I am a Newby here on the Olds site, but not a newby to the Old car world. However I have a unfinished project 71 Cutlass Convertible I bought this past week that has a 455 Olds Motor and what I believe is a 700R4 transmission. The transmission was recently rebuilt to the tune of $1185 plus a $460 summit Converter. This is according to the receipts I got with the car. The 455 Olds Motor was also Recently built to the tune of $10k according to the seller. I think this price must have surely included the tranny, exhaust, Radiator, install, etc, etc, etc. The 455 has "C" heads, recently added New holley 770 cfm carb on a edelbrock polished intake. I do have the receipt on the cam and lifters, as well as many other receipts. The motor looks fresh and clean, runs and shifts as it should. It is just not what my Wife's idea is of good Motor, so I will likely put a 5.3 or 6.0 late model moter and tranny in the car. So big Question, what is it worth ??? I will let the complete motor with all accesserys go for one money and alsosell the tranny. I do have a guy interested, who has asked several times what do I want for It? I would like a fair price, but might take a little less for a "quick sale" . I also realise that one mans custom over spending does not set the value of the Motor. Thanks for any and all Ideas.

 

It's worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Put a high price up and if someone negotiates a lower one that you are willing to accept, go for it. Pics are golden. Post a few if you get a chance. Good luck with your sale.

 

Sorry, this is where I stopped reading.

 

Welcome to the site... Why not just sell the entire project car complete as is and start over with something your wife will be more happy with and already has a 5.3/6.0 engine...

 

If the engine is not living up to your expectations, might it be more economical to upgrade it to meet yours AND your wife's standards? Is it tuned correctly? There may be more power available in the engine if it isn't.

That sounds about right for a complete rebuild. I haven't had the chance to throw down for my 455 rebuild yet but according to everything I have read on this site and others it is easy to drop that kind of change on an Olds engine if you have it assembled by the machine shop.

 

Thanks for the Ideas, the car is not numbers matching. We are planning to put a 5.3 ls motor in the car. It will be more driver friendly for Her rather than the Holley 770 cfm and the stall converter. I Will likly paint the car the color she wants as well. Would the Motor and Transmission be worth somewhere in the $3000 Range or am I off real Bad?

 

Agreed, your Wife is not the person you should be asking what a good motor is. My Wife would have left the Olds 260 in my 70S. What does she care driving her 2010 Challenger SE around everywhere, planning on an AWD Challenger GT for her next. Remember it will still be an Old car, suspension and brakes. I wouldn't pay much for 5.3/4L65E combo, they are everywhere. Without reciepts, it will be tough to get more than $1000 for that 455.

 

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You can get a rebuildable 455 for around $500. Why would someone want to spend more than $1000-$1500 for a 455 if it didn't come with hundreds of receipts and a dyno sheet?

 

Since you mentioned earlier that you have receipts for $10K in the engine and trans I would expect you could probably get $3K for them. If I had it in reserve for my engine, I would probably take it myself. Sadly I don't, I just moved my in-laws to Albuquerque this month so I am tapped.

 

To get the most leave it in the car until you sell it. Much easier to get top dollar if the person can hear and even drive the motor. As soon as it is pulled it gets much harder to get good money for it. My.02

 

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Where are you located?

 

I am Located in Rome Ga

 

Rob, Sending you a PM.