383 engine and tranny

[George G. Leverette]

Looking to buy 383 engine and tranny from 69 road runner condition unknown. The seller is asking $800, what should I be looking for to determine condition and what is a fair price?

[Doug Wilson]

George - is the engine & trans still in the car? Can it be cranked? Does it run?

I'm guessing that it's out of the car and can't be cranked. Will the owner let you pull the heads and pan? Smell the trans fluid - if it's been burned you can tell by the odor. Also, you could pull the trans pan and look for metal in the pan and on the filter.

I paid $400 for a 440 and 727 recently. The 440 had a recent rebuild. I also bought a rust bucket, junked truck with a 440 and 727 in it for $100.

It really depends on what shape the stuff is in, and how deep the owner will let you get into the engine to find out. Unless it's really a good combo, I'd say $800 for what are basically rebuildable cores is at least a couple or $300 too high.

[71383bee]

I agree with Doug. I wouldn't go higher than $500 for a complete engine. I think I paid $400 total for the 69 HP engine and transmission I used in my Super Bee. Try and find a big block truck or car for cheap. The hp blocks had a forged crank, stiffer springs, windage tray, and a hotter cam. Other than that they are the same. Springs, cam, and windage can all be bought new. Not so sure on the forged crank, but I'm sure you can find one if you need it. $800 is too high unless it's already modified. Even then i would be very curious as to what was done to it.

[Doug Wilson]

From what I understand, the only big block BLOCKS that were beefed up were 440 Six Pak blocks. If it's going to be a street engine that you don't twist over 7,000 RPM, a cast crank is fine.

[71383bee]

Good point. The statement should have read big block HP engines not blocks. The blocks are the same whether it was in a six pack roadrunner or a Winnebego. The engine internals are different between HP and regular engines. I think the six pack engines had different rods.

[goose]

There's a guy locally with a running 440/727 combo for $450... $800 sounds pretty high unless it happens to be a numbers-matching setup that is factory original and in great shape, and complete from air cleaner to oil pan.

[Doug Wilson]

Weren't the 6 pak blocks cast with beefier main webs and ribs on the outside of the block for stiffening?

Also, you're right about the 6 pak rods - very strong, very heavy.

[71383bee]

I think for the 440's the blocks were the same, but the 340 six pack T/A blocks were different than the regular 4Bbl 340's. The numbers on the engine id boss only identify the internals of the engine. The Block numbers are large and cast into the side of the block below the heads. It's common for people to think that the id pad tells when the block was cast, but it actually tells when the engine was assembled and for what purpose.