The Ford Barn

Hoop · 02-08-2018, 04:00 PM

"You can have 10 blocks you think are fine, but after proper testing, 90% of them will turn out to be cracked, at least in my experience."

Not sure how accurate that is, but even if half are cracked ...

Let's say I have a block (which I do and that I don't need) and want to sell it (presumably to someone who DOES need it.) Complete testing here would run $400.

So, I have it tested and risk $400 so that I can maybe sell it for, maybe, $800 (which I doubt.) I could lose $400 facing unfavorable odds and a cracked block. If the block is crack-free, the buyer gets the engine at a fair market price. He never faces the risk of ending up in the hole with nothing to show for it but a shop receipt.

Am I missing something?

Now, if I have a complete 8BA (which I do) that came out of a really nice restored car into which the new owner simply wanted to install a SBC, I cannot have it tested as a complete engine. According to a bunch of guys here, it's darned near worthless. (One potential buyer even asked if I had the build sheet for the engine ... )

As a buyer, I wouldn't mind paying more for a block that was already tested and guaranteed to be crack-free.

As a seller, I'm better off letting the stuff sit in my shop and thinking some day I may use it.

We can think about that and how it may be affecting availability.

02-08-2018, 04:00 PM	#33
Hoop Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 1,137	Re: Block availability "You can have 10 blocks you think are fine, but after proper testing, 90% of them will turn out to be cracked, at least in my experience." Not sure how accurate that is, but even if half are cracked ... Let's say I have a block (which I do and that I don't need) and want to sell it (presumably to someone who DOES need it.) Complete testing here would run $400. So, I have it tested and risk $400 so that I can maybe sell it for, maybe, $800 (which I doubt.) I could lose $400 facing unfavorable odds and a cracked block. If the block is crack-free, the buyer gets the engine at a fair market price. He never faces the risk of ending up in the hole with nothing to show for it but a shop receipt. Am I missing something? Now, if I have a complete 8BA (which I do) that came out of a really nice restored car into which the new owner simply wanted to install a SBC, I cannot have it tested as a complete engine. According to a bunch of guys here, it's darned near worthless. (One potential buyer even asked if I had the build sheet for the engine ... ) As a buyer, I wouldn't mind paying more for a block that was already tested and guaranteed to be crack-free. As a seller, I'm better off letting the stuff sit in my shop and thinking some day I may use it. We can think about that and how it may be affecting availability. __________________ "Remember that when it comes to intelligence, half of all of us are below average." Last edited by Hoop; 02-08-2018 at 04:08 PM.