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Old Feb 2, 2020 | 06:36 PM
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Default L-88 engine

What would the value of a 68. 427 L-88 engine with GM aluminum heads and intake, its in a rolling 68 corvette chassis along with a M21 or 22 and 4-11 HD rear end
the pad is milled,, very strong runner, frame and all suspension components are in excellent condition, no carb or dissy ,he wants to sell all together, thanks for any input
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Old Feb 2, 2020 | 08:04 PM
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Pad is milled. May be a real L88, may be a 4 bolt 427 and some forged parts. An L88 isn't as special as a performance engine as it is as a collector's item. Stampings gone, so is most of the value. So 500 to 5000 rolling chassis. 1k trans. 1 to 2k engine.
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Old Feb 4, 2020 | 10:04 AM
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I would think the GM aluminum heads alone would be around 2k, so you think the rolling chassis is worth up to 5k without motor, trans, rear end
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Old Feb 4, 2020 | 10:22 AM
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to get any kind of serious money for that motor, you would need to know exactly whats inside it. doubt many people would let you drop an oil pan to check the crank,rods, and main caps.

i think a true 68 L88 had closed chamber heads- 842s. not the later 074 open chamber. also their value depends heavily on condition. that 1960s aluminum was not very good quality, and you see lots of heads with repairs. i have to agree with whats said above. with the pad milled, and any actual proof of a true L88 gone, you are really buying the value of the possible rare parts. a better 427 could be built using modern parts.

that said, I would think a good running 427 BBC is still work a couple grand.

without seeing pics. Id say - engine 2,000-3000, trans 500, rear 500.
if i was buying the whole roller frame, id offer 3000-3500.
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Old Feb 4, 2020 | 01:13 PM
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thanks for the input, so your saying motor, trans,rear, is 3-4 k, and the roller is 3k without motor, trans,rear
he was looking for 7500 for everything
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Old Feb 4, 2020 | 02:31 PM
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no Im saying 3500 for everything. thats sight unseen. is the frame restored show quality? or is it an old rusty frame? if you remove the engine, trans and rear, there isnt much $$$ there in a bare frame. theres too many variables in condition to put an exact price, but I'll say I dont think a rolling frame with drivetrain is worth 7500. you can buy complete cars in rough shape for that money
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Old Feb 4, 2020 | 03:36 PM
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Now that you have values $, try finding someone with cash who is willing to buy it. You might be better off advertising what you have (no price) and then seeing what buyers are willing to pay.
Duane
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Old Feb 4, 2020 | 04:46 PM
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No, I have not bought it, was just gauging what value these things are now, apparently not that much, at one point a 427 complete motor was 5k or more
and nice bare 68-72 frames were 2k. maybe not any more. I thought the 427 with L-88 heads would have much more value
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Old Feb 4, 2020 | 05:28 PM
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what casting number is the 427 block? 67 blocks are worth way more then 68-69 blocks. same with heads. and without the stamp pad your buying a story. so he better have proof and receipts for the engine build and parts
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Old Feb 4, 2020 | 10:59 PM
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From: cary Il
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Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
what casting number is the 427 block? 67 blocks are worth way more then 68-69 blocks. same with heads. and without the stamp pad your buying a story. so he better have proof and receipts for the engine build and parts
no one is selling a story, I know this person very well, and i know this motor and chassis for a while, I wast talking about a 67 block or ITS value , besides there not worth that much more.
thanks for all the opinions, but I think you guys are way under value on this motor.. a complete 68 corvette 427 with L-88 integrals and gm aluminums heads
that dynes at around 515 HP,
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Old Feb 5, 2020 | 12:14 AM
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I would never pay anywhere close to thought of value, for an engine sealed up claimed to be something special! I would give someone more money, if it was apart for me to look at.
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Old Feb 5, 2020 | 07:01 AM
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you seem to be missing one thing that keeps getting said- without a good stamp pad to verify numbers, there is no actual proof what that block is. just because its sitting in a chassis from a vette doesnt make it an original vette motor. heck is could be a 396 impala block someone put aluminum heads on. I said it in my first post, the value there is in the parts. you would have to KNOW it has an L88 crank and rods, casting number of the block is whats used on L88s, etc. IF all those pieces added up then yes it could be worth more, but you have asked us to put a value on something with about 100 words and zero pics or casting numbers.

as far as the tranny being an M22, i'll say if i had a dollar for every rock crusher that turned out to be a M21, Id have enough to buy my own m22
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Old Feb 5, 2020 | 08:20 AM
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427 car blocks ie short decks are still expensive. Go to ebay and craigslist to gauge pricing. A bare block is $1000 in the northeast
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