[mdavidthomas]

I purchased a 1969 Camaro 2 years ago with a 400 SBC that was supposedly dyno'd at 580 HP NA. The previous owner took it to the drag strip once and said he ran a low 11.xx 1/4 mile time with poor 60' times. The engine was built around 2005 and has ~ 1500 miles of which I put 750 miles on it myself. I would like to go with a LS based engine that would be a more streetable setup. The components to build this engine without machining or labor would cost ~$16,800 today. I am thinking about selling the complete engine air cleaner to oil pan, accessories to flexplate for $8500. Does this sound reasonable?

Disclaimer: The parts listed below is a close approximation of the BOM but may not be the exact part numbers.

Part No.	Description	Qty.	Unit Price	Total
84031/21	World Products Motown Cast Iron Block 4.125" Bore	1	$3,039.18	$3,039.18
	Main bearings	1	$75.00	$75.00
	Melling oil pump & pickup	1	$60.00	$60.00
4-400-375-6000	Scat 4340 Forged Crank	1	$694.99	$694.99
CRS6000B3D	Eagle 6.000" 'ESP' H Beam Connecting 4340 Forged Rods with ARP 8740 Rod bolts	1	$449.00	$449.00
	Rod bearings	1	$75.00	$75.00
231319S	SRP Pistons, 4032 Forged Aluminum, 4.125"Bore, +16cc inverted dome pistions, 1.125" Compression height	1	$716.99	$716.99
272-RH	Isky Red Zone Roller lifters, set of 16	1	$734.99	$734.99
12-823-14	Comp Cams, Mechanical Roller 0.900" base circle Duration @0.050 252/258 0.4210"/0.4200" 106 Degree LSA	1	$529.95	$529.95
	Cam bearings	1	$30.00	$30.00
	Timing Chain	1	$100.00	$100.00
1604-16	Comp Cams Roller Rockers 1.52, Set of 8	1	$439.95	$439.95
1805-8	Comp Cams Roller Rockers 1.60, Set of 8	1	$287.95	$287.95
	stud girdles	1
	Pushrods	1	$150.00	$150.00
1008102	Brodix Track 1 215 heads, 2.08"/1.60"	1	$2,842.18	$2,842.18
134-3601	ARP head bolts	1	$85.00	$85.00
1406	Fel-Pro exhaust gaskets	1	$23.99	$23.99
1004	Fel-pro head gaskets	1	$46.99	$46.99
1206	Felpro Intake gaskets	1	$20.99	$20.99
2975	Edelbrock Victor Jr. Intake	1	$392.95	$392.95
85551	MSD Pro Billet SBC Distributor	1	$316.76	$316.76
8202	MSD Blaster II Coil	1	$59.38	$59.38
6425	MSD 6AL	1	$305.06	$305.06
31189	MSD 8.5mm Super Conductor Plug wires	1	$120.56	$120.56
AR-3934	Autolite Spark plugs	8	$5.99	$47.92
9-221	Cloye's Two piece Timing Chain Cover	1	$135.99	$135.99
9483	Trans-dapt Aluminum Water pump pulley	1	$83.99	$83.99
8811	Edelbrock water pump	1	$298.95	$298.95
SS415-1AL	Super Sucker 1" Carb spacer	1	$117.99	$117.99
6095	AED Braided fuel line kit	1	$73.99	$73.99
	AED 4150 Carb 750HO	1	$639.95	$639.95
Sum-G1327	Summit dual return spring kit carb	1	$13.13	$13.13
6057	Trans-dapt crank pulley	1	$106.99	$106.99
	Milodon Deep oil pan	1	$300.00	$300.00
917781	ATI Super Damper	1	$303.24	$303.24
10185064	Chevrolet Cast valve covers ??	1	$859.40	$859.40
2131-1HKR	Hooker Super Comp longtube ceramic coated	1	$937.76	$937.76
	Starter	1	$150.00	$150.00
6059	Alternator Pulley	1	$57.99	$57.99
	Alternator	1	$150.00	$150.00
20120	March Alternator Mount kit	1	$94.99	$94.99
	power steering pump	1	$150.00	$150.00
8934	PS pump pulley	1	$72.99	$72.99
20145	Power Steering Mount kit	1	$100.99	$100.99
230106	Earl's inline fuel filter, 6AN 35 micron	1	$40.19	$40.19
12-803	Holley Fuel Pressure Regulator	1	$37.07	$37.07
15632	Aeromotive fuel gauge 1-1/2", 15 psi	1	$42.70	$42.70
661960	Russell -6AN cap	1	$5.99	$5.99
66-3040	K&N Air filter	1	$199.95	$199.95
85-3549	K&N Air filter base	1	$43.95	$43.95
670340	Russell Fuel pressure takeoff adapter	1	$15.99	$15.99
3.1117	Energy suspension motor mounts	1	$54.71	$54.71
	Moroso Chrome crankcase air breather	1	$29.99	$29.99
	SFI Flexplate	1	$75.00	$75.00
			Total	$16,838.66

