuff for DeSoto's, and so does Egge Machine. In MY opinion, this is a very underrated Hemi...overshadowed by the 392 mania. I'd either hang on to it, or sell it for a bit more than $300-$500...
2 or 3 years ago I sold one to another HAMBer, a '54 276 that turned over and was complete for $500. Yours isn't quite as nice but that was a few years ago so I think $500 is a fair asking price.
Thank you all so much for your responses. Its been along time since I've used a computer for other than spreadsheets, parts drawings and invoicing. Its like Christmas every morning when I come in to look whats new in my H.A.M.B. "stocking". Fun!! A clarifying question on your posts...Are you guys all saying approx. $300 - $500 with the transmission? or the engine only? Thanks again...
It looks like it sat outside for a while and has plenty rust so 250 to 300 might be more like it. Take a look at the swap meet section on HotHeads site there will be a number of them forsale and you can get an ideal on what you might ask. It still is a hemi so you never know what someone is willing to pay.
With tranny. It's a Powerflite so it has very little value on it's own. Sell the whole thing as one unit. Flat-out sale advice, ask $500 and accept anything $350 or more.
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