How much is my 1931 Model A motor worth?

[Mikeinnj]

MY EXPERIENCE WITH USED BLOCKS
I once bought a block from an old timer Model A parts dealer for $125.00 He said the block had been sitting under a friends bench in his basement for many tears and was standard bore.
I took the block to a trusted machine shop and had it hot tanked and magna-fluxed. A crack was discovered and the shop owner said he could try to "lock-stitch" the crack. He later called and said the casting was too brittle and he was unable to repair it.

Total cost of the block, hot tank,magna-flux and failed lock-stitch plus labor was $400.00 down the drain. The block was later used as a boat anchor.

So a word of caution. Don't let go of your cash until the block has been tested for internal and external cracks.

Let's hope the "new" Model A Engine project becomes a reality soon so we can replace those failing and tired 80 + year old engines with a solid,trusted and true engine.

[Gil Sissons]

If my memory is right....has not been than long ago
Steve in Denver poster here on the Barn....
80% of all blocks that come to their
Shop end up going to the dump. Crack city.
Gil. NoCal

[Dave in MN]

From my experience: In the search for a block, one out of three is rejected before I will consider them due to water jacket cracks. I find a useable block in about every 2.5 I tear down and that is after really looking them over for the water jacket cracks. After the initial water jacket crack check, if I were to pay $100 for a block and invest 2 hours breaking each one down, I need to get $400 for my core short blocks when I sell one as part of a rebuild. That is my current charge and I am embarrassed to need to charge that much. It is the state of engine cores in my area of the country that causes this. (Minnesota...Land of 10,000 lakes...and almost as many frost cracks.)
So what is a core block worth? Less than $100.00 untested and about $250-$400 if known to be crack free and the state or extent of disassembly. Now if the cylinders need sleeves...oh my...it is not worth much as I find customers do not want to buy an engine with sleeves. They will sleeve their own engine but don't want one as a core for a rebuild. JMO
Good Day!

[Rowdy]

Most people here will likely tell you they are worth $1 each. Rod

[Pinesdune]

I bought a free and turning engine, with starter, carb, distributor, water pump, powerhouse generator, clutch,transmission and a u-joint, gently placed in the back of my truck for $450 Canadian so about $300 US, bought a complete T engine for $25 seized , including carb


Looking for the front bumper emblem that has "Ford, Made In Canada"

[ronn]

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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gothenburg Nebraska Just off I-80
Posts: 4,727


Re: How much is my 1931 Model A motor worth?
Most people here will likely tell you they are worth $1 each. Rod

that's funny!
I'll go 5.00 for a 500% profit.....................

[jeep44]

Several days ago, I was at the house of a man selling Model A parts. They had belonged to his deceased father. Among other things, there was a short block in the corner that had been sitting for years-all the openings were plugged, all the water jacket holes were taped up. No cracks that I could see with a powerful flashlight. The pistons were .010 over, and the bores still showed crosshatching. Hopefully, the bearings are good,too. I suspect this was a spare engine the old man had waiting. Other family members took his car, but left the engine. I wasn't planning on getting another engine, but this one was too good to pass up, so I paid the $300 he was asking. Now I have to find a place for it in my garage until I can get it on the stand and really give it a going-over and cleanup.

[Indiana A. Lover]

I was stuck in Lodi back in the 60s

[California Travieso]

Originally Posted by Indiana A. Lover

I was stuck in Lodi back in the 60s

Sounds like the intro to a good country and western song titled "The Ballad of Highway 99" sung by Dwight Yokum. "From Bakersfield to Manteca . . ."

David Serrano