I have toyed with the idea of swapping my 350 for a big block. I now have the opportunity to buy a professionally rebuilt 1973 455. It was driven a few thousand miles in a Camaro, then pulled. It's now at a friend's shop. The heads are off so the cylinders can be inspected, and we will pull the pan and inspect the rod bearings. It has been bored over.60 and has roller rockers. Otherwise it is apparently stock.
Question: What's it worth? What would you pay for it?

 

What's it worth depends upon the parts used, the quality of the machine work during the rebuild, and its current condition. Could be anywhere from thousands of dollars to scrap metal going rate.

Why was it pulled after only a few thousand miles?
Why are the heads off?

Sounds as if something bad happened and the engine was yanked.

 

1973
egads
J heads ultra low
compression???


not much
455 for your cubic dollar

i am going to sell my extra standard high compression short block $1000
picked up here

 

Basic rebuild with basic rebuild parts I was quoted 2800-3200 bucks the better the parts the higher the price

 

You could always just build yoru sbo. I built my 350 with many good lightly used parts ( since many abandon their 350 builds for a 455) . Engine has less than 4k in it with machining . carefully picked parts and its been a reliable performer for about 4 years now. running 12.20's next spring shooting for 11's . pump gas iron headed 355 olds. FWIW no one wanted to buy this engine for 2500 bucks. I was selling it complete intake to oil pan. used engines aint worth much. No matter how proven they are.

 

i do have a bored out high compression 350 in one of my cars
shop bill was over $4000

I would go with a 455
just my thought

 

if the shop built it using new parts I can see well over 4k. I build the engines and transmissions even with the diff being farmed out I have less than 6500 into the whole power train set up.

 

I see shop-built 455's on ebay all the time between $6-9k - hard to know whether truly any good or not until they're in the car but that can be said for local builds too.


What it's worth I think is partly dependent upon your desire to have it. For some people, being able to say 'yeah, it's a big block' = priceless


I have about $5k or so in my now .030 over '72 350 which was original to the car - converted from 2bbl to 4bbl, all new top brand performance parts to include E-brock intake, Howards cam, forged flat-top pistons, HEI, etc.. Substantive power improvements followed, especially after backing it with an upgraded 3.08 posi and new dual exhaust.


For my largely street-driven ragtop, it was worth the investment to be able to drop it right back in the hole it came out of without conversion mods. Plus the motor was a known quantity v. someone else's abandoned project or 'barn find' with no real reasons known for it to have been buried 20 years prior...


Not having to chance buying a foundation motor that could ultimately prove worthless was valuable to me in absence of having locally viable big block options to choose from.

 

Fwiw my car is totally streetable put 1k miles on it since july when I got the car back together after paint. round trip the track is 120 miles and I don't have a car hauler.

Having a good eye and knowledge helps making good use of used parts. My short block started as a core with a flat cam. it had good pistons and cylinders had no wear to them.

 

Thanks All for your opinions. I think I can get this motor for about $1400 bucks. My friend that owns the shop where the motor is now knows the history of this engine. Doesn't seem to be anything shady going on. A few guys owned it together and now they need cash. At this price it seems like a no-brainer.

 

Go for it.

 

X2 for the price cant go wrong

 

I'd give it a shot if it were me.