[locomotivebreath]

A coworker has a complete 68 400 carb to oil pan out of a 68 gto 4spd car that he said he might sell . He didn’t mention a price . I don’t know if it’s a WT or WS engine . He said it ran when he pulled it about 30 years ago but had a few lifters ticking . What would be a fair offer ? I’d like to have it for a future project .

[unruhjonny]

thirty years is a LOOOOOOONG time to be sitting.
first I'd want ot see if it still turns nicely, then if you have it within your means, checking it out with a bore scope might help.

this is one of those things where the local market will be the biggest factor;
in some parts of the continent Pontiac 400's ect are nearly unattainable and that will drive up price...
If you're in a local Pontiac/GTO ect club, ask around for what they think a fair offer might be... just don't ask the advice of anyone who might be able to guess from whee you would get it... and let them scoop it out from under you

[John Milner]

I would think it would be worth $1,000 for a complete carb to pan '68 WT and $1,500 for a complete carb to pan '68 WS. The WS might bring a little more than that to the right person. Anything cheaper than that would be a good deal in my opinion.

[steve25]

The above sounds like a fair price range assuming that the motor spins over, but the first thing to do other then leaving your buddy with a deposit is to knock the motor apart to get the heads pressure tested and the block Mag tested.

If it all checks out then make the full payment and you have yourself a 4 bolt main block which is what that is!

[grandam1979]

Just sold 2 months back a complete 68 400 WT engine needing rebuilt after sitting 35 years $900

[68lemans462]

These are not as valuable as they were in past years. I'd start around $600......

[locomotivebreath]

Thanks guys ! I was thinking 6-800 around these parts . 4 bolt main block ? My original WT 400 for my 68 was not drilled for 4 bolt mains . Was the WS ?

[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by 68lemans462

These are not as valuable as they were in past years. I'd start around $600......

They are actually MORE valuable as they were in the past. The big-journal blocks aren't as sought after as they used to be due to the availability of cheap stroker cranks. I would agree that the high-nickel, high quality '67-'73 400 engines would be in the $800-$1200 range for a garden variety WT GTO 2 bolt main unit.

[steve25]

If it originally had a 4 speed hanging off its bell housing then it should be a 4 bolt from what I have seen over the years.

[unruhjonny]

I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure I was told by members here that pretty much prior to 1970, 4 bolt main blocks were only used for 'Ram Air' engines;
This came up over a discussion of a purported 1968-SR 2 bolt block being passed as a legitimate RA replacement block, with a just story to back it up, not any physical documentation.

If the above is correct, that means that for 1968 the only 4 bolt block codes were:

XN - "F" RAI/auto
XP - "A" RAI/auto
XS - "A" RAI/st
WI - "F" RAI/st

XT- "F" RAII/auto
XW - "A" RAII/auto
WU - "F" RAII/st
WY - "A" RAII/st

(codes retrieved from Ron's Pontiac page, and some erroneous listings removed)

[John Milner]

Originally Posted by locomotivebreath

Thanks guys ! I was thinking 6-800 around these parts . 4 bolt main block ? My original WT 400 for my 68 was not drilled for 4 bolt mains . Was the WS ?

Start out low and work your way up if he won't price it. $600-$800 is a fair place to start for a '68 WT in my opinion. My '68 WS is a 2 bolt main block.

[locomotivebreath]

He keeps saying he doesn’t know what he wants to do with it . I’m trying to nudge him along without being too pushy - he’s an olds guy , has a 442 and a W30 . No Pontiacs at all ! I’ve know him almost 20 years and never knew he was a car guy .

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by geeteeohguy

I would agree that the high-nickel, high quality '67-'73 400 engines would be in the $800-$1200 range for a garden variety WT GTO 2 bolt main unit.

That's double, maybe triple what I'd expect; unless the WT or GTO means something special beyond "B"-body engines.

No carb, no accessories or brackets. Core engine only, ran when pulled. I don't think I'd get $400 for it, and it's got an Edelbrock intake manifold on it.

[Formulajones]

I think with the availability of the cheap stroker cranks now, it does make the 400's a little more popular than they once were. But even with that said I agree with others that I don't think I'd pay more than $4-500 for a long block when you consider it's going to be thousands to rebuild properly.

About the only way I could see the engine selling for more is if you actually find the guy that still has the car it belongs to.

[ZeGermanHam]

For an engine that has sat for so long and had ticking of unconfirmed origin, I'd consider it to be in the same category as a bare block. Personally, I wouldn't pay more than $500-750 for it. People seem to say that Pontiac 400 cores are getting harder to find and are more expensive, but I see them come up for sale fairly regularly. In the grand scheme of things, they are not that hard to find. I got a standard bore '68 400 short block for $500 a few years ago. Cleaned up beautifully.

[Dragncar]

Anyone know of a decent 69 WT block out there ?

[John Milner]

If you find a guy with a '68 GTO that was an original stick car, I'm sure that they would pay up for the WT/WS code, 16 heads and 7028263/7028267 quadrajet if they did not have their originals. Of course if it is really a big car 400 with small valve heads and nothing really special, I couldn't see it bringing a whole lot.

[77 TRASHCAN]

Originally Posted by locomotivebreath

He keeps saying he doesn’t know what he wants to do with it . I’m trying to nudge him along without being too pushy - he’s an olds guy , has a 442 and a W30 . No Pontiacs at all ! I’ve know him almost 20 years and never knew he was a car guy .

Not trying to sound like a Beavis, mind you, just helpful.
I have learned a little in my life...you need to get him to spit out a number to start with. The key is in NOT starting the negotiating from YOUR END!!!If it’s low enough, get over there and pick it up!

If it’s too high, you need to some how, gently talk him off that number. Sometimes this involves waiting on him to come around to a lower price.

I’m guessing you have not seen the engine yet? I you have not, and get to, I’d take a long break over and a 15/16 socket with me(maybe a short extension, also), see if it will turn over. If it’s been 30 years, or so, it likely won’t turn, whether it’s good or not,
I don’t know what year your car is, remember the 69 and earlier stuff only has the 2 motor mount holes on each side of the block.

I hope this works out!