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Old 01-02-2023, 10:46 PM
besserspat besserspat is offline
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Default Value of a '78 W72 complete carb to pan engine and TH350 out of a 78TA

a year ago , this engine landed on my lap after two guys parting out a decent driver '78 W72 TA to built a "super duper LSX powered Ring brother's inspired TA.... well

They were fast to ditch all the "unwanted" parts which I gladly salvaged and now their project is stalled...well

So as much as I like to be a custodian of vintage engines (call me a hoarder or a collector whatever.

But the W72 engine will most likely not go in one of my Pontiacs and since its a fairly fresh ( PO had someone do a stock rebuilt and he drove 1 year with it before selling it to the two guys that we're in hopes of more LSX like performance and got deceived... I thought Id rather help someone in search of a proper W72 engine for his project.

So whats a fair price for a very clean, running, fresh W72 (X7 block) , as complete as it can be, shaker air cleaner, new ignition, alternator, fuel pump, power steering pump ,pulleys ,HD viscous fan etc... with its original TH350 still mated to it?

Peter

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Old 01-02-2023, 11:32 PM
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There's a similar engine for sale here, I believe asking price is $1200.00.

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Old 01-02-2023, 11:34 PM
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Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN View Post
There's a similar engine for sale here, I believe asking price is $1200.00.
Sorry. They are asking that for a long block...

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Old 01-03-2023, 09:05 AM
TAKerry TAKerry is offline
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Personally I would not spend more than 1500 for that motor. Regardless of how it is supposed to run/condition, I would still want it torn down and a once over before I put it in a car. At that point unless its really low miles and in great condition the temptation of a mild rebuild would be great. Thus the motor basically being a core.
I would think a fair price would be 1500-2000.

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Old 01-03-2023, 12:03 PM
78w72 78w72 is online now
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since the rebuild is unknown theres not much value in it being running above any other average "rebuilt" 400. but since it is a XX 481988 block its worth more than the average run of the mill mid 70's 400, especially the 557 blocks. as a complete running engine i agree with the above prices.

however, since W72 parts are worth so much i would remove & sell the W72 specific parts separately or add their value to the price of the running engine... the air cleaner is worth $400-$500 by itself & the carb is worth close to that in good running condition or even as a core. so thats almost $1000 in just 2 parts.

i have sold a few bare XX blocks recently, lowest i got was $500 for a X7 & that was almost 10 years ago, in the last 3-5 years i sold a .030 WC for $600 & another X7 for $750 with the crank. just a few months ago a PWH that was a fresh .060 over but some surface rust that would probably clean up with final hone to fit pistons for $500. the 6x-4 heads sell for $250-300 as cores. th350 is worth about $200-250 in unknown but working condition.

that should give some idea of value for the running engine, as well as the W72 specific parts. id say you could get $2500 total for it & the parts, might take awhile to find the right buyer but the air cleaner & carb would sell quick on ebay for top dollar.

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Old 01-03-2023, 12:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN View Post
Sorry. They are asking that for a long block...
& its a 500557 block, not a XX W72

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Old 01-03-2023, 02:39 PM
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[QUOTE= id say you could get $2500 total for it & the parts, might take awhile to find the right buyer but the air cleaner & carb would sell quick on ebay for top dollar.[/QUOTE]

Thats more what I had in mind, I mean im in no hurry to sell this engine and parts, and have ample storage space to keep those for the next 20 years.

It was more in the spirit to hel someone who has a W72 car without a running powertrain. Yes it may be a very basic rebuilt engine but in my neck of the wood (North east /Canada) a very basic SBC long block rebuild with some machine work and a master kit costs no less than 3k and now with parts and labour shortages you can expect more or just having to wait 6 months to get your engine .

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Old 01-03-2023, 06:08 PM
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I agree that the parts themselves are worth more than the sum total. I understand you not wanting to 'give it away', but who knows what people will want motor wise in the next 20years. It may very well be a boat anchor by that point! Had I known it was for sale 2 years ago I would have gladly paid 2k for it. Now my motor is just about finished so unforunately I dont think I need one.

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Old 01-03-2023, 06:49 PM
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Originally Posted by TAKerry View Post
I agree that the parts themselves are worth more than the sum total. I understand you not wanting to 'give it away', but who knows what people will want motor wise in the next 20years. It may very well be a boat anchor by that point! Had I known it was for sale 2 years ago I would have gladly paid 2k for it. Now my motor is just about finished so unforunately I dont think I need one.
I hear you, im not in the hobby for the money, hence my idea of selling it locally to someone who really needs one. When I said i can keep it forever it was not expecting to appreciate in value but more because I collect cars ( some would say hoarding , so I have the warehouse space for it. I just hate to piece a perfectly running and detailed engine

Ill put an ad locally and see what happens.

