Model a Engines
 

I have two Model A engines that I bought maybe fifteen years ago planing to
rebuild them. I have been so busy working on my A's that I never got around to doing anything with them, they have the heads and pans. Getting to old 87 to be exact

Could someone give me a ballpark figure what they be worth? One or both.

Bill

PS I am in Indiana

Re: Model a Engines
 

I don't need them but you need to add more info. Will you ship?

Charlie Stephens

Re: Model a Engines
 

Probably worth more on the west coast than in Indiana.

Re: Model a Engines
 

The problem with used engines is you have to dismantle them to find out what if anything is wrong.. it’s a pig in a poke, you’ll do well to get 200 a piece for them.

Re: Model a Engines
 

Yes, -very true.

Re: Model a Engines
 

Hey Crazy I am in Princeton Indiana 20 miles north of Evansville. I would be interested in them. You gotta have 20 post to contact a member i only have 17 so here is my email if you would like to contact me. I'm just a tinkerer so be good educational tool for me.
[email protected]

Re: Model a Engines
 

Around here $100 is a good "short" block. I.e. minus the covers and lids but with the crank & internals still in place. And no knowledge of condition.

I paid $40 for a short block. But that was exceptional and the woman selling it insisted I take a "big-block V8" with it since she was cleaning out. The BB went to the scrap immediately since I had no destination, and no fore-knowledge of condition.

I would guess a good "operable" short block at $250 (i.e. a block of previous proven service but probably worn) and if complete and removed from current service perhaps $500 (i.e. loose but with everything there including covers & do-dads)

A lot of the money goes away in "dribs & drabs" buying all the stuff necessary to make a short-block complete.

ONE thing to keep in mind is that on getting a block rebuilt, they very often are found to have cracks -and it may be better economy to start with a better uncracked block. Model B are particularly prone to exhaust port cracks extending into the cylinder wall. These can be repaired but it takes a bit of "finesse" to do so.

Hence I have FIVE spare engines...

Joe K

Re: Model a Engines
 

Thanks guys for the info.


Bill

Re: Model a Engines
 

Within the last year, I bought two engines with heads, pans, and flywheel housings (no flywheels, clutches, or pressure plates) for $50.00 each. No known information about the condition of the engines, so it’s a complete gamble. It’s a lot of work and expense to find out if the blocks are rebuildable, or cracked beyond repair. I enjoy the tinkering, but I would hate to risk much more than $50.00 on a totally unknown engine.

Re: Model a Engines
 

Im in the camp of 100.00 each without knowing anything more.

Re: Model a Engines
 

Agreed. I attended an auction a few years ago where they were selling them by the pallet. Pallets of 10 engines went for ~$100... Many were left behind for scrap.