What is a 1969 426 Hemi worth?

[snakeoil24]

I'm looking at this from another angle. Trust but verify. There is a huge chance this thing is junk. An ex race engine?? Really? Questions to ask: How many cracks in the heads? How many repaired cracks in the heads? Heads milled until the little square feature on the gasket side is gone (~.080" cut)? Do the block skirts look like a road atlas made from welding rod? At least two sleeves and .060" over? As you might guess I'm very skeptical about old hemi stuff especially when it's cheap. But you never know unless you thoroughly check it out. Hope it works out to be the deal of the century for you.

Guys nothing is cheap with a hemi period!

 

[Budnicks]

Older gentleman. He doesn't even have a cell phone or computer. The motor is useless to him. He has a bunch of old racing wheels, parts, and motors. I may buy it all as a package deal. Ill post pictures soon.

He use to race BB Mopar in the 70's and early 80's then he sold off the rail and cars and kept onto some spare motors and parts.

Good lord quit with the crack comments lol

buyer beware !!, it could be the deal of the century... but if your so damn sure it isn't cracked & trust the ol' guy, why the hell haven't you bought it already then, everyone's just looking out for ya, too many of these ol' race engines are just scrap cast iron paperweights, cracks in the cam journal area or pan rails beat to hell or sleeve city or cant hold water or have to have external oil system or some other ex-race motor issue... if he's an ol' Mopar racer, even from the 70's, it was worth way more than the $900 even back then... Now have fun, happy Moparing

 

[Meep-Meep]

O-ringed heads and block are not really suitable for standard gaskets like you would use on a stock build. Looks like used up race stuff, but if the bores aren't .060" already you might be able to do something with them. The heads typically crack between the exhaust seat and plug hole.

 

[snakeoil24]

The heads crack if they have been abused, running extreme compression. Looks like race car bone yard stuff. Let it go. o ringed heads being cast iron tuff to deal with.

 

[Chryco69]

The heads crack if they have been abused, running extreme compression. Looks like race car bone yard stuff. Let it go. o ringed heads being cast iron tuff to deal with.

I disagree. I just had it inspected by a reputable machinist who builds race motors. Its good to go. People tend to get over dramatic about motors without actually having them inspected.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Did he mag the heads and block? I base my comments on the fact that nearly every hemi head and block I have seen for sale in the past 30 yrs was junk or patched up junk. But I finally found two really nice blocks. STD bore and never hurt or modified. I gave up looking for used heads and will but new.

 

[Budnicks]

I disagree. I just had it inspected by a reputable machinist who builds race motors. Its good to go. People tend to get over dramatic about motors without actually having them inspected.

great, that's good news, I hope it all works well out for you... how much $$$ is this reputable race engine builder going to make off the build now ??, generally o-ringed means blown engine combo= abused, but doesn't always mean junk either

 

[super-bee_ski]

I disagree. I just had it inspected by a reputable machinist who builds race motors. Its good to go. People tend to get over dramatic about motors without actually having them inspected.

Do what I did...throw a set of Aluminum Heads on it!
I put STAGE V Hansens but If I were to do this over, Id go with "Mother Mopar" Aluminumn.

 

[snakeyes]

[video=youtube_share;kn8aTPD1i8Q]http://youtu.be/kn8aTPD1i8Q[/video]

 

[Budnicks]

Did he mag the heads and block? I base my comments on the fact that nearly every hemi head and block I have seen for sale in the past 30 yrs was junk or patched up junk. But I finally found two really nice blocks. STD bore and never hurt or modified. I gave up looking for used heads and will but new.

x2

 

[67Satty]

Does that go for first generation Hemi stuff too? My dream is a 392 in a '33 Plymouth Coupe.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Does that go for first generation Hemi stuff too? My dream is a 392 in a '33 Plymouth Coupe.

If you find a bunch of loose parts at a swap meet probably yes. I have seen a fair amount of early hemi engines that were complete as if they were pulled right out of the car. No matter what you are taking a chance, but something that was running from a car might be a good start. Even better if you find the running car. Since you are looking for an early hemi, and you happen to be in CA, then you want to go to the Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield around Oct. I have seen more early hemi stuff there than at any other meet. A couple of years in a row there was a guy with a trailer full of complete greasy early hemis.