Need a Quick Estimate/Advice on a 360

[Bruzilla]

I need some quick advice on selling a 360 engine. The deal is I've been wanting to replace the 360/727 in my 74 road runner with a 440/727. I planned on doing this later this spring, but I started looking around for engine and trannys, and came across a 72 440/727. The engine runs but needs some work done to it. The owner will sell the engine or tranny or trade for an A727 tranny that he needs, which is what's in my car now. I called a local speed shop to get some idea of what they'll charge to do the work that I'm too frigging lazy to do, and as soon as I mentioned I wanted to swap out a 360 he got all excited because apparently they've had a Demon project on hold for a couple of months because the Demon owner wants a 360 put into his car and this is just one of those times when they just can't find one anywhere. He wants to know if I would be willing to sell the engine ASAP, and I told him I would love to and apply the money from the sale to getting the 440 running and swapped in... which sounded great to him. So what I'm thinking is I'll tell the speed shop to make a deal with their other customer for the price of the engine plus this other guy pays all the costs of removing the 360/727 and separating the engine and tranny, then I'll swap the tranny to the guy with the 440/727 and use the money I was going to pay him to go towards the 440 install. Problem is what do I ask for the 360? It's a strong running engine, but it came with the car so I don't know if the internals are stock or not. It has an Edelbrock Street Performer intake on it, so I'm guessing nothing too radical has been done to it. The engine doesn't burn any oil, and has been running like a top for the past year. I've found two 360s for sale, but neither is complete or in a car running, and the prices were $350 and $500. I was thinking of asking $750+shop fees and maybe going down to $650. Any opinions? Should I start higher?

 

[Cranky]

If you can get 650 for a good running engine, go for it. I've never bought or sold a complete 360 so I have no idea what they might bring. Do you know what year the block is? The early '230' blocks (iirc) are worth more because they are thicker than the later blocks....

 

[WP29440SE]

i think you are right on target with the 750+fees. mine has been rebuilt and has an aftermarket intake , cam , yada yada and im looking to get about 8-900 when i sell it. i have seen them used and running for 4-600 around here, but i would get as much as you can from them to fund your next endeavor

 

[RustyRatRod]

Good small block cores are not gettin any cheaper. Yours is a good running engine. 300 is a good ball park for a decent core. Although I read about people gettin um for 50 and 100 I think a lot of that is talk. Specially with scrap prices so high. I think your price range is low for a good running engine, but that's just one little piss ant's opinion. I would be closer to a grand because you figure 300 for a good core and then you have a good running one with a non stock intake. Doesn't really matter about the cam because flat tappets pretty much are the same prices stock or otherwise. I don't know.....I think you're a little low, but if you think that'll get you what you want, knock it out.

 

[Budnicks]

LA360's aren't rare, they are easily found, from many models, acrs in the early-mid 70's & especially pick-up trucks up-to 1992 & plentiful, but maybe not in the same running condition yours is, IMHFO $650-$750+shop rates {especially plus the $$ shop rates, that could be the deal killer} IMHFO may be pushing the limit, but it really depends on how "complete your going with the engine", #1 is it going to be from carb to pan ??, #2 is the fuel pump, water pump, belts hoses, pulleys & all accessories & brackets, starter & flex-plate included ??, #3 will the exhaust or headers come with it ?? #4 what will the original LA360 come with ?? {that's a big part of the equation}, if it's like the #1 or #1 & #2 &/or #1 #2 & #3 scenarios, then "yes" it it's worth quite a bit more, but just a stock base LA360 long block, with an aluminum intake, isn't a real big dollar item, unless you know exactly "what's in it", what works been done, whether it's been bored & to what specs, whether the heads are still in stock configuration, valve seal is good, springs, retainers, seals, locks, push-rods, cam etc. & can justify the cost.... I see complete running LA360's base "low compression, smoger engines" from time to time "cheap" $250 - maybe $500 high end for a stock smoger engine, a race prepped {much more} or high performance oriented "documented recently rebuilt engine", with good iron heads, good valve springs, camshaft etc. & new performance parts, will bring at least twice that, even more sometimes, out here in Ca., but I don't know about back in Fl. ,good luck I hope you get all you can out of it, good luck with the 440ci/727tf swap... maybe you could just trade the guy the engine to do all the shop work/swap it isn't that hard, if you get all the proper parts to do the swap, it can be done in a week end, short of doing a bunch of mods to the 440, then trade for the 440, with your old 727tf transmission... if I understand the swap/trade/sale scenario right/correct...LOL...

 

[RustyRatRod]

Dude, it depends on where you are. Here, there are hardly no Mopar engines around, because they generally get scrapped. I imagine in California, the Mecca of all things automotive, they are on every corner. That's not so everywhere else.

 

[coloradodave]

Yeh, they are on every corner. Why I was just sitting on one yesterday waiting for the bus to come by...

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

If you can get 650 for a good running engine, go for it. I've never bought or sold a complete 360 so I have no idea what they might bring. Do you know what year the block is? The early '230' blocks (iirc) are worth more because they are thicker than the later blocks....

I have a '78 360 with casting number 3870230. Is that what you mean by early 230 block? When I swap in my 451 I have a guy who wants the 360 for his A-body.

- - - Updated - - -

Yeh, they are on every corner. Why I was just sitting on one yesterday waiting for the bus to come by...

Yeah I think I also saw meep-meep using one or two to hold up the BBQ pit at his August missile base car show.

Haha

Things you are looking for are always around in plentiful supply when you don't need them and are scarce to find when you are looking. That goes for car parts, tools, and women!

