[SCOBRAC]

In the interest of full disclosure I have one in the parts for sale forum. That said...

FE blocks are getting harder to find in good condition. It seems like as is the case with most older parts they are more common in some places than others. In the north and north east where icy roads and salt eat cars, especially older cars old cars and their donor parts, they are pretty rare.

In the the mid west and south they seem more pleantiful. The west is a good source, they are still available but are getting pretty expensive. With the continued interest in restorations, restomods and of course Cobras.

That said it's a sellers market. But be careful. Condition is everything. I can get a 427 side oiler block today for less than a $1,000. It has 2 sleeves ans a big repair in it's valley area.

You really have to know what the bore is and most likely will be when finished to make an educated decision. Side oilers are mostly done at .030" over 390's on the other hand can go as much as .100 over. 428's are all over the place with as much as .060" or as little as .030"

A standard bore anything is worth far more than a .030" anything. Is it 2x more? 3x more? That side oiler I mentioned earlier would be 5-6x more for a standard bore in new condition than a block with sleeves. Is it right? It's up to whats right for you. I'd buy a sleeved block if it was done right. To me that means all 8 bores sleeved.

Here in the west the market is tight. I saw a standard bore 428 CJ / SCJ block sell for $1500 the other night on e-bay. I have a 428 standard bore A code block listed for $750. $750 is pretty common out here. I have seen blocks like mine sell for $1,000-$1200. One aspect of this I seldom see discussed is the number matching aspect. Not terribly important to some, critical to others. I wanted a 1966 side oiler for my Contemporary. If you are restoring a 1967 Shelby GT 500. My 1966 428 might be worth a lot moe to you than a guy doing a replica that just wants an FE for realism. In a case like that a 1976 truck engine might be fine. Those you can get running for $300 and probably get the transmission along with it for free.


The other thing is a block that has been cleaned hot tanked, or shot peened, magnetic particle tested and sonic checked is worth far more than anything that hasn't been. Cleaning and a measuring the bore, checking the alignment is $65. Magnetic particle check (at the time it is hot tanked) is $40. Pressure testing is $15 A sonic check is $12 per hole. That's $215-225 in testing. You think that block will be $300? Not going to happen.

Be patient. Be knowledgable. You'll find what you are looking for.