Hey guys, i'm william, i'm 20 and i'm finally in the market for a big block to drop into my '66 chevelle. I love this car almost as much as i love my own mother, but i have yet to develop the engine savvy to know exactly what i should be looking for. I found this ad today for a used 468 bbc, and i'd love some advice from a few more knowledgeable people on whether or not this would be as great of a buy as it seems, and if it would be worth the risk, considering that it is a used motor. I'd have to learn how to adjust lash, with the solid lifter cam, but i'd be willing and eager to learn.
Ok here's the ad:

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$2,000
BBC 468 Pump Gas Motor
10.5 TRW Pistons
GM Steel Crank
20 on Rods
20 on Mains
ARP Rod Bolts
Crane Solid Lifter Cam 680 Lift
Crane Roller Rockers & Stud Girdles
GM Lge Rectangular Port Heads
2000.00 Firm
Will Not Ship
Call Don ***-***-****
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(doesn't include intake and carb)

The ad has a big picture of the motor and it looks nice, not to mention totally badass:D Of course i can't tell how it runs by looking at a picture, but at least i know it would look good under the hood:)
It's probably also worth mentioning that the motor isn't installed in his car anymore, so i wouldn't have any way of test-driving it beforehand.
Anyway, it's located in the same town that my cousin lives in, who i go and see a couple times a year(he's got an awesome 58 'vette:)) So shipping isn't an issue. I'm just not sure if it's a good idea to buy a motor when i'm not sure of its condition. But with it being so cheap, it would definitely leave me with a good bit of $$ left over in case something goes wrong.
So help me out guys, what do yal think??
Should i go for it??:):):)

p.s. it'll be a 99% street-driven car, with a couple trips to the local strip a year.
__________________
'66 Chevelle Malibu
Currently: 355, Turbo-350
Someday: BBC, Tremec 5spd, passing through the Pearly Gates of heaven at 100mph, on fire and backwards, with a huge grin plastered on my face :)

The price is right,but it sure would be nice to hear it running.It would be nice to have the exact cam specs too,it might not be real pump gas friendly.Even if you buy it,it would be a good idea to tear it down for an inspection,check rings & bearings,look for worn cam lobes and broken valve springs,etc...Could be a reason its going cheap,but then there is always the possibility that it is a real good deal just waiting to be snapped up.
Guy

I would be leary of any used engine. There are alot of "Shadetree Mechanics" out there...and you would be suprised how many people cut corners or dont actually know how to do something right. Its a big investment...If I were you I would keep saving and buy something with a warrany from a reputable builder. Just my .2 cents. I have been in the situation of buying a new 35k boat and the motor blew the day I bought it...not fun.

William..those large by huge rectangular heads can sell for up to 2 grand with the truck pulling crowd if useable.Yes you would now need heads for the now free to you 468 shortblock.With 2k to spend...an aftermarket tin cyl head will be an improvement over stock iron rectangulars that have no place under 500 cid or less than 7000 rpm units.

William..those large by huge rectangular heads can sell for up to 2 grand with the truck pulling crowd if useable.Yes you would now need heads for the now free to you 468 shortblock.With 2k to spend...an aftermarket tin cyl head will be an improvement over stock iron rectangulars that have no place under 500 cid or less than 7000 rpm units.2k?? Really?? Send those truck pullers my way, I've got a pair of heads for them! Seriously! :yes:

2k?? Really?? Send those truck pullers my way, I've got a pair of heads for them! Seriously! :yes:

Me too! Maybe it was a typo and he meant $200 not $2000?!

sounds like it is worth checking out. Confirm the cam specs for sure
.680 lift on a flat tappet is alot.

Not a street engine with that size cam.
The heads, depending on the casting number and date could be worth a pretty penny.
Closed chamber rect port heads are expensive!
The open chamber rect port heads are just about as much.
Not to say that rect port heads WON't work on a 454....just that the oval port heads work better on them.
Get the head and block casting numbers....
Proof of life, if the engine is a runner, a good deal

Me too! Maybe it was a typo and he meant $200 not $2000?!

