[takid455]

Came across a couple NOS 400s in crates. 1 crate wasn't much to open as some was there prior to me. The other is untouched as in never been opened. Question as stake is should it be opened? Would a buyer want to see whats in side (you can see through the sides as they are exposed) or want it as display / museum piece as it sits in an unopened crate in excellent condition? Value more or less if opened vs unopened? Crate has GM PN # on it & confirms its a 76-79 400. Other crate is the same number which has a 577 400 in it. No stampings but a J247 date code.

[tom s]

bare block or fitted block?Tom

[takid455]

bare

[dataway]

Pictures please

[geeteeohguy]

This is a tough one. I have a 1941 Waterman's 100 year pen that has the price tag on it and has never been inked. Never used. What good is it? I'll likely die and someone will toss it because it doesn't have ink in it.
I have a friend who inherited a new Husky 360 in the crate....about a 1972 model. Still in there. Brand new. No good to anybody, but, new in crate.
About 7 or 8 years ago we opened up some new-in-crate .43 Spanish ammunition in 5 round stripper clips....it was dated 1886. Shot 100 rounds of this 130 year old ammo, and had one misfire. The stuff was dead nuts on at 240 yards and hit like a hammer.
Most recently, an acquaintance found a new-in-crate 1909 Case automobile engine. We took it apart and it had never been run. Cleaned it up and he installed it in the car it had come with as a spare. That car is now being used on the race track. (It was a stripped down factory race car)
IMO, in a crate or not, a 577 block would have not a lot of value. The WOW factor after 45 years plus is very cool indeed, though. Pictures please!!

[GT182]

I'd say don't open it. Especially if you can see thru whatever it's in. And it will keep the value up too and won't rust if the package it sealed. Just my honest opinion that doesn't count for much.

I vote photos would be nice too.

[burd]

Are these from Tin Indians?

[4dblnkldude]

Where did this come from? I saw the same thing and it was sold to a guy in NJ. I had the opportunity to buy it but... big deal. And I'm not gonna store it.

[Brewster]

Pictures ?

[Mr Twister]

Unopened would be cool in a Man Cave

[takid455]

Originally Posted by burd

Are these from Tin Indians?

No


Pictures

[mgarblik]

IMO, it's impossible to determine actual value of something like that, especially now. If someone was building a car museum and it included a diorama of a dealership or service area, this authentic in crate engine block might have some real value. Like a scene from the 1970's of a bunch of TA's in for service or something. A 557 cast block by itself has little value as most know from any type of performance standpoint. If you want to sell, put it out there and see if you get lucky. There has never been a better time to sell anything tied to late 70's Firebirds. For a tiny reference point, a friend of mine recently sold a Ford 427 side oiler fitted block in it's wood crate. The crate was not in as nice shape as your Pontiac one. He got $3500.00 for that crate full of FE history. While a 557 Pontiac block is hardly comparable from a hardware standpoint, it was a similar find.

[burd]

Are you going to the Natz Larry, look me up in the swap area, it’s been a while bud.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Sounds like a Trams Am block to me. Someone may want it aside their 455-powered car for posterity.

[1968firebird455]

Cool conversation piece. October 1977 557 block would be a good Service replacement for a 1977 trans am. I had a nice 557 block with crank and I couldn't give it away. Just like anything it just needs that right person. Cool to see in the crate for sure though!

["QUICK-SILVER"]

Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud

Sounds like a Trams Am block to me..

Or any other 400 powered Pontiac in 77~78.

Also used as SR's for the 79 XX block.

Clay

['ol Pinion head]

Picked up a nos SR 557 fitted 400 block in the mid 90's, didnt really want it as i wasnt buying 557's as cores. As a dusty dirty frosty top piston deal, it was cheap. Got it home, disassembled, lightly ball honed, then sprayed it down good with Kano Weatherproof. For a few years (nothing crazy pricewise) on my swapper sales flyer. Ended up having that block vatted, honed, & fitted with new trw 2262 pistons & rebuilt cast rods, installed in the second of two Y81 4sod T/A's I had stumbled on/ both were rescues. Most of the last decades crowd would slobber over 'em as "barn finds"... Amusing. After swapping in quite a bit of interior pieces & a very nice black hood, ended up selling that particular Y81. In doing so, noted the car was original drivetrain except the SR 557 block. Today, i would bet that Y81 T/A is being reprseented with another bogus story of how a local Pontiac dealer replaced the block in the car under warranty. Such stories I've learned to give zero credence to, unless there is original dealership paperwork & zone correspondence noting an actual fitted block replacement, the SR is no more than "store bought", someone's effort as a replacement.

[geeteeohguy]

With that amount of rust on the mains, I wonder what the cylinders and lifter bores look like.

[Scarebird]

Back in the late 80's I was into 442's. Local Olds parts manager noted to me a flyer they got from GM. Among the items for sale were $50 1975 Olds 400 blocks and $200 454 long blocks. I ordered 4 454's and 2 400's.

I soon got a note from GM that they screwed up the pricing on the 454's and offered them to me at full MSRP - no thanks!

The 400's arrived and I peeled one crate open. Didn't look like any Olds I had ever seen as the PM pointed out it was a 1970 SR block. I sold them both, of course wishing ten years later I hung onto one of then but my housing situation was not supportive to that.

[Skip Fix]

Gave a new never used 557 SR block I had gotten to Dan Barton for mock ups at his shop for porting heads and intakes.