Hello all. My friend is looking at buying a 1970 396 block from a guy I know. And we are woundering whats a good price for it? It is all there minus carb,and headers. He said that it's all stock and has never been rebuilt. And that it is shrinked wraped in storage. So how much is a good price for this engine?

I bought one about 6 months ago, It had pistons, crank, block and oilpan... it needed rebuilt but thats fine, they most likely all do after 30+ years. I paid $400 for pretty much a short block. But if you want it bad enough, search around and find a good price if this guy wants too much for it.. I wouldnt pay more than $600-$700 unless its rare motor.

Bubba

BTW, they call 'em 396's but in 1970 they came bored over and they are actually 402's. At least mine is...

the cheaper you can get them the better.....the most i ever paid for one that was rebuilt and ready to run was 400 bucks plus my old 350.............the cheapest i bought one for was i traded a set of ported 305 stock heads for a dismanteled 396.......all other fell in between........

Personally, I wouldn't pay more than $250 for a stock, used 396/402 unless they proved to me that it 1. wasn't seized, 2. had rectangular ports, and 3. four-bolt mains. And I'd expect it to be pretty complete, too! I might make exceptions for an engine that was guaranteed to be usable, or had appealing aftermarket parts bolted to it. Any more than 2-3 hundred, and you might as well get a 454.

(I'm not saying I'd USE the rectal ports, mind you.)

I wish i could have found one for that cheap ($250) but i couldnt find anything cheaper than $400 unless it WAS seized