 

[Vega$69]

Imho 6-5k is tops on a good day

 

[ridesdirt]

/\ I have to agree. I am in no way bashing what you have, that is a BA engine and I would love to own it.

But here are some things to consider. Any used engine is always a big gamble on the buyers side. Your engine is nearly 20 years old, there may be some more modern components available today. Similar horsepower can be purchased brand new, carb to oil pan in the 8-9K range from well known builders. That is a pretty radical setup for a driver. Modern platforms can offer that power in a more driver friendly package and most buyers are doing excatly what you are doing.

Your parts list is great. You may find a buyer that is looking for exactly what you have. Some things that may help with the sale. Documantation of the build, IMO without that you take a big hit in value. A video of it running. Maybe pop a valve cover and get some internal pictures. Maybe get one of those inspection cameras and get pictures and video of inside the cylinders. Are you willing to ship?

And where are you located? Your market could have an impact on the value and potential buyer pool. You probably already know all of this...

 

[rp930]

With parts going up and availability issues you might get what you’re asking.

 

[dhutton]

$8500 for a used SBC is a bit of a stretch for me.

Don

 

[grampstoyz]

Have you considered making that engine more streetable? A smaller cam and intake could make a big difference for not much money.

 

[srode]

Used SBCs is a small market. A dyno sheet and oil analysis might help you sell it. You will probably be sitting on it for a while unless it's priced to sell quick.

For comparison, a 540hp blueprint engines SBC 427 is $9500. It doesn't have a front drive system like yours but it's new with a great warrant and ready to run.

 

[ridesdirt]

Another thing, this engine has angle plug heads (nice ones at that). In my group it is understood there is no advantage to having angle plug heads, new aluminum straight plug heads locate the spark at the same location in the combustion chamber. In my experience, angle plug heads are more difficult to fit headers and change plugs.

I know it sounds picky, but buyers will be picky.

 

[ilikeike]

Used SBCs is a small market. A dyno sheet and oil analysis might help you sell it. You will probably be sitting on it for a while unless it's priced to sell quick.

For comparison, a 540hp blueprint engines SBC 427 is $9500. It doesn't have a front drive system like yours but it's new with a great warrant and ready to run.

Lots of China parts on those tho correct ?
I'm kinda considering selling my similar Dart SHP 421" sbc to a friend, built locally by a very reputable race shop all quality parts every nut and bolt bought by me, I was thinking $5k

 

[srode]

Lots of China parts on those tho correct ?
I'm kinda considering selling my similar Dart SHP 421" sbc to a friend, built locally by a very reputable race shop all quality parts every nut and bolt bought by me, I was thinking $5k

I think they make a lot of their own parts. Blocks I know they do, they may make pistons and cranks and heads too now. With a 30 month 50K mile warranty they are very confident in their builds, and I would be too.

$5k is probably a good target but it really depends on finding the right buyer which could take a while. At that price for something to drive to car shows and play around on weekends, it's a better deal than converting to an LS probably for more shoppers.

