What’s a complete used engine worth

[Brobrian]

I replaced the engine in my ‘31 pu with one my dad gave me. Now I have a spare I doubt I’ll ever need. Ran great when I took it out a few years back. Approximately what should I ask for it if I put it out for sale? I know we all hate these questions, but I really have no idea.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Ask what you want to & they'll probably offer 1/2 of that! SOME Folks are cheap Old Shits! When you really want something, just "BITE" the proverbial BULLET & BUY IT!
"Maybe" I've been watchin' TOO MANY Old Westerns? Just watched, "VALDEZ IS COMING", for the 3rd time. GREAT MOVIE! Watch "STAGECOACH" with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash & a bunch of other music folks. It's a BLAST! Willie Nelson is a PRIMO western actor! He plays the part of Doc Holliday, a Dentist & a QUICK as LIGHTENING DRAW!
Bro Bill W.

[Brobrian]

Okay, Bill, thanks. By the way, what’s half a nickel?

[Mike V. Florida]

A lot of people have a different opinions on what "ran great when I removed it" means. To me the engine you had in there was not as good as the one you put in. To me that begs the question what is wrong with it? Also in my opinion you will be lucky to get $500.00 for it sitting on the ground unable to be run.

[J Franklin]

Was the engine you want to sell the one that came from the factory with the car originally? Is it stamped with the # on your title? If so give it some careful thought.

[Gil Sissons]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Most people don't pull a perfectly good engine.
So most buyers look at a engine sitting on the ground
A's just a core for rebuild.
It will make a difference in how stripped down your
Engine is also.
Gil. NoCal

[Synchro909]

I have no idea what it would be worth but I have a suggestion. Make a stand for it so you can at least run it for a prospective buyer.

[ronn]

250-750 depending how complete it is and how desperate the buyer is..........

[Tom Wesenberg]

10 years ago I bought an engine complete with starter and generator. This told me it was pulled to build a hot rod, so I had a good feeling about the engine being a good runner. Still haven't tried to run it though.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by ronn

250-750 depending how complete it is and how desperate the buyer is..........

Yes, $500 for a long block is about the average value in most areas.

As for why some good running engines are removed , I often hear "I bought this car already reastored but I don't know anything about the engine and would like an engine that I know can reliably go on long weekend trips and keep up with others in the club."

[Gary WA]

$1.00 to $75.00

[Brobrian]

Thanks guys. For $500 I think i’ll keep it to rebuild with the grand kids. I swapped the engines because my dad brought me one that came from a farm implement from our family farm in Kansas. He’d had it rebuilt so it was new. It made my pickup a little more special to us to think Grandad’s engine which he’d worked on with his boys was now in my truck. Still, I now know what the other one is worth. Much appreciated.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Brobrian

Okay, Bill, thanks. By the way, what’s half a nickel?

OK, BRO, I'll BITE!
Bro Bill

[Fullraceflathead]

Hello Brian,
I'm interested in it.
Glad to see you back on here.

[Cape Codder]

Several years ago I bought a BLOCK FOR $500 from one of our highly respected Engine Builders because he told me the one I sent was unbuildable. On top of that I
had to pay EXTRA for the five inserts which were installed improperly (couldn't get the head on). Won't go into the end of the story, just wanted to make a point about price!

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Brobrian

Thanks guys. For $500 I think i’ll keep it to rebuild with the grand kids. I swapped the engines because my dad brought me one that came from a farm implement from our family farm in Kansas. He’d had it rebuilt so it was new. It made my pickup a little more special to us to think Grandad’s engine which he’d worked on with his boys was now in my truck. Still, I now know what the other one is worth. Much appreciated.

That is a great reason to swap engines and keep the old one. I did not see the answer to the question is the engine that you took out original to the car?

[Brobrian]

I don’t know if the engine I took out was the car’s original. When I got the car 30 years ago I noticed that the pistons were miss matched so I put new ones in, honed the cylinders changed out the valves and guides and drove it for another 25 years without any more engine troubles. Just decided to put the new one in as described above. The boys and I will one day take it apart and they will learn some good lessons I’m sure.

[J Franklin]

Do the numbers on the title match the numbers on the engine? that might be important.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Cape Codder

Several years ago I bought a BLOCK FOR $500 from one of our highly respected Engine Builders because he told me the one I sent was unbuildable. On top of that I had to pay EXTRA for the five inserts which were installed improperly (couldn't get the head on). Won't go into the end of the story, just wanted to make a point about price!

Ok, but not really the same. Let's just say that an engine rebuilder purchases an engine for $500 to be used as a core. There are 5 basic items that have value (- block, crankshaft, rods, oil pump, & cam). The first 2 items are the gamble, and the next 3 items are of low value. The hidden expense that many overlook is the time spent handling the engine and the disassembly. To begin, ...what is the value of that block if after 3 hours of disassembly, we find a small crack? (Few custmers will knowingly pay full price for a cracked block, -or even one that has been repaired.) What is the value of a block if re-sleeving is required due to a large bore size? What about broken head stud removal? Next, the day for most rebuilders finding core cranks at Std sizes is rare, and most customers will not knowingly pay full-retail for a crankshaft that cleans-up on .030/.030 undersize. Rods have little core value these days nor do pumps or camshafts. So at this point, what is the $500 core engine worth once it is known to need sleeving and/or it had a crankshaft that was well worn?

I trust you now realize by the time a rebuilder factors in the expenses of buying all core engines (Shipping / attending auction or swap meet) and the disassembling & inspection, they must charge enough for the good core parts to cover the other core engines that had unrepairable/unrebuildable parts. Remember, the biggest expense for the rebuilder is the disassembly time and the cleaning time. Realistically, if you want the most money for your core, disassemble and thoroughly clean it where the buyer can inspect and verify the condition of all parts with a micrometer.

[Cape Codder]

BRENT I understand what you have said BUT not only did I pay $500 for the block I PAYED for the installation of FIVE heli-coils (which he told me the block needed) and THEN I PAYED a local machinist to remove the heli-coils and install FIVE properly! Not a good deal at all, but learned where I will NEVER take another motor for a rebuild!