59a block value

G

gmaynard

Member
I am the process of selling a 59a block and unsure of the asking price. The block had 30 over pistons when it was tore down. A small ridge the cylinders. I had the block hot tanked and magnafluxed. The block was crack free. Any input would be appreciated.
 
If I was selling a block that was guaranteed to be crack free and rebuildable I wouldn't sell it for less then $500. You really need to do a sonic test to be able to guarantee it will take another bore. I know a lot of people who have taken apart, thermo cleaned, magnufluxed blocks and then found the blocks were junk, gone through 6 or 8 before finding a truly good one. That is a lot of time and money down a rat hole.
 
I just went through this 3 weeks ago. I bought 3 blocks (one at a time) for $500 each with a guarantee that each was returnable if not crack free. All three were returned, and I got my money back.

But, I wasted a lot of time and gas money in doing so.

I found so many blocks I couldn't count them all, but all were left out in the weather.

Finally, I got ahold of Vern Tardell and got one from him that had been magged (same price). I then had it magged again, sonic tested and pressure tested.

It was money well spent ($100.00), in my opinion, to be sure of a good block.


Gives me lots of peace of mind.
Good blocks are becoming harder and harder to find.
Prices will be going up
 
I sold a checked out standard bore 8BA block for $600 last year and could have sold it all day long at that price.

I agree with Kahuna. For what it's worth, they aren't getting easier to find and they are no light weights to be throwing around and tear down.
 
I also want to add:
Make sure the shop actually KNOWS how to do a proper Magnaflux. I think some of these shops use a refridgerator magnet to do the testing. One shop passed one block for me only to later find that it had seven cracks.
It's really important to go to someone with experience in flatheads. And they are also getting harder to find.

Jim
 
Are the $500.00/600 price you folks mentioning for a bare block, or an engine taken apart with all the pieces and the block checked out?
 
Mike B said:
Are the $500.00/600 price you folks mentioning for a bare block, or an engine taken apart with all the pieces and the block checked out?
Click to expand...


Just a bare block w/ the correct caps. I threw in an original 3.75" stroke crank b/c the buyer was a friend of mine and I wouldn't use it.
 
sold a 1950 8BA that burned oil ,ran it for 3 years and approx. 3,000 miles never overheated or lost a drop of water..complete carb to pan..$650
 
I'm going to an auction Saturday where a listing says "2 Ford 8BA engine & transmission, flat heads".
Anybody have an idea what to bid? Don't know if generators, starters, carbs, etc. are on these engines.
 
Never know what things are going to go for at an auction. Personally I wouldn't pay much more then a hundred bucks if they are complete.
 
I'm with Jack on this---even though I have proven(many times) my labor isn't worth anything, there is still a good deal of expense involved in getting a certified block from an auction piece. And most of them require sleeves, pins, or welding to become usable. Even engines that have been running with "no problem" can be cracked.
 
Ol Ron
There is at least one place in California that sells them for $ 1000.00
Doesn't include delivery, either.
But, new French blocks are $2200 to 2500, and then the work begins on them
 
I have a pair of 8BA engines, mostly complete. One is disassembled and tanked, the other is a truck block, assembled (heads off) and stuck. Asking $325 for both
 
I bought a 59A last spring for $50. Then a couple weeks later I bought a complete 8RT for $400 including the engine stand it had been on since the late 70s.
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