Re: [BaadAssGremlins] Re: 390 for sale need to figure a value

[Plumpy72@xxxx]

In a message dated 12/2/2003 6:24:55 AM Central Standard Time, AMC74HORNET@xxxx writes:

> --- In BaadAssGremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "will" <scottco73@xxxx> wrote:
> >I know a person trying to sell a 390.  it has been totally done has 
> >new pistons,rings bearings,  comp cams 268h cam, says lower 
> >compression heads all redone also has the original heads as well. 
> >motor is assembled and on an engine stand  with the edelbrock r4b 
> >intake.  he is asking $1500.00   I need to know if this is a good 
> >deal sounds high to me but he has receipts over 1800.00   just 
> >looking for some help.
>
> If the receipts are legitimate it sonds like a good deal to me. What trannyare you going to use if you get the engine? I am not a fan of the Borg Warners for automatics. If ou want to use a Torque Flite you will need to machine the crank or get an adapter.



When it comes to building an engine, $1500 is not bad. I can still remember the days when $500 would build a BaadAss engine. All you had to do was walk into a speed shop and ask for a set of headers, an intake and a "3/4 rase cam". (Back then, roller cams were for "race only" applications) Now a good set of pistons will costa chunk of change. Can you remember those good ole days Doc? Then again, you could walk into a dealership and buy a V8 Gremlin for less than $3,000. 

Can you hear it run? Sometimes people can give you a good line on what was done and later you're stuck with a boat anchor. Who assembled the engine? Does it have cast or forged pistons? Were the pistons installed with proper clearence? I'm not trying to talk you out of buying the engine, just make sure of what you're getting.

I put together a 390 back in the early eighties. Fortunately, I had bought an engine from a local Jeep racer and was able to rebuild it. It had TRW flat-top pistons, the heads were ported and polished with a three angle valvejob, a "Torker" aluminium intake and the cam had .570" lift and 308 degreeduration. The guy I got it from had spun three rod inserts at about 7500rpms and decided to go with a chevy engine. AMC parts were.......and still are.......hard to come buy down here in the south. I bought an adapter plate from a company in San Antonio to bolt up a Chevy Turbo 400. It was an awesome engine........actually too much for the street. It seemed like I was always having to fix or adjust something. At my age now, I am striving for modest horsepower with lots of dependability. You never know, I may want to hop in the Gremlin some day and attend a car show far, far away.  :)