price on a 65 348 truck motor

[111goose]

I found a 'running' 348 motor. Haven't seen it yet or gotten the numbers off of it but what would be a fair price if indeed it is a non-rebuilt running truck motor with low miles? Was told it was end of the year and has a 409 oilpan. ??? I'm going to look at it this afternoon. Thanks for the help.

 

[Tom Kochtanek]

Good find!

I would venture to say that a 1965 348 truck engine in basic running condition would be worth $500 - $1000 depending on what your plans are.

Some of the parts are not components one might want on a passenger car, such as the water pump, the distributor and maybe the intake/carb setup. It costs $$$$ to replace those, so you might factor that in.

These 348s do use the 409 truck oil pan, so don't be fooled into thinking it's a 409 truck engine, which might be worth a bit more.

The block will likely be a "655" casting, the heads will probably be the 333s. Keep the oil pan and the valve covers.

I purchased a "stuck" engine similar to this a few years back (3-4-5) and the guy wanted $500, I offered him $100 and he balked for a while, but let me have it for a hundred bucks.

Hope that helps some, others will have an opinion to add .

Good luck!

TomK

 

[111goose]

Thanks Tom. I actually have a 61 348 tri power that I bought back in Dec. to put in my '41 Chevy but when I tore it down and had it cleaned and baked it came back with a cracked block and both heads. So I have all the misc parts from that motor.The 65 has had the dist replaced and is complete including the exhaust manifolds. He said there was a govenor on the old one. He is asking $1400 which sounds high to me but I know these motors are getting harder and harder to find.

 

[boxerdog]

I think Tom's numbers are good, $1k max, and that if it is running or has been out of the weather somewhere and isn't stuck or full of water.

 

[111goose]

Well Tom was right about the casting numbers. Why can't I find the #655 on the site? Thought I wrote it down wrong and it was #656.... Nope, damn. He is set on the price of $1400 cause he doesn't need to sell it. If I'm interested he will put it on a stand and fire it up so I can hear it run. It looks good and he says it runs good too. Its not rebuilt. I don't really want to spend that much on it tho. I'll include pics of it. By the way, he owns 5 Impalas but is looking for a '58 and a '63. His other ones are beautiful.

 

[lowelife]

I have the same motor in my '31 model A, had to give $800 for it with a good TH350. Not a whole lot of power in stock form but it gets down the road pretty good.

 

[boxerdog]

They all say "I don't need to sell it" but I'd still try to work him down to something reasonable around $1000 unless it is just your only decent option.

 

[yellow wagon]

way too much money for a 348 truck if you ask me. I just stumbled on one that was all complete untouched and missed out on the deal but he wanted $600 he let it go for $450 so they are out there for better prices. I say let this one go

 

[1960impala283]

Running is key in my opinion. If I can see a motor run, compression test it, pressure check the coolant system and check the coolant for contamination, I would spend a little more than on that motor than most.

If you only want a stock motor to drive, this is the best way to go. Rebuilding is expensive even for a stock motor.

Another bit of irony is, the cheapest motor I have ever purchased turned out to be the best. Go figure.

There're all a "pig in a poke" until you get home and let the cat out of the bag.

It's been my experience that the deals come when you don't need one, or want one.