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Old 01-04-2023, 08:55 AM
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I feel the same as you. I would rather see something like that go whole than in pieces all over. There was a guy years ago that had a TATA, it needed a total resto and he wanted something like 3k for it. I didnt have the space for another car and was knee deep in a resto so I let it pass. He couldnt find a buyer ended up parting out the car (I cant blame him for that one). I wound up buying what was left, the shell from another guy years down the road. Then I was scrounging to round up all of the parts for the next few years.

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Old 01-04-2023, 03:23 PM
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Wow is all I can say. $2500 seems a bit unrealistic for a smogger and you might have it around for quite a while.

My parts that might fetch $800 on the high side and probably closer to $600 to get someone to pay you to haul it away.

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Old 01-04-2023, 04:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P@blo View Post
Wow is all I can say. $2500 seems a bit unrealistic for a smogger and you might have it around for quite a while.

My parts that might fetch $800 on the high side and probably closer to $600 to get someone to pay you to haul it away.
You must live in pony car paradise, lucky you. I wish I could also find all originals W72 XX 400s freshly rebuilt, from carb to pan for 600$ as well, im jealous.

Peter

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Old 01-04-2023, 05:25 PM
78w72 78w72 is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by besserspat View Post
You must live in pony car paradise, lucky you. I wish I could also find all originals W72 XX 400s freshly rebuilt, from carb to pan for 600$ as well, im jealous.

Peter
highly unlikely to find a W72 complete engine, even not rebuilt, for that $600 price today, & if by some rare chance you do find one better go play the lottery the same day because you got some crazy good luck... or just found someone that didnt know or care what they had. these are not normal smogger engines of the mid 70's, they made very few XX blocks in 78-79 & they have pretty good value these days.

even 10 years ago i sold a bare xx block for about that price & it sold in a week or 2, probably could have got more. i sold a few others more recently for more.

just look at ebay or other places for the prices shakers & especially W72 air cleaners & carbs are selling for, easily $1000 for the air cleaner base, shaker & carb, they would sell pretty fast too.

this fresh rebuilt engine is worth right about what was mentioned IMO, $1500-$2000 give or take a couple hundred, the extra value is from the few parts i mentioned selling separate or slight discount if the person buying the engine needs them.

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Old 01-04-2023, 05:29 PM
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I paid more than that for a used 455 and it took me months to find one...GLWS

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Old 01-04-2023, 05:48 PM
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Sorry guys missed the rebuilt part. Was on my phone when I posted.

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Old 01-07-2023, 09:29 AM
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Tom S has a 76 TA 400 for sale right now including a transmission for $800.

I do not consider this winning the lottery and took 1 minute to find. Possible investment opportunity for some.

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Old 01-07-2023, 11:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P@blo View Post
Tom S has a 76 TA 400 for sale right now including a transmission for $800.

I do not consider this winning the lottery and took 1 minute to find. Possible investment opportunity for some.
Pablo ,invest in reading glasses or drop the multi tasking...
Tom's engine is not a rare W72 XX 400, not a rebuilt engine, not complete carb to pan all original with its refreshed original T/A transmission all in perfect ruuning condition.

They are selling lottery tickets at CVS
but also grab a pair of reading glasses from the rack next to the cashier.

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Old 01-07-2023, 01:19 PM
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If it was a 77 date code I would be driving to your place right now.

Seriously, finding W72 77/78 engines is no small task. Anyone thinking they're picking one up for a couple hundred bucks is smoking some seriously good crack

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Old 01-07-2023, 03:30 PM
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Reading the posts, my 1971 Formula has a 78 W72 XX 481988 block in it. It has a code of 28L130331 with engine code WC. It sounds like I should be glad I have it.

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Old 01-07-2023, 05:35 PM
besserspat besserspat is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FHC1971 View Post
Reading the posts, my 1971 Formula has a 78 W72 XX 481988 block in it. It has a code of 28L130331 with engine code WC. It sounds like I should be glad I have it.
yes cherish that engine and thats a manual block. if you ever build a 462 i would use another block and keep that one for someone looking to complete his 78 TA W72 project.

Peter

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