1972 455 HO value?
 

I know that components for one of these motors come at a hefty price but what would fair value be on a complete well running motor from a T/A or Formula? Year correct Qjet just installed, 7F6 heads, stock intake etc.... I think the only thing out of place would be the HEI dist.

I'm just thinking out loud here....I know of a car that is for sale that I'd love to be able to get and I'd sell this motor to make it happen if I had to.

Rough Estimate
 

Not knowing exactly what you have... here's a rough estimate.

If it is a pieced together engine from genuine parts, almost correct 455HO, IMHO about $3500.00 to $5000.00 based on wear or date of last rebuild, etc. You said year correct carb, not correct numbers/date code for '72 LS5 engine and HEI dist. so I have to speculate as to what you have.

If it is all correct, internally & externally (upgraded internals would be acceptable) with a fresh or relatively recent rebuild with all receipts and the only exception is the HEI, that's different!

It is worth more, maybe a lot more.

That means, If it's a true correct '72 LS5 with all major components falling into the right date code time-frame and making allowances for some non original parts like starter, water pump, alternator, belts, etc.

A PHS would go a long way toward verification. On the off-chance the car still exist and you find the owner you could certainly expect a premium price. There are plenty of people here that might just like to have it for a spare.

Mines a '71 or I would be pinging you to see just what you have and what you want for it

good luck on it.

I would say it could sell at $5,500 on word of mouth it runs to someone who trusts you. Many others would want a video or slips on a rebuild, etc. My Big deal on buying a used 455 to run as it sits, is weather is was internally balanced, what pistons and cam it has.

I do not know the history of the motor, what I do know is that I am the 3rd owner of the car that it is currently in. It is a running and driving motor that is currently at home in my 10th Anniversary that has 56k miles on her and runs great. It is smooth running, I can not verify that it has never been opened up and rebuilt but I would say that it if it has not been built with a big cam etc.

I do know that the original owner of the car (Florida) replaced the 403 with this 455. The second owner did not mention anything ever being done to the motor since he had it except the rear main seal. The original carb was replaced by the original owner with a Holley and this month I bought a year correct Qjet. this spring I replaced the starter with a high torque starter, still has the stock exhaust manifolds, I would say that the alternator is not stock, waterpump I'm not sure on.

I've often thought how cool it would be to locate the car it was born with and buy it but have not had any luck. I really have no definite plans on pulling it and selling it as I enjoy the hell out of having it but that option is always there if needed. I just wanted to get a feel for it since I see how much bare heads etc. go for.

T/A addict, here's an example. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pontiac-455...EAAOSwSPBaZUb6

These have been listed for about a week @ $2750.00 opening bid.

Nobody bid yet. 8 hours left on them. If my eyes aren't lying to me, it looks like C142 (March 14th, 1972) date code on them. They appear to be unmolested. He may be starting on the upper end of what they are worth, maybe not!

I don't know. I don't think they're stupid high. If I needed them bad enough, I'd buy 'em.

What is the block code?

I've seen nice pairs 7F6 heads on here and eBay sell for under $2,000 a set most of the time. I would be surprised if they sell at that price unless someone has a late '72 GTO that really needs those dates. Most of the F-Bodies built by the strike date in the first week of April would have likely had earlier dated heads on them.

Code is YB
Date is H141


here is a link to some videos of it running
https://www.flickr.com/gp/70068717@N00/93V0K6

YB is a '72 455 HO block. $$$$$$$$...cha-ching
Cast Aug. 14th, 1971. I'm assuming it is a 485428 casting.

Are your heads pretty close to that also?

100% agree with Rick. The current BIN listing of 2750 has been listed at least 3 times, and the heads are just cores, not noted as professionally gone through with new 1piece stainless valves, new springs, and a killer valve job. To get up over 2k-2200 a pair, we're not talking assembled cores, but from what many of us have observed, for quite a few years, a pair of 7F6's need to be really clean & owner is going to have recently spent some $$$ on the above. In the last few months, on eNay, there has been at least 3 pairs of core 7F6's sell in the mid to high teens, several pairs took multiple relistings to get that.

On the block, that's a mighty early '72 auto unitized app 455 HO block, was it out of an F-body, or by chance does it have a 22P10xxxx as the partial VIN stamp by the timing cover?

I was thinking the YB ENGINE was standard ignition 2126 distributor. My notes could be backwards

yes, the very early '72 auto points coded HO block a friend has been looking for is a YB. Am always getting the two codes mixed up.

It is an F-body with a vin stamp of 22N517132
I'm not sure of the head casting date...where would that be located at?

Mine are moth-balled , but dated Ixx1 .
Like I011 or I101
Yours probably might be in that range too.

If you can't see the date just below valve cover mounting area -
then its under the valve cover - where the rocker arms etc are.
Thats more common on production round-port heads.

From what you have said , without #'s carb
Probably at least 4k - thats basically around core prices - but yours is running - so 4k should be acceptable.
maybe a little more , maybe a lot more if eBay goes mad about it.

If carb is legit - than add whatever price those are worth.
To the 4k

Has to be a Trans Am because that was the only car available with standard ignition with the HO engine

I've never been sure which block codes got which distributor in the 72 HO cars, so I just did some research. I found the following information in Rocky Rotella's new book, "The Definitive Firebird & Trans Am Guide: 1970 1/2-1981", (page 71) which, states:

Code / Transmission
YB / Automatic with K65 Unitized Ignition
WM / Manual with K65 Unitized Ignition
YE / Automatic with points-type ignition
WD / Manual with points-type ignition

I found another source (online) which gave the same info. It's the "Original Firebird and Trans Am 1967-2002...The Restorers Guild" by Jim Schild (page 72).

Wallace site - YB = Unitized , also.


damd buncha drunks

Old thread but realized I hadn't posted the head dates... both are 1101

I have seen a lot of 7F6 heads with the I101 and I111 dates over the years. My old T/A had a WD with the 2126 distributor and was a November built car

They need to have a special sub-section on this forum for "Orphan Engines" only.
Some have used the Missing Pontiacs, Parts, Trailers section for that -
but its not frequented much.

Wallace Racing has an orphan section. iirc

What number/date carb did you get for it ?