Engine prices

[MONC440]

Just wanted to get some opinions on what you guys think are fair prices for rebuilt 440 and 383 engines.

So what do you guys think is fair for a completely rebuilt engine done correctly. Nothing fancy just built to stock 1969 HP standards. With cast pistons, new rings, bearings, double roller timing chain, cam, oil pump, 3 angle valve job, stock intake, oil pan. Already ran for cam break in.

I myself think a 440 would be around 4000 and 383 a little bit less. Maybe a little more for forged crank engines or engines with a desirable cast date.

Thanks

 

[Fury1969WI]

Are you talking about buying a used/off the shelf engine that someone "rebuilt" or building your own?

Regarding the latter, a couple thoughts;

A couple of decades ago i paid somewhere around $3500 for a 440 short block, though that has forged JE pistons, otherwise sounds similar to what you're looking for. No head work and I did final assembly and break in. Even back then machine shops were shying away from valve jobs on old iron heads as cost-prohibitive, IIRC about $1000 at the time around here (Southern WI). Unless you can find someone that just pumps out Mopar engines from a barn (not that there's anything wrong with that!), I suspect a full build with head work and break in set-up and run time (no dyno) you would be more than twice that 20+ years later.

I think the price difference between rebuilding a 440 vs a 383 would be negligible. The biggest difference would be the starting purchase prices of the core. You can get a complete 383 for practically nothing ($200? And those ALWAYS have a forged crank) whereas a good 440 bare block will cost somewhere around $400 tho YMMV.

 

[1970FuryConv]

I am rebuilding a 440 now. I think $4000 is lower than you'll have to pay for quality work.