No typo...I think it was diesal eater that brought this up.A class of truck pullers are limited to oem iron heads and the big rectangulars are sought out for their 7k plus pulls.I recently moved a set of 840,s for body work.The vette crowd knows what they are worth also.Do not give them away folks..they are vintage iron and worth some coin to the right person/application.

What did the guys on the Camaro site say? Anything similar?

No typo...I think it was diesal eater that brought this up.A class of truck pullers are limited to oem iron heads and the big rectangulars are sought out for their 7k plus pulls.I recently moved a set of 840,s for body work.The vette crowd knows what they are worth also.Do not give them away folks..they are vintage iron and worth some coin to the right person/application.

Wow...I got lots of these cores....I should start my own business :beers:

hey guys, thanks for all of your help so far, it's great to be able to talk to and get advice from a bunch of guys who i know love their cars as much as I do, and know 1000x more than I do.:) Sorry i didn't responded earlier, my internet was screwed up for a few days. :/
I found out that the 468 is a racing motor that was supercharged and used a Callies crank notched for the blower, both of which he's selling separately. With it being a racing motor, i would have to definitely buy a new cam for it. I'm not sure if i would need to buy new pistons or not, i don't yet understand how differently shaped pistons affect an engine except for compression ratio, and 10.5 sounds streetable enough on 93 octane, i'm assuming.
With it being a racing motor that i'd be converting to street use, would i also have to swap out rods/springs/rockers etc?

What did the guys on the Camaro site say? Anything similar?

I've gotten several different opinions. Some say to stay away from used motors altogether, it's too big of a risk. Others say that as long as i have it inspected by someone knowledgeable, that i should go for it, because $2000 is a great price for a 468, even it requires fairly extensive work to get it where i'd want it.

So in addition to my question ab swapping the pistons/rods/springs/etc, (sorry, i hope i'm not rambling) i'd love just a little more advice :)

If i have the motor checked out by a reputable mechanic, and their is no major problems with the motor, but i'd have spend additional $$ to swap out the cam and everything else necessary to make it streetable, would it be worth it??
i don't mind having to make major changes to the motor, and wouldn't mind forking out a little extra hard-earned $$ for quality parts that i know will work well and last, i just dont want to end up spending as much or more than i would buying a new crate motor, ya know? Thank you all for your advice, i really appreciate it:yes:

P.S.
William..those large by huge rectangular heads can sell for up to 2 grand with the truck pulling crowd if useable.Yes you would now need heads for the now free to you 468 shortblock.With 2k to spend...an aftermarket tin cyl head will be an improvement over stock iron rectangulars that have no place under 500 cid or less than 7000 rpm units.

This is VERY interesting:) i'm going to do a little research on whether i'd actually be able to get that kind of money for those heads. If so, that alone might be reason enough to buy it:yes:

Do not give them away folks..they are vintage iron and worth some coin to the right person/application.We're not giving them away but no one in my area is paying $2k for them either. ;) Your lucky to get that for the factory '60's aluminum versions. If you know someone that'll give me that kind of cash, though, then put them in touch. :) Again, Seriously!

The engine will not be a deal at all if you have to go in there to change pistons, re-balance, etc.
If it was in fact a dedicated "Blower motor" the pistons should be forged flattops or even dished......cam probably not appropriate, etc
What I'm saying here is you'd buy and engine for $2000 that needs everything changed, does not make sense....


If I had a supercharger on my engine, you'd NOT want it when I got done with it....it would be rode hard, put up wet.

Get paperwork/receipts and or a VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE person to check that beast out.
Could still be a good buy but it PROBABLY will not be usable for your particular evil purposes

I would not buy a used BBC that had a blower on it unless you are basically buying it for parts, planning to tear it down and rebuild. In that case it's probably worth the asking price.

I think buying a 454 core motor for 400.00 is risky let alone 2000.00. Even if you heard it run I'd be scared unless you know the motor and/or seller.

When you consider that there's guys here that built there 454's for 2500.00-3000.00, its just not worth the risk.

Case in point, Joe (GRN69CHV) bought a fully machined "ready to go" 454 block. Even had it checked out by a good machine shop. Put it all together, installed in the car. Went to put antifreeze in, and it ran into the oil pan as fast as he was pouring it it. There goes 1000.00 (dont forget fluids, oil, gaskets).

Start fresh!