The Ford Barn

tubman · 02-02-2018, 07:33 AM

Yesterday, I sold one of my spare engines to a guy who is building an A-V8. He only needed a good block, but he bought and paid for a good complete engine because he can't find a good 8BA block. He has gone through five different blocks, all of which were cracked. You would think that up here in North Central Minnesota these blocks should be easy to find, but apparently not. This guy is no "Rookie" either, being deeply involved with Model "T"'s for a long time (he wanted something a little faster this time). I would have thought that a simple "Wanted" ad either here or on the "H.A.M.B." would have turned a couple up, but I guess that doesn't work any more either. It looks to me like the day of the crack-free $400 8BA block is gone. Given this, I'd hate to be in the position of trying to find an earlier block. Anybody else seeing this?

Tod - How are you coming along?

corvette8n · 02-02-2018, 08:10 AM

I see a lot of "rare" flathead blocks of questionable condition listed on Craigslist for unreasonable values, forget trying to negotiate with these sellers.

Hoop · 02-02-2018, 08:48 AM

How about "wanted ad" buyers who want:

!. Pictures ... of a bare block stored deep in my shop. Too lazy to come and look at it ... and help me drag it out.

2. Guarantees ... they want it pressure tested at twice the price I'm asking even after I assure them I will refund their money if it turns out to be cracked.

3. To offer half (cheap) what I'm asking ... over the phone.

I really don't think guys realize how much they turn off grumpy old guys with a stash of good parts.

Not sure what "negotiate" means.

SofaKing · 02-02-2018, 09:05 AM

I regularly see blocks starting at $600-800 in unknown condition regarding cracks but terrible looking and they go up from there.

I have observed that people here want to negotiate the price before they have seen the item. They usually prefer to communicate via texting. Buyers and sellers both have a tendency to ignore the idea that the first person to show-up with the money gets the first choice to purchase the item. I thought it was a Utah thing since I never noticed it before but maybe it's just the way people do business now.

19Fordy · 02-02-2018, 10:06 AM

I would think a good crack free. magnafluxed 8BA block would be worth $1000.
After all, it's the foundation of your engine AND the days of 1956 prices are long gone.
Old is gold.

Tim Ayers · 02-02-2018, 10:13 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

I would think a good crack free. magnafluxed 8BA block would be worth $1000.
After all,it's the foundation of your engine AND the days of 1956 prices are long gone.

I sold a standard bore, magge'd, sonic tested, and cleaned '53 block approx. 6 years ago for $800 so that price has to be higher by now. I live in the North East so it's possible supply is less here due to the elements. Only reason I sold it was because I was moving and wanted to cut down on weight. If I didn't move, I'd still have it.

flatford8 · 02-02-2018, 12:23 PM

“I have observed that people here want to negotiate the price before they have seen the item. They usually prefer to communicate via texting”.
I have seen happen. I dont negotiate. The price is the price. ..... Mark

Yoyodyne · 02-02-2018, 12:30 PM

In the past 5 years I bought 6 37/38 engines for $250-$300 in varying degrees of condition from complete takeouts to rusty shortblocks. Every one was freeze cracked beyond repair, so I have about $5K in parts and cleaning/magnaflux bills and nothing but a bunch of rods and cranks and oil pans to show for it. I finally bought a good 37 block from a Barn member for $500 and shipped it for $200 and was glad to get it.

Then after all that I bought a perfect 36LB block for $200. I guess I was paying my dues.

Yoyodyne · 02-02-2018, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatford8

“I have observed that people here want to negotiate the price before they have seen the item. They usually prefer to communicate via texting”.
I have seen happen. I dont negotiate. The price is the price. ..... Mark

When someone wants to haggle price before even seeing the condition of something like this I take the opportunity to become a real crank.

Seth Swoboda · 02-02-2018, 12:36 PM

In my recent experience I have rebuilt 4 flathead engines. Everyone of them has been crack free. I do have an 8ba block that has a small crack that could be repaired plus another 59A engine that I picked up for nothing that supposedly is cracked. I also have many other 8BA and 59A blocks in my inventory that may be rebuild candidates. What I'm saying is that I have a good supply of engines cores. I have yet taken an engine into a machine shop for inspection and fail the cracked block test, I've been lucky.

