I posted this in the sbf section but wanted to post it here as well.


At work we have a customer with a '82 F150 plain jane work truck with trim style side.


He has a 302/C6 combination power train that was removed and we are going to be installing a AOD and a coyote motor from a wrecked 2012 Mustang.


Heres the thing, the engine and transmission were both rebuilt 50,000 miles ago, he is a door hanger and the back of this truck was loaded down to the top of the camper with tools.


He is asking a insane price of something like $1,200 to $1,500 for the engine and transmission cause it cost him like $3,000 for the engine and transmission rebuild.


It has been sitting at our shop for the past year now not sold.


I am thinking of making him an offer of $200 for just the engine or if he wants to sell it as a package and not separate the two I will offer him $400 for the engine and trans.


Is this a fair price offer for something with that many miles and in an unknown condition?


It runs good I test drove the truck after doing work on it in the past but I don't know how much wear the motor has in it with 50,000 miles. Plus all I really am after is just the block as I want to use it as a performance build for my '82 so I can take my time building it then just swap motors when my stock 302 build goes.

 

If you are just looking for a block, well you may find one cheaper. Maybe not the one in your shop, but......

This is where your question gets tough. Is his price insane, no. High, maybe, but not insane. Keep in mind this is your customer. He no doubt is spending big bucks at your shop to put in that coyote motor. Don't risk offending him.

A couple things make this interesting. Is 50,000 miles on a rebuild still considered rebuilt? In my book, no, but it still could be a serviceable engine. Can he demonstrate the engine running? Is he offering a warranty? Again, if you are looking for a block donor, this is not the right deal.

In my opinion, (not that it matters), his motor and transmission are worth about 1/2 what he is asking. 1/4 of his asking price is too low.

 

Well honestly I am more looking for the lower end. What I planned on if I could get this engine for a fairly cheap price is sell the heads and intake manifolds off. Keep the block, oil pan, rotating assembly, accessory drive, and valve covers. Then from there I will deside what I will use and what I will replace.


Now as far as can he demonstrate the engine running. Not at this moment as we pulled the engine out 1 year ago this summer and it has been sitting in our storage shed since then. At the time it was removed he was driving the truck for work loaded down with tools in the back as a door hanger.


As far as a warranty goes, he offers nothing of the kind, it is being sold as is but he does say "but it only has 50,000 miles on it". In my opinion is that I don't know how he drove the vehicle. Was he always on the floor with it as he had literally maxed the F150 out capacity wise. Was he driving it on the highway more or was it strict city miles. Then the biggest thing is what oil and how often was it changed. These are things that tells me that the motor might be worth keeping as is or it might not. Not to mention the heads were taken off once before after it was built as he kept driving it with a coolant leak and blew the head gaskets. They were replaced and the engine went on till we pulled it. So honestly I don't think I feel comfortable with offering more than $400 to $500 for the engine and transmission considering these facts.


As of now I know if I obtained the engine I would strip it down and start with the bare block and start buying parts as I have the spare cash to build it till I eventually get it completed. As of now I don't even know if I will keep it a stock displacement and just throw heads, cam, and intake on it or if I will bore it 0.030 over if it hasn't already, or I have thought about doing a 331 stroker as they tend to live longer than the 347 strokers. All I know is how ever this is built, it has to be built to be able to survive highway driving as well as city driving and not prematurely wear out.

 

Thanks for the reply how ever, but I think I will not pursue this line.


I was looking on ebay and I found a guy that sells ready to build bare blocks, he is selling ready to build bare 302 blocks for $699.99 with free shipping to commercial or UPS freight depots.


So far what has me looking at this route is that the ad said the blocks are magnafluxed, sonic cleaned, blasted, repaired where needed and broke bolts are removed. Like wise the bores available is 4.030", 4.040", and 4.060" and that these are 2 bolt mains with 1 piece rear main seal and that at no extra charge roller blocks are available.


So for $699.99 with free shipping, I can get a ready to build 302 roller block in 4.030" bore and be on my way. Probably end up costing me the same in the long run considering that block hasn't been magnafluxed, sonic cleaned, nor bead blasted.