307 being called a 350

[Crazyduck]

I in a deal where the gentleman says it's a 350 with a casting number of 3970024. This comes up as 307. Any ideas?

[CaptRMW]

If you are in this deal then you need to get out.

[too much stuff]

Its a 69-73 307 truck or pass car.

[davepl]

I actually decode that one as 69-71 2-bolt 307. Close enough though!

Either the seller is confused or deceptive.

[BruthaMan]

It's not a bad motor, for normal driving.

Another way to look at it: If you sense the guy is just confused and not being deceptive, use it to your advantage. Tell him you are really looking for a truck with a 350 or 400. To replace the long block with a GM crate long block is around $1500 for the 260 HP. Jegs sometimes has sales on these for like $1250 shipped, but I'd stick with 1500-2000 on the price.

Then tell him you could probably sell the 307 on CL for about $500, if it's in good condition. That leaves a $1000 difference. Offer a thousand - fifteen hundred off the asking price. All he can do is say no.

[Crazyduck]

He says it's fresh rebuild he was gonna put into a jeep or something. I looked it up too and it comes up 307 but he swears it's a 350 "they just did the rebuild". Oh for $1200 just the engine.

[leddzepp]

Sounds like it's a 307

Hey neighbor, I'm in Corona too.

[CaptRMW]

If he just rebuilt it and don't know if it is a
307 or 350 then you need to run just as hard as you can the other way. If you go ahead and buy it and have some money left I have some land I need to sell about 150 miles west of you.

[Crazyduck]

I have the truck already looking for the engine.

[Pop's C-10]

Pass on it..either he is nuts or running game..

[leftybass209]

The numbers don't lie if they aren't altered. One thing I have noticed though is to people that aren't very knowledgeable about engines, everything is a 350. Those that know just enough to identify a big block usually think all those are 454's. The number 350 has just engrained in people's minds. Likewise, all in - line 6's are called v6 by sellers on Craigslist. Might be the case here, but I doubt it.

[Crazyduck]

I'll pass on the land thanks tho lol. I did pass on it. Thanks for the quick response everyone. Great community.

[Red Tractors]

I've been told that some shops in the past, maybe they still do, would punch out a 307 block to 4" and build them as 350's. He might have a 350 in a 307 block, probably not the best idea.

[CaptRMW]

Anyone boring a GM casting small block .125" is wasting their time and somebodys money. Core shift was standard fare on the 307.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by CaptRMW

Anyone boring a GM casting small block .125" is wasting their time and somebodys money. Core shift was standard fare on the 307.

You can get away with it if you have the opportunity to pick through about 20 blocks to find one (with sonic measurement) where the sand cores just happened to be about centered. Like Capt said, core shift was typical.

You might find one on your first try. Or you might not find one in 20. That's one reason why aftermarket blocks are desirable and cost more - better tolerances and less variation unit to unit.

[leddzepp]

As far as I am concerned, any non running engine is a boat anchor. I've known wayyyy too many guys that have been hosed on someone's story. I'm surprised he says it's only a 350...most of the time the seller claims it's a 383 stroker, when in fact it's a worn out 283

Paperwork don't mean squat to me either...I can't hear it run

[davepl]

FWIW I've sold a number of 396s that were running when pulled (I knew the motors were fine, but the buyers couldn't confirm) for $600. So a small block that you can't be certain is running should be worth a lot less.

And a 307 is probably worth slightly more than its scrap weight, really.

The time I've sold an out-of-the-car motor for more I made a video of it cold-starting, no smoke from pipes, oil pressure gauge, let it warm up, not shake, not knock, etc, before I pulled it.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Crazyduck

He says it's fresh rebuild he was gonna put into a jeep or something. I looked it up too and it comes up 307 but he swears it's a 350 "they just did the rebuild". Oh for $1200 just the engine.

Yeah, and he lied when he said it was a 350. Of course it's a fresh rebuild. And if frogs had wings they wouldn't bump their backside. Walk away. Fast!

[zeldman]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

As far as I am concerned, any non running engine is a boat anchor. I've known wayyyy too many guys that have been hosed on someone's story. I'm surprised he says it's only a 350...most of the time the seller claims it's a 383 stroker, when in fact it's a worn out 283

Paperwork don't mean squat to me either...I can't hear it run

And its a rare Corvette motor....

[brawley]

maybe he replaced a few gaskets and bolt on parts -they are the same for 305-350 and thinks its a 350 and calling that a rebuild....

[Crazyduck]

Wrong info

[FL71C10]

283, 383, whatever! I looked at an ad for a truck near here where he listed it as a 292 with a powerglide, and in the pics you can see its a small block.

People just don't pay attention, or they don't know. Not sure which is worse. Buyer beware.

Originally Posted by leddzepp

As far as I am concerned, any non running engine is a boat anchor. I've known wayyyy too many guys that have been hosed on someone's story. I'm surprised he says it's only a 350...most of the time the seller claims it's a 383 stroker, when in fact it's a worn out 283

Paperwork don't mean squat to me either...I can't hear it run

[72bowtiestepper]

The amount of misinformation out there is staggering.....like the old saying goes...."Buyer beware"....also "Knowledge is power" !

[FL71C10]

Yes, you need to know more about the truck than the seller.