Selling a block: How much?

Steve Jelf

Steve Jelf

Well-known member
This model A block was in a bunch of Model T stuff I bought at an auction. I don't know anything about these modern cars, so I'll ask here. If it matters, the serial number dates it to January, 1929. It's rusty, but I think it's restorable. What would be a reasonable price to ask?
 

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Bare block $25? With rods $50.

Camshaft is probably toast. Valves may be in trouble.

Still someone enterprising may be able to make something of it. It would make a good Gordon-Smith Compressor for someone.

I probably would want to have it professionally rebuilt before I would use it in a car.

Joe K
 
I gave one away that looked in better shape. Turned out that was all it was worth-nothing-had freeze cracks hidden by the rust. Glad I didn't charge.
 
It would be worth at least fifty dollars if only good for a decorator engine. I sure wouldn't take less and chances are its worth more if it isn't cracked or the cam stuck. The rods would have core value even if the babbit is probsably shot. People can be cheap don't let them $hit you.
 
Purdy and I are of a same mind. I figured $7 a rod (core) And the block IS an unknown (as others have pointed out) So that is where the gamble is.

Still, there is at least a chance two of the four cylinders could be made to work as an engine (Gordon Smith) and the others get covered up in the air compressor.

When you get done buying all the covers and oil pans, you're well above $100 which is what they get for a "Mystery engine" at Amherst NH.

Joe K
 
I'll stick with my guess. You still need to dip and bead blast and magnaflux the block to see if it's any good ($125), a pan ($25), a head ($100 for a good one), crank ($100), valve cover ($10), oil pump ($15), and a bunch of other stuff. But at just this point you'll need to spend about $400 to get close to a rebuildable, usable block. When you can get a much more complete setup with all of the above for $200-$300, this block comes in pretty low on the desirablility scale. At least, that's how I see it from my wallet.

No offense intended to Steve Jelf. I'm just trying to be realistic.
 
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No offense to anybody here. I guess I'm just a little more proud of my rusty old A blocks than some others. They are expensive to ship and i'll probably keep mine.
 
Drop a tape measure across it and see how far over bored it is. Look for cracks. These will affect the price.

Charlie Stephens
 
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Hey Steve,
Ha, one mans 'junk'.....is another man's gold ....Comes to mind here! You get IT for nothing (?) and it becomes valuable. That's the way it goes world over. But, another saying, dumping money down a bottomless hole, may be more appropriate here,eh.
Yeah, you may locate a crank as someone says...'for a $100', but you will in all likelihood , not be able to run that crank without straightening/cleaning/cutting/polishing, etc. , none of which is cheap ! This also applies to any/all other part/assemblies needed. Heck, to check it for cracks you're going to have to have it cleaned somehow, then has it magnafluxed ! That block may make yard art , if that fits your yard décor..
With all that in mind, I would say that you will have a time trying to give it away, JMO. Gook luck with it.
 
Steve Jelf said:
This model A block was in a bunch of Model T stuff I bought at an auction. I don't know anything about these modern cars, so I'll ask here. If it matters, the serial number dates it to January, 1929. It's rusty, but I think it's restorable. What would be a reasonable price to ask?
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Steve, I generally get them for 50$ and have time to inspect for cracks with no shipping. This is at local swaps or at places like Hershey or Chickasha. Rods are worth about 20$ per set.
 
juke joint johnny said:
It has the early timing cover that must be worth something to someone!!!
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I was able to find the same cover for $5.00 and the guy tossed in a cracked/repaired intake for free, but I'm in the $50.00 camp if you include the rod cores going by prices I've seen around the New England area.
 
Seem to be worth $100 in my country. And we consider that cheap, most old men who specialize in criticizing things endlessly want $500 for theirs, depends if they are buying or selling.
If they don't get that $500 they take it to the dump. They should have accepted the $100-$200 offers. But then again i am sensible compared to ...most people i know actually..
 
"most old men who specialize in criticizing things endlessly want $500 for theirs, depends if they are buying or selling."
Exactly!!! The question is not what would YOU GIVE for the block, but what is a reasonable asking price. To the guy who doesn't need it, free is too high. To the guy that NEEDS it, a reasonable price would be maybe $100 or more if a close inspection doesn't reveal any major faults. Or sell it for $200 and garantee it to be rebuildable. If everything checks out good, you both win. If its junk, then haul it to the scrap.
 
Very little should be hauled to the scrap pile. Even if the block had 30" of welded cracks and a hole poked through the side, all the hardware, timing cover, crank, and rods should be saved, and part of the block could be used as a jig to make a mount for the side to use it in an engine stand. That's exactly what I did with a block that was much worse than this one. It had at least 30" of welding, sleeves, a hole in the side, and every piston could only be removed with a sledge hammer. Every valve, lifter, and cam were rusted solid to the block. I even saved the original number from the side, as a display item.
 
dumb person said:
Seem to be worth $100 in my country. And we consider that cheap, most old men who specialize in criticizing things endlessly want $500 for theirs, depends if they are buying or selling.
If they don't get that $500 they take it to the dump. They should have accepted the $100-$200 offers. But then again i am sensible compared to ...most people i know actually..
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Amen ! I follow your thinking, for reasoning stated and for other reasons !
Firstly, old iron can be and is used for sculpture, to resurrect other things and to give to buddies/friends who maybe could use such. But, also in the place that I live, it is a THROWAWAY world. You wouldn't believe me or your own eyes, if you observed what I'm saying. Throwaway was foreign to the place / time where I grew up. Waste not, want not was the term that the old folks used where I lived. They did NOT THROW anything away ! I do not know what old people that you have had dealings with, but the old people that I knew, gave to neighbors/church/charities. But times change,eh !

If you lived near enough, I could/would give you some pretty good equipment and a darn good model A block...clean and quaranteed crack free (shipping would bankrupt you !). I've been given old blocks and other old car 'stuff', just because people know that I use old car parts and they do not. Then I give old car parts to youngsters who are building something/anything and they are in need. Good feeling when they come back with some build. Once some guy in my neighborhood found out that his job was moving him. He came around to my house and gave me a 1953 stude coupe 6cyl overdrive...in perfect condition/running/looking. Put the pink slip in my hand and walked home after a short conversation ! The stude was stolen from street as I had no way/place to store it. Still have that pink slip though:)
 
If you saw my sheds, you would understand I am not a friend of the scrapper. I try to keep it all under a roof, or it soon truly is only scrap.
 
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