[OLNOLAN]

:welcome: Hey Friends, Every now and then someone finds a really great deal on a rare engine. Some years back, a friend found an old Caprice sitting on the side of this guys house. He passed it daily going to work and finally stopped to look. He got real curious when he noticed the 427 emblems. He talked to the owner who said it did have a 427 and turbo 400 transmission but the engine had started knocking real bad years ago. He said he might be willing to sell for the right price. After alot of negotiation, my friend bought the whole car for $400, the car was a total basket case, he just wanted the engine and trans to rebuild. Well anyway, when he pulled the engine and started the tear down, he discovered the knock problem. Somehow the dipstick had broke off and got wound around the crankshaft causing the knocking. Turns out the engine ran perfect. Some people got all the luck ! Anybody else got a cool rare engine find story to tell?olnolan :welcome:

 

[poncho62]

Cool find...but a 427 Caprice engine would likely be only the 390 hp model.....We used to pull them out of wagons all the time.

 

[BugRod]

I used to get 440's and 340's all the time, but now I would give my left nut to find one in a yard

 

[OLNOLAN]

Lol

Cool find...but a 427 Caprice engine would likely be only the 390 hp model.....We used to pull them out of wagons all the time.

Only 390 HP !!!!! LOL

 

[OLNOLAN]

They Have Been Rare For Years Around Here

I used to get 440's and 340's all the time, but now I would give my left nut to find one in a yard

Me and you both brother. All the good stuff was scooped up years ago in this area. Ain't no telling how many of the good ol engines are hoarded up somewhere. :thumbup: olnolan

 

[poncho62]

Only 390 HP !!!!! LOL

The lower hp models had the smaller port heads on them.....good engines. The 427 (425)...454 (450) models had the bigger square port heads, forged components, solid cams, Holley carbs etc....Their hp ratings were way under rated for insurance purposes.....They were found mostly in the Vettes, Chevelles, Novas etc.

 

[classicautoresto]

Bought a dirt track car from a friend about 20 years back. He was running the stock class at Louisville Motor Speedway with 1972 cutlass 442 with a small block Olds engine. He continually kept beating the Chevys and getting "Challenged" so he stopped racing and sold me the whole car. I parted it out and on a whim, I called and ran the numbers through Mondello (before home computers, LOL). Engine came back a 69 W31 370hp 350. No wonder he was beating all the stock Chevys. I still have the engine today, waiting for the right Olds to come along............ Jerry