Topic: fair price for pontiac 455 block

[78w72]

just checking what fair prices are for a pontiac 455 & 400 block is these days.

1973 455 .030 bore.  XA code
1972 400 .040 bore.  YA code

the 455 is hot tanked & mag'd, the 400 is thermal cleaned, blasted, & mag'd.  these will be for sale soon, just checking what people think they are worth.  

thanks  

[Chuckles]

My personal thoughts is they're really only worth more to someone needing a numbers matching car. To a performance enthusiast, a early 400 block is worth more because of the thicker cylinder walls and thicker main's and better oiling than the 455 block.

[4SPEED]

once you dont have your engine any more, it'll never be #'s correct again.   the block code is all you'll ever be able to replace, the vin on it wont be numbers matching to the car.

only W72, ram air blocks are worth money to the right person , looking for the correct block code and year.

455 blocks (any) are worth more then a 400.  they are harder to find.

and its just worth what the buyer is willing to pay for it. 

A .030 and .040 bore.  is going to be less. unless it was turned yesterday.  most only want a standard block.

[Chuckles]

Eh, I degress...400 blocks are actially more sought after in my opinion for performance engine's. The main saddle's are thicker, the cylinder wall's are thicker, and the smaller journal's are far better for oiling. And, sorry...I meant correct dated block. But, ya ultimately it's only worth as much as someone's willing to pay for it. If you're lucky, you have SR (Service Replacement) blocks. =)

[4SPEED]

I guess,  but I was talking in the manner of a restoration needing a 400 or 455. with the 455 being a bit harder to find.

[Chuckles]

I guess,  but I was talking in the manner of a restoration needing a 400 or 455. with the 455 being a bit harder to find.

Ya, in that sense I'd have to agree.

[78w72]

i agree that the older 400's are worth a premium to the performance guys, i am doing a 400 based stroker myself & wanted to use the 72 400 i have but since its already .040 i am hoping a 78 w72 400 i have is standard still.  just got that pulled & keeping my fingers crossed.

i was just checking the ball park of what the 455 blocks went for these days due the the fact they are indeed harder to find.  the 455 has the factory "N" stamped crank too.

   

[Amtrak]

I prob be interested in the 400 when you get ready to sell

[72blackbird]

The 400 does have some advantages over a 455 in terms of the smaller mains and thicker cylinder bore, but before anyone was stroking 400's the 455  was the only way to fly if you wanted big hp. Plenty of people are still building 455 performance engines too not only because of the nostalgia value- they're a proven engine and are still very capable of making 500-600 hp w/ the right combo.

I paid $400 for a 73 455 block and crank that were both standard- judging by the prices I see listed in Craigslist in Socal for a .040 over 455 and crank that's most likely at least .020 under, I'd say I got a decent deal.

[78w72]

thanks blackbird.  the 455 has been sold & i got about what you said you paid.  mine had been sitting for a long time & had rust on the cylinder walls & crank journals but the machine shop said that will clean up with .010 bore on the block & grind the crank.  bare block for $300 & crank for $50.  no other internals or timing cover etc. 

[TAKID455]

for input..I sell 400 virgin rebuildable cores for 400-450 and 455's for 6-800 depending. I do not have any 455's at the moment.