Advice on buying a motor?

[69clone]

Hey guys,
I may be buying a 440/727 near my grandmothers house in OH and i was wondering when i call the guy what to ask about it? I made a small list,
How does it/did it run? any knocking, smoking, etc.
What were your plans with the motor? Was it going in a C,A,B or E body?
Has it ever been rebuilt.
Any cracks or leaks.
Has it been bored over or any machine work on it.
How does it look under the valve covers. (assuming if it looks like crap then the rest below that probably does too)
Does it turn over freely, any metal in the oils?
How did the trans shift, any mods?
Anything i should add? Get pictures of? Motor looks like it's complete so i don't expect him to tear it apart to take pictures.

In his ad he says it's out of a 70' New yorker, this is a 1970 440 (350 h.p.) steel crank, orig. holley 4 bbl. the trans. is a 1970 727 auto. Date code (11-6-69). front tab date (F 440). block code 2536430-8. heads code 2843906-10. rods 1851535. Also included is a new high volume oil pump, new rear sump mopar oil pan with windage tray, new mopar leaf spring weld on pads.vintage mickey thompson M/T alum. valve covers and brand new hooker super comp headers. The # on the headers looks like they're for a A body. but i can sell or trade them.
Any advice?
Thanks,
~Nick

 

[72Satellite440]

It sounds good but you didnt include the price-Really if your going to rebuild it a bit anyways its a good starting point. Hope this is around 750$-1k

 

[69clone]

It sounds good but you didnt include the price-Really if your going to rebuild it a bit anyways its a good starting point. Hope this is around 750$-1k

Sorry he's asking $1500... In a way it is kind of alot, but i started adding up the prices for the new parts he included and came to over a grand. I figured i could sell whatever i can't use (rear end 8.75, headers, etc)

 

[72Satellite440]

With the rear end its worth it - id say ,I Missed that in your list of what was included.Plus like you said you can sell what your not using ex.Headers
Just be sure it hasnt been over bored too much or any cracks in the block.

 

[69clone]

Actually you didn't miss it. I forgot to mention it now that i'm looking at it. Anyways yeah it's a 70' new yorker 8 3/4th rear (unknown gears) but someone on here said it was too wide to fit. So i would just sell it to someone who can. But of course i'd like to see if i can squeeze it in there.

 

[D Dodge]

Maybe he'll come down on the price, but with the extras it sounds like it is worth it.

 

[69clone]

Maybe he'll come down on the price, but with the extras it sounds like it is worth it.

Cool yea i'd try to get him to come down just because you never know.
Just wondering what makes these 350hp vs the 375hp like the roadrunner had? Is it mostly the pistons and cam?

 

[72Satellite440]

I agree , Only suckers pay asking price unless the seller wont budge....most people usually ask for 10% because of this.

 

[NovaSS]

People tend to get burned buying motors that " ran great when it was taken out".

I went to look at a 428 ford last year, ran great when taken out he said.. Turned out to be a 390 with an exhaust valve that hung open and a blown head gasket, scored wall and melted piston top.

Unless you can hear it run I would treat it as a rebuildable cover ( at most) and pay accoardinly

 

[69clone]

People tend to get burned buying motors that " ran great when it was taken out".

I went to look at a 428 ford last year, ran great when taken out he said.. Turned out to be a 390 with an exhaust valve that hung open and a blown head gasket, scored wall and melted piston top.

Unless you can hear it run I would treat it as a rebuildable cover ( at most) and pay accoardinly

Thanks that's what worries me. Never heard back from the guy with motor so my search continues.

 

[Satellite65]

People tend to get burned buying motors that " ran great when it was taken out".

I went to look at a 428 ford last year, ran great when taken out he said.. Turned out to be a 390 with an exhaust valve that hung open and a blown head gasket, scored wall and melted piston top.

Unless you can hear it run I would treat it as a rebuildable cover ( at most) and pay accoardinly

I was going to say something to that effect. All of the questions in youe original post are legitimate but do you actually think you're going to get honest answers? Basically, "does it turn over freely" would be the only one I would be concerned about. Also, does it come with all accesory brackets? Is it an A/C equipped engine? Is the compressor still there? Stuff like that. Unless you can hear it run it's just a core and a bunch of parts.

Don't be afraid of it, but don't pay too much either.