Opinion on this 440

[womanator]

MSD distributor is worth $100 used.

 

[69clone]

So he took a valve cover off to get me more info, he said the heads are 452 and it has a solid lifter cam. So now I'm worried more about the compression ratio as you guys mentioned... Ah still going to look at it this weekend.

 

[Andrew]

I bought this motor after test driving it and doing a compression check. It ran and sounded great At least your guy is gonna let you look inside. Hope you have better luck than me. :angry9:

 

[oldbee]

With just a quick look---How does the seller know it has adj. rockers w/o getting into the engine?? I'd pass.

 

[joeinalpine]

For that money, I would pull a head and check the piston top for bored over size. If its 60 over of course this engine is done and walk away. You hope for standard bore or even 30 over is fine...guarantee its gonna need bored to the next size, with those bolt on parts, someone ran this thing hard, its gonna need machined

 

[terzmo]

Blown head gasket, cracked head.

dats right:headbang:

 

[scotts74birds]

X2! This thing was raced. Is there any room for a rebuild, or is the block at the end of its life? Cylinder bore diameter would be a great check.

 

[69clone]

Thanks guys,
Well my dad and I went up to look at it today. I'm torn on it, It looks the same as in the picture. The seller wants to tear it down and rebuild it, new everything, before selling it. That way he knows what the engine is and can back it up. He had quite a few engines he was building/built for people. He told us he bought this car to scrap. Sadly, the last owner (who was the original owner of the 4sp 383 car) stripped the car apart to drag race leaving only the outer skin and the 440 you see in it. Supposedly, the guy died before they finished it and his son decided to sell it. So the engine was never fired.

 

[72Satellite440]

Thats too bad, well maybe you can still strike a deal w/him...

Can you imagine...didnt even fire up his dad's car-
maybe too many memories...

 

[CtownChris]

What kind of $ is he asking for the motor rebuilt? Sounds like that's the plan as I read it.
So U say this motor was rebuilt and never fired yet the current owner wants to tear it down and redo it before selling it. Am I right?

Need $ to figure out what's a good deal or not.

 

[69clone]

Thanks guys, that is what I was told. It was never fired. I believe him as there are no fuel lines nor a gas tank.

What kind of $ is he asking for the motor rebuilt? Sounds like that's the plan as I read it.
So U say this motor was rebuilt and never fired yet the current owner wants to tear it down and redo it before selling it. Am I right?

Need $ to figure out what's a good deal or not.

Thanks, supposedly it sat for a few years before the son decided to sell it. The current owner wants to make sure it's put together right. He quoted 3grand that included everything. If I remember correctly, that's if he had to replace pistons and stuff. But I'm wondering about just passing and buying one that needs rebuilt that I can do all myself since that's sorta what I'm in school for...:headbang:

 

[coloradodave]

I'm with you. If you do it yourself, not only can you put exactly what you want in the motor, but you gain knowledge and a lot of satisfaction that the job is done right. Get references for a good local machine shop, buy a cheap used motor and go for it!

 

[383man]

I think I would tell him to clean it up aand getting running before I would make a decision. Or if he cant get it running then tell him you want to tear it apart. Good luck , Ron