What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Just got off the phone with a friend of mine. He has a collection of flathead parts and would like to get rid of some of it, Unfortunately the problem for most stuff, there is no market for it, like hundred sof valves lifters guides and etc. now if they were all into an engine, it would be different. At present he has most of the parts for a 30 over 8ba engine. Block, Reground crank, rods, pistons valves. etc. Now if this was running? what's it worth?

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

If it was a completely stock build - my guess is that he might be able to get $3K to $4K for it. It would cost that much to build it for sure (now days) - but you have to find the exactly right buyer.

I'd probably put a 3/4 cam in it, a set of Edelbrock heads and an Edelbrock slingshot - then I'd try to get $5 - 6K or so for it. And having it running - with video - is a good thing.

Just one man's opinion!
B&S

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Without proven components and a know reliable builder keeping records, it might be difficult to find a buyer. If it were me, I would much prefer the parts unassembled!

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Agree with Jerry


Bruce

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Dennis Frings from here in Charlotte has had engines on the HAMB for a long time at fair money & no buyers yet. His engines are right.
Just don’t know why but rebuilt flatheads don’t seem to bring close to what it cost to build them.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Dennis Frings from here in Charlotte has had engines on the HAMB for a long time at fair money & no buyers yet. His engines are right.
Just don’t know why but rebuilt flatheads don’t seem to bring close to what it cost to build them.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Where are these engines listed on the Hamb?

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

>>>Now if this was running? what's it worth?>>>


I'd guess a dollar less than my running early 38 21-studder. Did I guess right? 8^) Jack ENJ

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

I think Flathead guys know to much . I mean how many times
do we see and here about crack blocks in rebuilt motors

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...thead.1015289/ I have this one for sale. Not one inquiry.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Just don’t know why but rebuilt flatheads don’t seem to bring close to what it cost to build them


BECAUSE A jASPER sbc goes for 1500. and thats what rodders like.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

I just finished what would be considered a "high performance" build, so take that into consideration when you read the price. It took me five blocks to find one to build.

Labor (machine shop, balancing and builder) came in at over $6K. Now I believe I've had one of the best flathead guys build this engine, so you may be able to find one cheaper, but I wanted the best since I hope to only do it once.

I've been collecting parts for this build along the way and I got some really good deals, but if you had to pay retail, it would have added another 3,500-$4,000K to the price. So, I'd assume that puts the price at around $10K. Funny, my friend's father bought a Motor City Flathead from Kirby in the 90's. It was $10K from him at that time.

Additional parts were Merc crank, NOS 8BA rods, Weber flywheel, Centerforce PP, Cyclone head, Potvin cam, Ross pistons w/ metric rings, Slingshot manifold, Petronix ignition.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

I believe without knowing the person who built them and without documentation of mag & pressure testing, you are still buying an unknown.

If I had $100 for every "rebuilt" flathead I've looked at on some dude's garage floor, I'd be a wealthy man.

Plus, you have two options if you live out of state: Trust the person and pay another $500 to have it shipped or take a few days off and drive there. Either option is additional time & money.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

In addition to what Tim posted, it is not going to be built to your specifications/likes unless you are involved from the get-go. Just the way it is.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Great point.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

I don't think you understand the question. How much does it coust to rebuild the engine. Take it to a machineshop and have it rebuilt "STOCK"

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

I'm not as involved with the Flathead scene, but am heavily into the small block Fords and other OHV engines. My experience is that once an engine is assembled, nobody wants to buy it. A private seller is lucky to get half of what he has in it. Engines are far more valuable as parts. Nobody wants to buy a 'pig in a poke'... as there have been far too many 'Krylon' rebuilds and tons of crap work out there. When buying from a private seller, there is no recourse if you are stuck with a turd.

People also want to have a HAND in their own engines. They want to at least have the idea that they at least helped choose the parts, etc. They enjoy the creative process.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

I don't think stock is far off from the $3,000-$4,000 someone mentioned.

If your buddy has an already disassembled block, that may get it to be on the lower end of the $3,000-$4,000 range. I had 15 hours getting the studs out of my 99A block.

That is assuming lower quality pistons are used and everything else can be reused or reconditioned.

