I met a man today who said he had an olds 455 and 400tranny for sale. He said he got it out of a 1969 delta 88. If everything is in good shape, would $600 be a fair price? I hope to talk him down, but I just want to know if this is in a good neighborhood?

 

Well for those pieces out of the car you would have to consider them rebuildable cores. That said Id go $350 max for the 455 if it's complete carb to pan and $100 for a long tail TH400 so long as it has the speedo drive. If the car had the drive on the front wheel I wouldn't give more than $50 for the trans.

 

Finding complete,unmolested cores is getting more difficult by the day,as they are always getting used up for something.Yes,I can still get some early 455 cores at the junkyard for about $250.00,but they are stuck,& always need a bucnh of work just to get them apart.I have also paid $600.00 for a nice complete engine that turns freely,etc.I don't really care if it runs or not.To me it's still a core,unless it has been rebuilt before.As for the trans,it is not worth as a much as a long-shaft,but it can be converted to a short-shaft if/when you have it rebuilt.I would go $50.00-$75.00 on the trans.

 

$600 seems a bit high but not atrocious. $450 would be better.

 

Depends on where you live I'm guessing. Some areas the engines and trannys are harder to find. If it come complete with all brackest alternator, power steering pump, etc its an acceptable price.

 

I think that is a decent price. If it is out of a 69, it should have C heads on it (I think) and not hte later model smog heads. Even if you did pay an extra $100 for it, what does it matter in the grand scheme of things when you are probably going to spend $2,000 or more having it rebuilt. If I were in the market and it was close by with no shipping, I would be all over that deal.

 

All over it like a rat on a Cheeto.

 

So I am guessing from your all's post that this is not the deal of a century. See I just came into a little money. I was planing on buying a tv, but when the guy say my car yesterday he told me about the motor. So it is not that hard to come by a olds 455 anymore? I just didnt want to let a deal of a lifetime go, but I guess this is just a deal of the week. Thanks.

 

Tv---olds 455-------????? Olds455!

 

Buy it. They are not making anymore 455 Olds engines. They are still making TV's and the price is getting cheaper.

 

I'm going to agree with Citcapp, it depends on where you live. In my area a 350 SBO and a long tail TH400 go for about $625 while a 455 and a long tail would go for $750. Forget the tv who wants to watch tv when you can go for a cruise in an ole' school with a 455 and some flows talking to you

 

Same here! About 2 or 3 years ago I sold one for $700 (from a junked 68 Toronado with 57,000 miles I.E. 3 75 hp, 10.25 to 1 compression, C heads). The the new 455 owner emailed to tell me the motor had a J code crankshaft!

 

I cannot, I repeat, I cannot afford to spend $2000 to have the thing rebuilt. The guy has it out and he said it runs and he can show us. But if its going to take that much money to get it in the car, then I will def have to get the tv. I was planing on putting it in a 72 Cutlass Supreme, but I dont know about that now.

 

If it runs good and does not smoke, you won't need to spend the $2,000. However if you think you are going to buy it for $600 and drop it in you Cutlass, that won't happen. There will be other incidental costs that will be at least several hundred dollars. You will probably have to have your driveshaft shortened and then you will have to have exhaust done. If that is a problem, you should probably buy the TV and avoid the frustration.

 

I agree. If you buy the engine for $600 and it is complete from the oil pan to the air cleaner you will at least have to spend another few hundred dollars on things like belts, hoses, and motor mounts (if the ones you have are bad or don't work).

There is nothing wrong with doing an engine on the cheap, just realize that you will have to spend mroe than the $600 of the engine.

 

Well I figured I would def have to spend money to get it right, I just could not afford to spend $2000. But a few $100 here and a few $100 there I can afford. But are 455s hard to find? Or could I not afford to let this one go? I guess that is my real question. Thank for everyone's help, I really appreciate it.

 

You can always find another.

 

I got my 69 455 w C heads for $200. And the guy started it up right there on the ground too. Sounded good the minute or so it ran. Pulled around 15" of vacuum I think. Found it on Craigslist. My cousin is supposed to be putting it in my 1970 98 shortly, then I plan on making the 455 he is taking out my first rebuild.

 

If it is a '69, speedo on the front left wheel - just like my '69 98