I never pay more than $200 for a complete engine that is of unknown condition. I have never sold a good block. I thought about having some of mine cleaned, tested for cracks and then selling them but I didn't think I'd ever get my money back. Could be wrong.

Oh, anyone need a Model A engine? Got plenty of those too.

GordonC · 02-02-2018, 12:41 PM

I have sorta been on the lookout for a runner 8ba as a back up should my rebuilt engine become too much of a hassle to straighten out and I am seeing more of the older flatheads than the newer ones. Seems guys with the newer ones think they should get $1500 or more for them. They got em and can charge what they like but that seems a tad on the rich side for me for an engine that may or may not be good. Older ones seem to be in the $500 to $800 range for non runners. I think your right, good 8ba blocks are starting to get a bit scarce around me here in NC.

tubman · 02-02-2018, 12:46 PM

After reading some of these posts, I now realize the guy I sold the engine to got a hell of a deal. Oh well, he seems to be a real nice guy.

Oakhurst · 02-02-2018, 12:53 PM

A few months ago, I was looking for a good V8 60 block. A known retailer in San Jose offered that i pick up the three he had, take them home for inspection, keep the one i wanted and return the other two and $750. Seemed high to me at the time, but I'm happy with the deal. Engine is now at Joe Boghosian's in Fresno CA for rebuilding.

petehoovie · 02-02-2018, 01:48 PM

[QUOTE=tubman;1587515] You would think that up here in North Central Minnesota these blocks should be easy to find, but apparently not.

I would think that freeze-cracked blocks are plentiful in North Central Minnesota....

Ggmac · 02-02-2018, 02:53 PM

I just purchased a 40,000 mile 1939 221 from a friend down the street . It was his spare he's had for over 50 yrs . On a test stand , ran it monthly along with his A , 39 Tudor and a 69 mustang . It is spotless and painted orig . He replaced the rings aprx 40 yrs ago has a old rebuilt dist and recent starter and generator and water pumps . He asked $1200. And that's what I gave him . Without question . He knows he could of gotten more but is a gentleman . I'm in his dept .
There are still good guys out there . All of this flathead talk got me motivated to disassemble a 1936 21 stud I've had since my teens . I found it spotless , std bore no ridge . Go figure , it's been there all the time ! Gonna get it running and stick on the test stand .

slowforty · 02-02-2018, 02:53 PM

Evidently I better go and cover the spark plug holes on the wore out running 40 engine I took out of my 40 last year. It is in heated storage under a cover.

transbytip · 02-02-2018, 03:48 PM

What am I doing wrong?Have a complete 49 Merc 4 in stroke eng,advertised it for $850.00 no takers heads&pan off for insp, have at least a half dozen 8ba bare blocka&2 21 stud blocks plus a ton of pts. [email protected] (631)682-6091 Cliff.

Ggmac · 02-02-2018, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transbytip

What am I doing wrong?Have a complete 49 Merc 4 in stroke eng,advertised it for $850.00 no takers heads&pan off for insp, have at least a half dozen 8ba bare blocka&2 21 stud blocks plus a ton of pts. [email protected] (631)682-6091 Cliff.

Dang , too bad you live so far !

GB SISSON · 02-02-2018, 04:02 PM

Sometimes a deal comes up less than 2 miles away, where a chevy guy wants to unload a bunch of 'boat anchors' he got from his father in law. He told me his father in law scrapped 14 cracked blocks but kept these. Sorry, none are for sale, they are part of my retirement plan. Just sayin' they are still out there.