 

[Bruzilla]

Change to the plan. I went by to look at the engine and tranny, and they look to be in good shape. The engine is missing the carb, fuel pump, and alternator, but the guy is throwing in an MSD distributor and a Mopar Performance Purple cam shaft. Even better, the engine is a 440 HP from a 1972 Road Runner. Best part was I got the whole package for $350.

 

[Budnicks]

Dude, it depends on where you are. Here, there are hardly no Mopar engines around, because they generally get scrapped. I imagine in California, the Mecca of all things automotive, they are on every corner. That's not so everywhere else.

Damn dude, Rusty....LOL...what's up with that crap, I was just a well thought out opinion... If you read my long winded post, I also said "I didn't know if it's like that in Florida", that's how it is here in Calif. & no they're not one every street corner, they're just readily available, we don't have all the rott & rust issues of the deep south &/or back east, we do have allot of older cars & allot of wrecking/recycling yards too...

- - - Updated - - -

Change to the plan. I went by to look at the engine and tranny, and they look to be in good shape. The engine is missing the carb, fuel pump, and alternator, but the guy is throwing in an MSD distributor and a Mopar Performance Purple cam shaft. Even better, the engine is a 440 HP from a 1972 Road Runner. Best part was I got the whole package for $350.

Great deal, score, especially with the xtra parts too, now hopefully it's a good engine that doesn't need too much work... have fun

 

[Ron 73]

Change to the plan. I went by to look at the engine and tranny, and they look to be in good shape. The engine is missing the carb, fuel pump, and alternator, but the guy is throwing in an MSD distributor and a Mopar Performance Purple cam shaft. Even better, the engine is a 440 HP from a 1972 Road Runner. Best part was I got the whole package for $350.

Thats the best deal ive heard of one, where i live that doesn't happen quite so good. good luck with it.

 

[Bruzilla]

Deals like this don't come along often anywhere. It all comes down to religiously checking craigslist several times a day for close to a six months.

 

[Ron 73]

I try to check them quite often myself, not everyday but maybe twice maybe three times a week, Its very seldom to find things really pertaining to Mopar, Some have said this area is full of Mopar guys but ive yet to see it, There is another member here that buys and sells in this area and until we got to know each other was continually getting ahold of one another on different things lol.. He made the same remark that for the majority here its GM, Chevelles, Cameros top the list. There is a local online paper here that people put everything for sale in it, its free to use and has come in handy but Mopar is far and inbettween on it. Yes, I do agree though, checking everyday you do stand the better chance of finding some good deals. This one you just found, i would say exceptional..

 

[Budnicks]

Deals like this don't come along often anywhere. It all comes down to religiously checking craigslist several times a day for close to a six months.

Damn "that's a real commitment", everyday for 6 months, even if only once a day, I commend you on your devotion... I would probably just spend the extra $100-$200, my time is worth more than that or I'm just too damn impatient, more like....LOL...

 

[ky509]

Here is what I would do
First I would lay out to them what I was planning and needing done in detail.
Then I woukld ask them to make me an offer that incluided some of what I was needing.

They will come in some what low ball but you them bump up what you need to a reasonable level.

I always like to see what the other fellow is thinking before jumping straight into a deal.

And like some one else already mentioned it also really does depend on what part of the country you are in and how rare the 360 really is in your area.

You did say it runs really good and has an after market intake. Well take the car down and let one of the fellers drive it. That should spur the juices flowing on thiy`re end.

 

[Bruzilla]

I took the car down to the speed shop, and I'm starting to have second thoughts. The shop looks great, and the owner seems real nice, but they are mainly GM/Ford guys and have only worked a few Mopars. They were asking me what the 360 should sell for because they had no idea. The owner used to have a 73 Road Runner back in the 80s but has a Chevelle now.

I'm thinking I would be better off at a shop that focuses on Mopars because there's always a lot of little bits and pieces that are needed when swapping an engine, and these shops normally have most of those pieces lying around the shop.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I didn't mean it like it came out. Sorry bout that. lol

Damn dude, Rusty....LOL...what's up with that crap, I was just a well thought out opinion... If you read my long winded post, I also said "I didn't know if it's like that in Florida", that's how it is here in Calif. & no they're not one every street corner, they're just readily available, we don't have all the rott & rust issues of the deep south &/or back east, we do have allot of older cars & allot of wrecking/recycling yards too...

- - - Updated - - -



Great deal, score, especially with the xtra parts too, now hopefully it's a good engine that doesn't need too much work... have fun

 

[Meep-Meep]

Yeh, they are on every corner.

Well, sort of...... A buddy of mine back in the 80's found a 392 hemi on a street corner in Pittsburg CA. He came to my house all excited with that news and I thought I had to see this. It was some crazy late hour but I grabbed some tools and helped him break it down right there (in the rain) so we could load it in the back of his Chevy Chevette company car. He still has the engine pretty much as he found it. Hey, the conditions could have been worse. It could have been a SBC that he found.

- - - Updated - - -

Yeah I think I also saw meep-meep using one or two to hold up the BBQ pit at his August missile base car show.

Haha! Yep, the first time I used two Olds blocks and this last time maybe switched to MoPar big blocks. I think the meat cooked faster with the MoPars under it.

 

[MarPar]

I think the meat cooked faster with the MoPars under it.

As the MeatMan, i would have to concur...

 

[benno440]

i should come over there to buy engines,
theres like 6 440's on ebay australia some are screwed some are seized and people are asking 3k minimum upto 7k for one running but bone stock.