The Ford Barn

Wwhyknot · 03-23-2019, 07:25 PM

I have a 1957 thunderbird 312 engine that was completely rebuilt and never installed back it the car due to a restoration that was never completed. The shop doing the restoration close when the owner died. The engine was rebuilt by a reputable rebuilder and I have the receipt with all the work done at a cost just under 5000.00. If I were to sell in what would I be expecting To get for it.

dmsfrr · 03-23-2019, 09:41 PM

What happened to the rest of the car? You only have the engine?
Finding a buyer that needs it is the first hurdle, as well as shipping it. Then as the old saying goes; it's only worth what someone is willing to pay.

If the rebuilder was a well known shop that helps.
How complete is the engine? Is it a long-block or does it have; the timing cover, crank pulley, intake, carburetor, distributor, exhaust manifolds, oil pan, air cleaner... etc.
The relative worth changes as more of the correct T-Bird specific parts in that list are included or missing.

What are the prefix letters in the '6015' engine block casting number just above the oil filter?
Is the rear flange of the crankshaft visible or does it have a flexplate / flywheel on it?

miker98038 · 03-23-2019, 10:58 PM

^^2. The 312 blocks aren’t that desirable unless you’re doing a restoration and the casting dates match up. Good cranks are a premium, to some extent rods and pistons.

Along with cracks in the main caps, the 312 blocks have a tendency to have cam bore alignment issues. I bought a nice running, cheap rebuilt 312 mainly for the casting number (56 Mercury). The crank failed the mag check, the cam bore was an issue, and it had been align bored before, so it needed a custom timing chain setup to take the slack out. I was building an F code clone with the pass car supercharger set up, so I couldn’t cut any corners. It all came out fine, but a lot of $ later.

Here’s a post from the yblocksforever site, current, about the rods,,crank, heads, etc. You’ll find more info there on the issues I’ve mentioned.

For top dollar, I’d be prepared to pull the heads and pan so bore and main caps can be checked and take it from there. John Mummert’s site will give you info to check the casting numbers out.

No offense, but all y blocks are 312 Thunderbird motors with the good heads until you start checking the castings.

http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/To....aspx#bm144925

http://www.ford-y-block.com

Bottom of the page, “information center”

rotorwrench · 03-24-2019, 09:45 AM

Most folks would rather purchase a core and rebuild it themselves rather than take a chance on an unknown rebuild. Folks would likely want to know how long it has been setting and what all was done to it during its overhaul. Even with all that knowledge there is still no way to know if everything was properly assembled. The part numbers and date codes would also come up for a high point restoration.

I would want to know what car it came from and its heritage. Why it never went back with that car would be another question.

Oldmics · 03-24-2019, 10:04 AM

I agree with rotor,the period of time that it has been sitting is a big concern.

An engine sitting for more than a few year needs to be opened up and inspected.

The other negetive is there is no one to hold the rebuild responseable for in case of problems.

There is the same situation here that I a seller is asking 2K for the rebuild never run engine.It has been advertised for 4 or 5 months with no takers.

Oldmics

darrell · 03-24-2019, 10:33 AM

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2500 in that area.

03-23-2019, 07:25 PM	#1
Wwhyknot Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 1	What would a 57 312 Engine be worth. I have a 1957 thunderbird 312 engine that was completely rebuilt and never installed back it the car due to a restoration that was never completed. The shop doing the restoration close when the owner died. The engine was rebuilt by a reputable rebuilder and I have the receipt with all the work done at a cost just under 5000.00. If I were to sell in what would I be expecting To get for it.

03-23-2019, 09:41 PM	#2
dmsfrr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Abq, NM Posts: 3,789	Re: What would a 57 312 Engine be worth. What happened to the rest of the car? You only have the engine? Finding a buyer that needs it is the first hurdle, as well as shipping it. Then as the old saying goes; it's only worth what someone is willing to pay. If the rebuilder was a well known shop that helps. How complete is the engine? Is it a long-block or does it have; the timing cover, crank pulley, intake, carburetor, distributor, exhaust manifolds, oil pan, air cleaner... etc. The relative worth changes as more of the correct T-Bird specific parts in that list are included or missing. What are the prefix letters in the '6015' engine block casting number just above the oil filter? Is the rear flange of the crankshaft visible or does it have a flexplate / flywheel on it? Last edited by dmsfrr; 03-24-2019 at 08:01 PM.

03-23-2019, 10:58 PM	#3
miker98038 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kent, WA. Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,766	Re: What would a 57 312 Engine be worth. ^^2. The 312 blocks aren’t that desirable unless you’re doing a restoration and the casting dates match up. Good cranks are a premium, to some extent rods and pistons. Along with cracks in the main caps, the 312 blocks have a tendency to have cam bore alignment issues. I bought a nice running, cheap rebuilt 312 mainly for the casting number (56 Mercury). The crank failed the mag check, the cam bore was an issue, and it had been align bored before, so it needed a custom timing chain setup to take the slack out. I was building an F code clone with the pass car supercharger set up, so I couldn’t cut any corners. It all came out fine, but a lot of $ later. Here’s a post from the yblocksforever site, current, about the rods,,crank, heads, etc. You’ll find more info there on the issues I’ve mentioned. For top dollar, I’d be prepared to pull the heads and pan so bore and main caps can be checked and take it from there. John Mummert’s site will give you info to check the casting numbers out. No offense, but all y blocks are 312 Thunderbird motors with the good heads until you start checking the castings. http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/To....aspx#bm144925 http://www.ford-y-block.com Bottom of the page, “information center”

03-24-2019, 09:45 AM	#4
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 18,011	Re: What would a 57 312 Engine be worth. Most folks would rather purchase a core and rebuild it themselves rather than take a chance on an unknown rebuild. Folks would likely want to know how long it has been setting and what all was done to it during its overhaul. Even with all that knowledge there is still no way to know if everything was properly assembled. The part numbers and date codes would also come up for a high point restoration. I would want to know what car it came from and its heritage. Why it never went back with that car would be another question.

03-24-2019, 10:04 AM	#5
Oldmics BANNED Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Balto.Md Posts: 382	Re: What would a 57 312 Engine be worth. I agree with rotor,the period of time that it has been sitting is a big concern. An engine sitting for more than a few year needs to be opened up and inspected. The other negetive is there is no one to hold the rebuild responseable for in case of problems. There is the same situation here that I a seller is asking 2K for the rebuild never run engine.It has been advertised for 4 or 5 months with no takers. Oldmics

03-24-2019, 10:33 AM	#6
darrell Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: p.e.i. Posts: 1,065	Re: What would a 57 312 Engine be worth. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) 2500 in that area.