Kahuna · 02-02-2018, 04:18 PM

Four years ago I went thru the same thing: 5 blocks, all bad.
I finally got a good one from Vern Tardell in Santa Rosa, CA.
To double check everything I took the block to John Beck in
Chico, CA. John is always heavily involved in the Engine Masters
Challenge. I had the block Pressure Tested, Magnafluxed & Sonic
Tested. At that point I felt I had a great foundation and was into
the Block about $800.00 before machining. $550 block & 250 Testing
So,Yes, the days of the good cheap blocks are gone as far as I can
tell.
Three years ago at a large swap meet, a gentleman had a block & Merc
crank for sale with the Mag test tag for $800.00. No one would buy it &
several complained that the price was way too high. Strange times.
Jim

GQMAC
Spend the money & have it or them tested, not inspected. You'll find willing buyers

02-02-2018, 07:33 AM	#1
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,304	Block availability Yesterday, I sold one of my spare engines to a guy who is building an A-V8. He only needed a good block, but he bought and paid for a good complete engine because he can't find a good 8BA block. He has gone through five different blocks, all of which were cracked. You would think that up here in North Central Minnesota these blocks should be easy to find, but apparently not. This guy is no "Rookie" either, being deeply involved with Model "T"'s for a long time (he wanted something a little faster this time). I would have thought that a simple "Wanted" ad either here or on the "H.A.M.B." would have turned a couple up, but I guess that doesn't work any more either. It looks to me like the day of the crack-free $400 8BA block is gone. Given this, I'd hate to be in the position of trying to find an earlier block. Anybody else seeing this? Tod - How are you coming along?

02-02-2018, 08:10 AM	#2
corvette8n Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 36 miles north of Albany NY Posts: 2,946	Re: Block availability I see a lot of "rare" flathead blocks of questionable condition listed on Craigslist for unreasonable values, forget trying to negotiate with these sellers.

02-02-2018, 08:48 AM	#3
Hoop Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 1,137	Re: Block availability How about "wanted ad" buyers who want: !. Pictures ... of a bare block stored deep in my shop. Too lazy to come and look at it ... and help me drag it out. 2. Guarantees ... they want it pressure tested at twice the price I'm asking even after I assure them I will refund their money if it turns out to be cracked. 3. To offer half (cheap) what I'm asking ... over the phone. I really don't think guys realize how much they turn off grumpy old guys with a stash of good parts. Not sure what "negotiate" means. __________________ "Remember that when it comes to intelligence, half of all of us are below average." Last edited by Hoop; 02-02-2018 at 11:36 AM.

02-02-2018, 09:05 AM	#4
SofaKing Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 756	Re: Block availability I regularly see blocks starting at $600-800 in unknown condition regarding cracks but terrible looking and they go up from there. I have observed that people here want to negotiate the price before they have seen the item. They usually prefer to communicate via texting. Buyers and sellers both have a tendency to ignore the idea that the first person to show-up with the money gets the first choice to purchase the item. I thought it was a Utah thing since I never noticed it before but maybe it's just the way people do business now.

02-02-2018, 10:06 AM	#5
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,925	Re: Block availability I would think a good crack free. magnafluxed 8BA block would be worth $1000. After all, it's the foundation of your engine AND the days of 1956 prices are long gone. Old is gold. Last edited by 19Fordy; 02-02-2018 at 10:50 AM.

02-02-2018, 12:23 PM	#7
flatford8 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lyman,ME. Posts: 2,623	Re: Block availability “I have observed that people here want to negotiate the price before they have seen the item. They usually prefer to communicate via texting”. I have seen happen. I dont negotiate. The price is the price. ..... Mark __________________ I'm thinkin' about crankin' My ragged ol' truck up and haulin' myself into town. Billy Joe Shaver

02-02-2018, 12:30 PM	#8
Yoyodyne Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lancaster PA Posts: 531	Re: Block availability In the past 5 years I bought 6 37/38 engines for $250-$300 in varying degrees of condition from complete takeouts to rusty shortblocks. Every one was freeze cracked beyond repair, so I have about $5K in parts and cleaning/magnaflux bills and nothing but a bunch of rods and cranks and oil pans to show for it. I finally bought a good 37 block from a Barn member for $500 and shipped it for $200 and was glad to get it. Then after all that I bought a perfect 36LB block for $200. I guess I was paying my dues.