 

[Ernietech]

I think they make a lot of their own parts. Blocks I know they do, they may make pistons and cranks and heads too now. With a 30 month 50K mile warranty they are very confident in their builds, and I would be too.

$5k is probably a good target but it really depends on finding the right buyer which could take a while. At that price for something to drive to car shows and play around on weekends, it's a better deal than converting to an LS probably for more shoppers.

You'll make more money taking it all apart and piecing it all out. I've been there.

 

[CantRepeat]

You'll make more money taking it all apart and piecing it all out. I've been there.

I'm not too sure about that.

 

[slazisme]

I don't think you're asking price is outlandish, depending on your demographics and the market demand in that area, it should have an effect on whether it will sell sooner or later. If you need the money to help fund the other engine you'll probably take a hit otherwise if it's not burning a hole on your pocket and can hold onto to it for a while a right buyer will come along. Take a date coded video on your phone with it running and even a spirited drive video. Took a few months but I sold a engine and transmission in late winter with 2 brothers coming over wanting a compression check and valve cover removal to see the Comp roller rockers, then a drive. They had cash in hand and a deal was struck.

 

[vortecpro]

$8500 for a used SBC is a bit of a stretch for me.

Don

And then there was the 327 with fuelie heads out of my shop truck with 25,000 miles I sold for 5000,00...............

 

[Rick69owner]

If I were in the market I'd want a 'deal' and not the price the parts cost. At that rate I'd just build it myself. I would be a buyer at like 8k if I were in the market for a motor.

 

[BillK]

David,
I dont know what to say about the price but I would be more inclined to change the camshaft and install EFI and be done with it. As near as I can tell from the part numbers its only about 10 to 1 compression which is perfect for the street. Plus you already have all of the bolt on stuff, headers, brackets etc etc etc. Looks like a really nice engine and the car is all set up for it. I know everyone seems to want to go LS but in this case it does not make sense. You could get a smaller solid roller cam or go hydraulic roller if you prefer. Add Holley EFI and drive it forever

Just my opinion,

 

[Rick69owner]

David,
I dont know what to say about the price but I would be more inclined to change the camshaft and install EFI and be done with it. As near as I can tell from the part numbers its only about 10 to 1 compression which is perfect for the street. Plus you already have all of the bolt on stuff, headers, brackets etc etc etc. Looks like a really nice engine and the car is all set up for it. I know everyone seems to want to go LS but in this case it does not make sense. You could get a smaller solid roller cam or go hydraulic roller if you prefer. Add Holley EFI and drive it forever

Just my opinion,

I can 2nd the EFI. I got EFI on my car and i no longer had all these issues with carb in different spots on the throttle pedal depending on where i was driving/how i was driving. I was so over that.

 

[mdavidthomas]

Thanks , for all the great feedback. Funny thing is I originally thought $6000-$6500 listing price until I tried to figure out what to list it for and try to sell it. Then when I figured out how much it would cost to just by the parts, I felt like hey maybe it would be worth 50% but I keep finding myself on the fence of putting fuel injection and cam on this engine which is loaded with good parts or trading/purchasing for a less hp LS engine. Then there is all the brackets, oil pan, headers and maybe a cam, LS7 lifters, trunion upgrade, AFM delete, lifter trays, programming computer or Holley system. I took it for a spin this weekend and the throttle response is awesome. Still on the fence but again all great input.

mdavidthomas

 

[mdavidthomas]

I can 2nd the EFI. I got EFI on my car and i no longer had all these issues with carb in different spots on the throttle pedal depending on where i was driving/how i was driving. I was so over that.

Which EFI system did you go with?

mdavidthomas

 

[bill3337]

I think the price is a bit high, maybe $6,500 might be closer, but that's dependant on you having the receipts from the original builder, and the reputation of that builder and even a letter from the builder saying they did it. I can't tell you how many times I've bought something where the owner says, the guy I bought if from said.......... At least you've driven it and have a good feel for how it performs and if it heats up or burns oil etc. For $8500 I'd be considering a crate engine of something simlilar that comes with a 2 or 3 year warranty.