1961 Pontiac 389 425A 4 bolt main engine block
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EaOutlaw
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What is the casting numbers on the block?
When you say the engine is in good shape that really means nothing. what is the current bore size? are you just selling just the block with main caps and bolts? or are you selling the entire engine where you can start and run it? if so what are the compression numbers?
what internals does it have?
from my experience, It is worth what someone is willing to pay.
I had a complete 455 that just needed a good gasket set, that I gave away because it went to a good home in a Pontiac which is better than what I had in mind for it.
Helping someone live their dream was priceless for me at the time.
If it is all just about money and its worth, to get maximum value from it, send it to a machine shop and have it completely cleaned and checked over.
Have the machine shop write down any work it needs along with the current measurements from cylinder bore deck height etc.
advertising a simple Block for sale without this information your buyer will likely move on to one that has this information.
When you say the engine is in good shape that really means nothing. what is the current bore size? are you just selling just the block with main caps and bolts? or are you selling the entire engine where you can start and run it? if so what are the compression numbers?
what internals does it have?
from my experience, It is worth what someone is willing to pay.
I had a complete 455 that just needed a good gasket set, that I gave away because it went to a good home in a Pontiac which is better than what I had in mind for it.
Helping someone live their dream was priceless for me at the time.
If it is all just about money and its worth, to get maximum value from it, send it to a machine shop and have it completely cleaned and checked over.
Have the machine shop write down any work it needs along with the current measurements from cylinder bore deck height etc.
advertising a simple Block for sale without this information your buyer will likely move on to one that has this information.
Thank you for your reply This is not all about the money. I had one in storage that I hand picked and had tested out 20 years ago when someone recently asked me if I had one. I just happened to have one that they want. I haven't kept up with the worth of these 61 Catalina engine blocks, so I'm just trying to find out what would be a fair price for both of us. This block has the code M4 and Pontiac only made 1,300 of them. I've been an early 60's Pontiac Guy since 1955, owning and restoring and Pontiac parts and cars since then, and I've never cheated anyone yet, and I don't intend to now. Thank you for your good advice, however.
EaOutlaw
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To find the value we would need to know more about what you are selling?
What is included with the block? is this just a bare block with main caps?
or is it a complete short block with rotating assembly?
Is it a long block complete with heads?
or a complete engine from carburetors to oil pan with all the original tins?
here is an example of the same year and size engine you say you have, that is currently for sale on eBay. it is listed for $3,000 with local pick up.
this does not really show its worth this is what this company is trying to sell it for.
This engine could sit on eBay for years and never sell at 3K
they could also relist it for 5K and sell it the same day if the right person comes around and absolutely has to have what they are selling.
Many people use the engine casting numbers when searching for a particular engine, if it is not mentioned in the title it may never get noticed same thing if they made a typo when creating the listing.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1961-PONTIA...m231d820fdf:m:m1zjpT7bumt_o0N7osRpkSA&vxp=mtr
It appears to be somewhat complete yet not a numbers matching engine, the block has been repaired. and it looks like it would require a full overhaul.
It has 44 watchers and no recent history of the same engine being sold on eBay.
it is a desirable engine to have, but you have not clarified what your selling.
On an engine like this specific details are needed to make a determination of a value.
A block like yours that doesn't come with information like what is the current bore size for each cylinder or deck height, and other critical information is a gamble for the purchaser. they could spend hundreds of dollars in machine shop fees to find out they just purchased a 600 pound paper weight.
you say you had it tested, great what was tested and what is the details of this test.
A block that is at standard bore, has no cracks has the factory deck height and does not require extensive machining. will fetch more than one that is .060 over with a low deck height.
and obviously the more parts that are in or on the engine that came with it originally makes it even more valuable.
No one said anything about you screwing anyone over. I have just been trying to answer your question. but to do so you have to answer my questions.
I am all for you getting a fair price for this block, you have kept it safe and off the drag strip for many years. this alone has got to be worth paying for your efforts.
Help me help you by answering a few questions.
Without any of this information that you haven't provided,the only thing I can come up with is.
write down what you paid for it 20 years ago figure a reasonable inflation rate, add a reasonable amount for your labor that it took to find it buy it and move it to where it sat for 20 years after the testing you did, the price of the testing.
