Opinions on motor buy

[HawkX66]

I have a local guy that has a 72 truck 402 that has a decent cam installed. Is $500 too much? I've talked him down quite a bit. I've been just looking for a motor to run temporarily while I figure out what to do on a more permanent basis. I hate buying engines that I can't hear run from people I don't know... He sent me a video of it running before he pulled it, but that doesn't mean much to me. It seems like big blocks are gold these days. I'm having a tough time finding anything other than bare blocks for reasonable money.

[PxTx]

I think you are being cheap. I would buy with confidence, knowing I could part put that running engine for more than $500 or simply flip it for double when your plans change.

[SuperNovaSS]

Agreed, how much cheaper could it get than $500?


Jason

[HawkX66]

That's kind of what I was figuring. I'm not being cheap, just cautious. Its a truck 402 after all. I'm just a little gun shy after getting burned on a 396 that was supposed to be running last summer... I appreciate the opinions.

[427.060]

$500 for a running big block is a very good deal. How is a truck 402 any different than a car 402? It doesn't really matter what vehicle the engine originally came in. What matters is what has been does to the engine in the last 43 years. If I needed a big block engine I would be all over this one.
James

[ds1]

Price is a good deal. Truck engines just have a different suffix. They are the same as put in cars. I have a 69 396 and it says "pass hi perf" on it

[ds1]

Price is a good deal. Truck engines just have a different suffix. They are the same as put in cars. I have a 69 396 and it says "pass hi perf" on it. It is out of a truck

[HawkX66]

Thanks guys. I ended up doing pretty good on this one. It was rebuilt about 3 years ago. Torker II intake, new Silvolite 1445 pistons .30 over, rings, oil pump & a Melling cam. I zipped the oil pan and intake off and carefully slid the cam out of it just to confirm what the guy told me. Everything adds up. It has 69 heads on it. You're right about the block being the same. It looks identical to my two 854 blocks including my born with 396/402 and a 71 Chevelle SS396 402 motor I have. The only issue is a stripped balancer bolt. I'll have to Helicoil it, but that shouldn't take much effort with the engine out of the car.
I guess it was a good deal just because I had to drive in to Detroit to pick it up... Ended up being a pretty good kid I bought it from. It was in an 87 Monte SS that belonged to a customer and the kid selling it also had a slick little Malibu running sub 9 sec 1/4 miles at Milan.
A few gaskets, some paint and she'll be a good temporary runner while I decide what to do longer term.



Stock 71 Chevelle SS396/402 came on the left, my new motor cam on the right. I'm not sure about the specs on it and I'm having a hard time looking them up. I suspect it's not a Melling cam, but it's definitely a/m. Any ideas what it is?