Machine work alone just to clean, test, and bore the block is going to be around $700-$900 depending where he's located.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Boy Ron, I believe that is going to be all over the place. There is a lot of difference from one shop to another and think it is going to depend on what needs to be done. I'm not even sure one persons definition of stock is the same as another's. You posted the crank is turned, that would at least need to be checked. Are the bearing there and the correct size, etc. You are a builder, you know the ropes as well as anyone does!

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Ron, You have been building flatty's for decades. A fair price would be whatever YOU would charge to rebuild that engine to "STOCK" and then test it on an engine stand.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Might call a couple of shops and see if they would provide a quote.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Yeah - it is really tough to sell ANY assembled engine unless that is your business, you have great marketing, you do it day in/out, have tons of references, have an online/social presence and a reputation that matches. This is even true in high-end SBC builds.

I just sourced all the parts to build a 520 HP 383 SBC stroker - 4 bolt main 350 block, high quality forged crank, billet steel rods, Weisco pistons, AFR heads, custom roller cam, etc.. Balanced, square decked, windage tray, select oil pump, road-race oil pan, etc, etc, etc.. I have about $6000 in the engine - with me doing all the selection, parts purchasing, assembly and detailed work.

Imagine if I tried to put it on eBay and sell it. The typical buyer sees a stroker 383 SBC from a variety of vendors that makes 500 HP - and is going to pay $5000 - $6000 for it (turnkey).

The challenge is that you get what THEY put together and the details mater to me:

-> Mine has a quality Manley forged crank - theirs has a SCAT 9000 cast crank
-> Mine has Manley billet steel rods - theirs has SCAT forged rods
-> Mine has a custom roller cam and Harlan-Sharpe rockers - theirs is an off-the-shelf CompCams roller and cheap Chinese rockers.
-> Mine has AFR heads with the good valves and springs - theirs are Chinese knock-offs with much lower quality components.

The problem is that the average person doesn't know about all the details - they see 500 HP and that is it! Also, every one of these engines looks GREAT on the outside.

Having a custom built engine by somebody who really knows the details is going to cost you a lot of money - if it's a flathead probably 2X what you'd think.

Some people will pay for one-off custom engines (and have the $$$ it takes) . . . but that crowd has dwindled in size over the years - we surely don't have enough "customers" in the flathead world.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

I paid about $3k for machining and new pistons /rods/bearings in suburban Milwaukee last year. The shop installed the valves and I handled the rest. Stock build.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

When I did my 258" flathead, the machine shop bill was right around $1800, which resulted in a complete short block. There was also a separate charge of $150 for balancing. It's not a "stock" engine, but the machine work did not include anything that wouldn't be needed on a stock rebuild.

This was at the NAPA in Baxter, MN and the job was taken on a "fill-in" basis. The machinist there had formerly done a lot on 8N and 9N Ford tractor engines, although he had never done a V8 flathead. The resulting engine seems to be perfect (except for the Speedway Motors oil pump that I supplied and had to be replaced with a Ford pump).

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Ron, I see you are in Vermont! Im also a Vermonter, but sadly now live in Taxachusetts. Cost for one just done was about $4000 all things said and done. hope that helps.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Thats machine shop time and my time and parts

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

For a completely STOCK rebuild with no cracks needing repair, using the stock cam, stock rods that are rebuilt, stock crank reground to next under size, original front cover and stock intake manifold. With everything else internal replaced with new parts all machine work and assembly the going price is in the area of $4500.00 to $5000.00
Labor costs money as well as all the new parts.
Ronnieroadster

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Allow me to tell you what the stock engine will be made of
Good block
Good crank and rods (matched set)
good used .040 pistons. Measured cam bearings OK
Grind all the valves & Seats original lifters.
8BA pan & 10: flywheel
Checked original oil pump OK
t
Original stock Heads (Milled)
stock intake
Buyer must furnish carb and dis. i'll run the enginr with my stuff, but don't have any spare ones
I also have a setof 8BA water pumps, probably should be rebuilt.