02-02-2018, 12:36 PM	#10
Seth Swoboda Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 3,787	Re: Block availability In my recent experience I have rebuilt 4 flathead engines. Everyone of them has been crack free. I do have an 8ba block that has a small crack that could be repaired plus another 59A engine that I picked up for nothing that supposedly is cracked. I also have many other 8BA and 59A blocks in my inventory that may be rebuild candidates. What I'm saying is that I have a good supply of engines cores. I have yet taken an engine into a machine shop for inspection and fail the cracked block test, I've been lucky. I never pay more than $200 for a complete engine that is of unknown condition. I have never sold a good block. I thought about having some of mine cleaned, tested for cracks and then selling them but I didn't think I'd ever get my money back. Could be wrong. Oh, anyone need a Model A engine? Got plenty of those too. Last edited by Seth Swoboda; 02-02-2018 at 01:31 PM.

02-02-2018, 12:41 PM	#11
GordonC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 201	Re: Block availability I have sorta been on the lookout for a runner 8ba as a back up should my rebuilt engine become too much of a hassle to straighten out and I am seeing more of the older flatheads than the newer ones. Seems guys with the newer ones think they should get $1500 or more for them. They got em and can charge what they like but that seems a tad on the rich side for me for an engine that may or may not be good. Older ones seem to be in the $500 to $800 range for non runners. I think your right, good 8ba blocks are starting to get a bit scarce around me here in NC.

02-02-2018, 12:46 PM	#12
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,304	Re: Block availability After reading some of these posts, I now realize the guy I sold the engine to got a hell of a deal. Oh well, he seems to be a real nice guy.

02-02-2018, 12:53 PM	#13
Oakhurst Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Oakhurst, CA Posts: 140	Re: Block availability A few months ago, I was looking for a good V8 60 block. A known retailer in San Jose offered that i pick up the three he had, take them home for inspection, keep the one i wanted and return the other two and $750. Seemed high to me at the time, but I'm happy with the deal. Engine is now at Joe Boghosian's in Fresno CA for rebuilding.

02-02-2018, 01:48 PM	#14
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,081	Re: Block availability [QUOTE=tubman;1587515] You would think that up here in North Central Minnesota these blocks should be easy to find, but apparently not. I would think that freeze-cracked blocks are plentiful in North Central Minnesota.... __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0

02-02-2018, 02:53 PM	#15
Ggmac Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Lake worth Florida Posts: 1,088	Re: Block availability I just purchased a 40,000 mile 1939 221 from a friend down the street . It was his spare he's had for over 50 yrs . On a test stand , ran it monthly along with his A , 39 Tudor and a 69 mustang . It is spotless and painted orig . He replaced the rings aprx 40 yrs ago has a old rebuilt dist and recent starter and generator and water pumps . He asked $1200. And that's what I gave him . Without question . He knows he could of gotten more but is a gentleman . I'm in his dept . There are still good guys out there . All of this flathead talk got me motivated to disassemble a 1936 21 stud I've had since my teens . I found it spotless , std bore no ridge . Go figure , it's been there all the time ! Gonna get it running and stick on the test stand .

02-02-2018, 02:53 PM	#16
slowforty Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tinley Park Ill Posts: 1,060	Re: Block availability Evidently I better go and cover the spark plug holes on the wore out running 40 engine I took out of my 40 last year. It is in heated storage under a cover.

02-02-2018, 03:48 PM	#17
transbytip Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: ottumwa Ia. Posts: 132	Re: Block availability What am I doing wrong?Have a complete 49 Merc 4 in stroke eng,advertised it for $850.00 no takers heads&pan off for insp, have at least a half dozen 8ba bare blocka&2 21 stud blocks plus a ton of pts. [email protected] (631)682-6091 Cliff.

02-02-2018, 04:18 PM	#20
Kahuna Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,617	Re: Block availability Four years ago I went thru the same thing: 5 blocks, all bad. I finally got a good one from Vern Tardell in Santa Rosa, CA. To double check everything I took the block to John Beck in Chico, CA. John is always heavily involved in the Engine Masters Challenge. I had the block Pressure Tested, Magnafluxed & Sonic Tested. At that point I felt I had a great foundation and was into the Block about $800.00 before machining. $550 block & 250 Testing So,Yes, the days of the good cheap blocks are gone as far as I can tell. Three years ago at a large swap meet, a gentleman had a block & Merc crank for sale with the Mag test tag for $800.00. No one would buy it & several complained that the price was way too high. Strange times. Jim GQMAC Spend the money & have it or them tested, not inspected. You'll find willing buyers