Add a fair amount for storage,up the price to where your comfortable selling it, because it is so rare. even include some money for the time you have to take out of your life selling it to this guy.
What is included with the block? is this just a bare block with main caps?
or is it a complete short block with rotating assembly?
Is it a long block complete with heads?
or a complete engine from carburetors to oil pan with all the original tins?
here is an example of the same year and size engine you say you have, that is currently for sale on eBay. it is listed for $3,000 with local pick up.
this does not really show its worth this is what this company is trying to sell it for.
This engine could sit on eBay for years and never sell at 3K
they could also relist it for 5K and sell it the same day if the right person comes around and absolutely has to have what they are selling.
Many people use the engine casting numbers when searching for a particular engine, if it is not mentioned in the title it may never get noticed same thing if they made a typo when creating the listing.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1961-PONTIA...m231d820fdf:m:m1zjpT7bumt_o0N7osRpkSA&vxp=mtr
It appears to be somewhat complete yet not a numbers matching engine, the block has been repaired. and it looks like it would require a full overhaul.
It has 44 watchers and no recent history of the same engine being sold on eBay.
it is a desirable engine to have, but you have not clarified what your selling.
On an engine like this specific details are needed to make a determination of a value.
A block like yours that doesn't come with information like what is the current bore size for each cylinder or deck height, and other critical information is a gamble for the purchaser. they could spend hundreds of dollars in machine shop fees to find out they just purchased a 600 pound paper weight.
you say you had it tested, great what was tested and what is the details of this test.
A block that is at standard bore, has no cracks has the factory deck height and does not require extensive machining. will fetch more than one that is .060 over with a low deck height.
and obviously the more parts that are in or on the engine that came with it originally makes it even more valuable.
No one said anything about you screwing anyone over. I have just been trying to answer your question. but to do so you have to answer my questions.
I am all for you getting a fair price for this block, you have kept it safe and off the drag strip for many years. this alone has got to be worth paying for your efforts.
Help me help you by answering a few questions.
Without any of this information that you haven't provided,the only thing I can come up with is.
write down what you paid for it 20 years ago figure a reasonable inflation rate, add a reasonable amount for your labor that it took to find it buy it and move it to where it sat for 20 years after the testing you did, the price of the testing.
Add a fair amount for storage,up the price to where your comfortable selling it, because it is so rare. even include some money for the time you have to take out of your life selling it to this guy.
______________________________
Thank you for the link. It would be just the block, the caps, and the crankshaft. Right now I am trying to find what it came out of. So my new question is,
what Pontiac body style did my 1961, 389 425A engine BLOCK come out of? The casting number is 53818. The production number is 244252. The block code is M4. Was it from a Catalina, a Ventura, or a Bonneville?
Thank you.
what Pontiac body style did my 1961, 389 425A engine BLOCK come out of? The casting number is 53818. The production number is 244252. The block code is M4. Was it from a Catalina, a Ventura, or a Bonneville?
Thank you.
EaOutlaw
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EaOutlaw
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From what I have read, Pontiac didn't start stamping their engines with the last 8 of the cars VIN until 1968.
Here is my resource for this information
http://www.classicalpontiac.com/restoration/numbers.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_B_platform
This block may very well have called one of these great cars home a long time ago. however the coding is saying it had a 3 speed SO I really have no idea on how your going to pin down
What it came out of. Yet I can clearly see why you purchased it and why your hesitant in letting it go. Personally I wouldn't sell it after all these years If you do not have to.
http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/hppp-0809-1961-pontiac-ventura-acing-the-ventura/
Here is my resource for this information
http://www.classicalpontiac.com/restoration/numbers.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_B_platform
This block may very well have called one of these great cars home a long time ago. however the coding is saying it had a 3 speed SO I really have no idea on how your going to pin down
What it came out of. Yet I can clearly see why you purchased it and why your hesitant in letting it go. Personally I wouldn't sell it after all these years If you do not have to.
http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/hppp-0809-1961-pontiac-ventura-acing-the-ventura/
Last edited: