what's a 396 worth?

[crosby]

I know a guy who has a 396 (apart) that he's been "saving" for years, doesn't know where the crank caps are. I think it's a 2 bolt block, he does have the heads and intake. I would like to rebuild it, maybe add splayed 4 bolt caps if not too expensive, stuff it in my 87 K20 with one ton drivetrain. Any suggestions? What do you think it's worth assuming it's in good shape? Thank you!

[John39671]

Well I work in a machine shope out here in Oregon and if he doesent have any main caps and you buy it your screwed. I bet we have 3 people a week come in looking for main caps but no matter how many times you cut the caps and aline hone it the caps never fit right.
We have a 350 and a 429 ford we just put splayed maine caps on. The 350 cost $400 plus the cost of the caps, the 429 is going to run about $450 plus main caps because we had to put it in the mill and mill down the block and the main caps. One of my machinest said it would cost about the same for a 396. I dont know what labor prices are out there but we are at $45.00 per/hr.
Hope this helps.

[crosby]

Hi John, thanks for the message. Wow, good thing I asked. I didn't think the caps would be a big deal. It's so much cheaper to build a 350 I should probably do that anyway, maybe save a little on gas. I really appreciate your help, have a good one!

[John39671]

The only thing is if you can buy the motor cheap enough you can resale the heads and the crank if it is steel.

[John39671]

If you get the casting nummbers off of them I can decode them.