Need help appraising some parts....

[tom406]

I'm helping a very nice schoolteacher sort through the collection of her younger brother who died suddenly (age 53, have you all had your physicals lately?). Racing big block Chevelles was his passion, but among the old race stuff (Dominator carbs, old Merlin heads, etc) theres a few resto treasures.

First is a late (J 15 9 I think) '69 427 512 short block, lightly decked, but the CE code still legible. Probably .030 over with what look like L88 pop up pistons. He looks like a meticulous guy, so I'm assuming a nice 427 steel crank, good rods, quality assembly.

Second is a beautiful bare set of aluminum open chamber 3946074 heads. I didn't look at every threaded hole, but what I saw looked sweet and untouched.

Finally is an early 3-hole closed plenum 3885069 intake (L78/L72). One bolt hole welded and repaired. Also a GM #'d 3310 carb, which is listed as a '66 L78 piece, but it had a mid '71 date code.

As long as I'm at it, what are nice A body '68-'70 12 bolt rearends (Mark Williams axles, etc) bringing these days?

Thanks in advance for your help on this, its much appreciated.

Tom Breske,
Seattle, WA

[Pacecarjeff]

Put them on eBay. Let the market determine the value, you might be surprised.

[tom406]

She's not interested in marketing pieces individually. That will be up to whoever buys the partially built Chevelle and the extra parts she's grouping with it. I'm just trying to identify values for the most significant pieces to help her set a minimum realistic bid level, mostly so she can feel confident she's not being taken advantage of, since she has very little knowledge of cars, and honestly, is still in the grieving process.

She hired me to help her set some values, and as much as I'd like to own this stuff, its a conflict of interest for me professionally to buy them or even broker them. She's received an offer from one of her brother's associates, and she's asked me to give her a couple of names of good people to give competing bids.

So anyway, if anyone has an educated ballpark figure on the above pieces, I'd like to feel I gave her the best advice I could. I have an idea of their values, but I know many of you have firsthand experience buying and selling these types of pieces recently

Thanks.

[bigchevydaddy]

Hard to give exact prices without seeing the stuff in person, but at the Moultrie, GA swap meet, they would go in this range:

512 Short block: $2500-$3500
Bare 074 Heads: $1500-$2000
Repaired 069 intake: $250
Service Dated 3310: $150
A-Body 12-Bolt: $1500-2000 (Posi, good ratio gears, good axles)

For top dollar, I agree with the ebay suggestion, even if it's a partially-completed car with extras.

Good luck, BCD.

[tom406]

Thanks BCD, your input is much appreciated.