I'm supervising the build, my studen is a young 73 years old, Gota teach these young ones sumpin

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Ron what you list is far from what one would call a rebuild. Its more like a rattle can rebuild. I have seen similar jobs in the past the owners thinking they had a complete rebuild only to discover that was not the case. Actually have one in the shop at the moment not a rebuild but more a partial clean up and the one Im dealing with was not a very good clean up! Teaching to do it this way leaves a lot to be desired the way I see it. For most Flatheads being built today this may be the final time they will ever be rebuilt. Hopefully the rebuild will be done in a way so many enjoyable years can be had by the owner. My point is if your going to teach the young ones something {age has no bearing} teach them right . Plus i bet a proper rebuild would get much better fuel economy than a somewhat partial build.
Ronnieroadster

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

I don't see the difference between this build and any other. All the parts are good, if their good, what's wrong?? Yes I've built allot of engines and most are still running.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Anyone know if these builders have earlier rebuilt engines, I would be interested in a 36 LB that wasn't worn out

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

From what I've seen over the last year being advertised, I would say a "rebuilt" flathead was selling between CAN$3K -$5K, but that typically is just the block assembly. Your still missing intake, carb, generator, pulley, and other bits. Hopefully, I should be getting back my "stock" build shortly from the machinist, but I can list the following I've dumped into so far(approx prices):

Block: CAN$100
Cam Regrind (1007B): US$250 plus shipping
Crank Regrind (stk 3.75"): CAN$250 plus shipping
Egge .060" Pistons: US$100
Rods: stk
Lifters (USA): US$300 plus shipping
Valves/springs: US$100 plus shipping
Cam gear: US$40 plus shipping
Cam bearings: US$40 plus shipping
Main and Rod bearings: ??? Supplied by crank grinder and no invoice yet list for US$100 for main
Full gasket set: US$100

That's already US$1200 and that's far from a complete "running" motor. I'll be using stk intake, carb, dist, and heads. I'll be getting just the short block from the machinist and I'll be finishing it off.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

What's the Flathead king say.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Who would that be?

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

I agree. In fact, by inspecting and properly measuring the used parts and either condemning them or judging them fit for reuse you are teaching the student valuable lessons in engine work. The same clearances need to be adhered to whether the engine is fitted with all new parts or good used stuff,so the machining operations are the same with either.

I'm building a 260" engine for my '41 Merc right now and it'll be almost identical to your list,Ron. Good parts are good parts and will last if done correctly. Now,I know some (customer) folks think only new will do, and great if they have the cash. To each his own! :)


Terry

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

There are allot of short cuts that many new builders don't know. Like Balancing. I try to get a Crank ,rod set for the street builds. this is a good factory balance job for street. and the weight of the piston doesn't matter . Valve springs. I run 50lbs on all street cams, including the L-100. (stock spring and.060" shim. Don't use adj lifters. Not many bulders today wouldn't do that. Plus i use allot of used bearings. I have a .020/.020 crank and rod set with great bearings. Throw them away?? N
knurel the guides. ETC

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

And there in lies the issue Ron, when you buy a rebuilt engine, unless you know who built it and how and it is documented you are buying a pig in a poke! And does it come with a guarantee? Even the best builds can end up with an unforeseen issue.

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

I'm like you , good used beats unproven new . Maybe it's the way we were raised !

Re: What is the price of a rebuilt flathead??
 

Although we seem to have gotten off the subject here, I just want to add this little book by none other than the Ford Motor Company before we go back to discussion of what a flathead is worth. I think I have all the flathead books written since the 90's , and some written way before, but this orange one is my 'bible' when I build an engine for myself. I have on occasion strayed a bit from the teachings in the real bible, but I stick to this one when overhauling an engine and when a part is deemed worn beyond or even close to an 'acceptable clearance' I won't use it. I assume the reason ford published this little treatise was because regular working people back then didn't want to spend money needlessly and they still don't. At 66 years of age and driving 3 flathead powered vehicles with my 'repaired' engines, I doubt I will ever wear them out. I drive them carefully and use modern lubricants, changed with common sense. Besides, I have some modern 90's vehicles for everyday driving! Now back to what is an engine built from a mix of parts worth? Someone smarter than me will have to figure that one out. Anyone know how to search ebay history?