$500 for a running 430 OK?

Hey there, I'm an Olds guy, new to Buicks. We have a 71 Skylark, daily driven with a 350. I have a line on a 90,000 mile 430, 1968-9, I think, complete with manifolds and pulleys? Good deal? Desireable engine? Easy swap? Pistons, cams, etc easily obtainable? Thanks, Jim

 

Hey Jim....i personally had the same questions when i first found my 430. I like the torque, factory hp, and the fact that it is a different and not seen all the time. had a tough time getting a set of decent heads, so went with TA performance stage 1 alum. heads and everything went crazy from there! new everything..from top to bottom. parts are out there. evil bay was a good source, as was this forum, and go to TA Performance. lots of parts purchased there and really good guys and gals. check into the history of these motors and you will find some good facts and figures.
Rick

 

I'd consider a 455 to be preferable to a 430; especially a 455 that already has the larger oil galleys.

$500 is too much.

I paid $200 for a running '72 455 and TH400 trans, although I don't consider that to be a typical price, and the engine was out of the car so I don't know if it's an oil-burner under load. I've run it on an engine stand. It was--probably--worth more than $200.

 

It's funny how prices vary by geography. Big blocks here are rare. I guess in this older, sffluent area, the older "hoopties" have hit the crusher long ago. In reality, a stock reman'd 455 from a DECENT mass builder would be more than adequate.

 

I ended up paying 600 for a 455 and a th 400 trans.... all i used out of it were the rods and the block.... um and the balancer. i could't find anything else out here when i was looking, and this was as low as the guys would go, they said they'd just sit on it till someone gave them the money.... i'm on LONG Island NY

-Brendan

if i had gotten a line on a running anything i'd have payed 600 bucks,,,, but i wouldn't have the engine I have now....

 

I wouldn't pay 500 for a 430. If you plan on re-building it you'll spend lots of $$$ on crappy pistons. take the oil mods into place and you would be better off finding a 455. I would definatly take the heads and internals though. If you could get it for 300 then I'd do it.

 

Thanks. That's kinda the info I was looking for. Like the 425 Olds, which I love, not much parts availability. Is there a vendor who does engines in the S.E that anyone can recommend? Just a stockish build, nothing fancy.

 

Yeah exactly like a 425 olds. I get tired of hearing why not find a 455?

 

The only way $500 would be a good deal is if the whole car was attached. Two of my low mile 455's were $500 with the car. One was a 70 Riv with 35,000 and the other was a 76 Electra with 50,000.

 

Joe, maybe where you are, but not here. I'm telling you, all those rusty old boats with big blocks of any make are long gone. You just don't see them around here.

 

I guess the geography plays a pretty big part. I just find it hard to believe your rusty old boats have been off the road longer than the ones I'm accustomed to seeing. Western Pennsylvania isn't a very good place to be if your a car. If the salt doesn't get ya, Bambi will.

 

The thing is, the people down here have money. They trade their cars in after a few years. I'm telling you, and I look every day. I have not seen a full sized Olds beater in over 2 years for sale. Nice ones, yeah, too nice to scrap for the engine, but no $500 cars for sure.

 

I bought a 72 gs parts car a yr. ago for $250..Got the engine,tranny,all the rocker trim,drip rail trim,4 gs wheels,a good grill,and lots more..Car was rotten,but with all the parts I got, it was wearth a lot more. GS grill is about 400 BUCKS. Repo rocker trims are high dollar too..

 

I have a 430 in parts less the front cover assembly and crank I'll let go for 100 bucks. I'll even throw in a spare set of 73 heads that can hopefully be canibalized for valves springs and retainers.