What's this 360 worth?

No shipping, I'm looking to buy it locally (well, 3 hour drive)

Good point, I'll ask...

... and valves, valve guides, valve springs & retainers, rockers, etc...

Like Bill said, there are a lot of 'spraybom rebuilds' out there. If that's the case that engine might be worth little more than core.

Good luck, - Jeff G

Here's what the seller told me:

Everything is new except for the timing cover and 1 head. Everything has been professionally installed. Clevette bearings, edlebrock cam and lifters. I have in hand $1431.24 in recipits for everything except for the new rocker arms and pivots, and we can pull the valve cover and ill show you they are new.

He'll sell it for $850.

OOps - it's a 304 bored 30 over.....not a 360.

Why?

Mike

Says he's buying a house - dunno much more than that. I know he has a cj with a 4cyl and was planning on putting it in there. Priorities change I guess.

Are you implying that this engine won't run on 87 octane? - I know my 258 runs like @##$ on 87, but on 90+ octane I get better mileage and smoother run.

I think he is mixing up leaded and unleaded valve seats.

If it has the old style seats, the engine is a boat anchor.

Mike

HomeBrewer wrote:

A couple more thoughts.

A valve job runs from 3 to $500.00 per head depending on what is needed. I don't know what machining in new valve seats would run extra on top of that, but I bet it isn't a cheap job.

Sometimes people get in over their heads with a 'project' and figure it's best to cut their losses. Especially if they just found out it needs another grand or more to have a decent runner. That just put them 'waaay' over budget!

Maybe it will run for a while with the old heads, I really don't know. I am only going on Bill saying that engine has the old heads stock and I figure that sounds right to me as well.

Mike

HomeBrewer wrote:

How do I check? Why would anyone build an engine with leaded valve seats?

I appreciate your help here, but you will have to elaborate your answers for me to understand. I'm not very knowledgeable on engine rebuilding. Give me some things to ask the seller or things to look for when I inspect the engine... I asked him what type valve seats were in the engine and am awaiting an answer.

Thanks

I don't know what year 'if any' that they put modern heads on the 304.

That means the valve seats need to be changed so the engine can run on pump gas.

Having a receipt for a 'valve job' is not the same as having a receipt for having hardened valve seats installed.

Why would anyone build it up?

Because they didn't know any better, then when they found out, they are now trying to unload the boat anchor to some one else that doesn't know any better??

Mike

HomeBrewer wrote:

Forgive me for the dumb questions.....I have never bought a rebuilt engine and I want to make sure I'm not getting burned. I trust this group most of the time....but I usually try to get more than one opinion.

What is a "modern" head?

So the 304's originally ran on something other than "pump gas"?

He has not replied about the valves yet - no mention of receipts for valves at all.

I guess installing hardened valve seats is not as easy as it sounds? Why would anyone spend $1400 + on a motor then try to unload it cause the valve seats are not hardened? Why not just burn premium gas? Or am I missing something?

Yup, they stopped selling leaded gas at the 'pumps' quite a few years back.

Mike