Going rate for a 390

[emorrison96]

Wanting to get some feedback from anybody who has recently acquired a used FE.  I'm looking to do a build and called a few salvage yards around the Dallas area and could only find one that had one available.  It was out of a 68 car and they wanted $750 for the long block.  I thought that was steep.  I honestly don't care what the displacement is as long as it has the later 4 bolt motor mounts.  I'll even take an FT and use the distributor bushing if needed.  There is a block only on Ebay right now that is 110 miles away and the owner is stating it needs 3 sleeves and is asking $175 OBO.

What is the going rate for one of these blocks these days?

[fastback 427]

I just picked up a running 390 2 bbl out of a 67 gal, 90,000 mi for 450$. I see them up here for 300 to 600 complete, usually pickup engines. Also getting a couple running f150's cheap to part out. Good chance that after 40 years they have been rebuilt so I wouldn't pay top dollar without a sonic check. IMO.

[thatdarncat]

It's going to depend on where you live, but I agree with fastback, $200-$600 complete seems normal here in Minnesota, with many in the $200 range. And just like I replied to someone on the other forum about C6's, I've had people give me standard bore blocks to get rid of them. If you're going to be doing a stroker build be sure and check 360 motors too, it's the same block. You'll be tossing the rotating assembly anyway. And although they are 40 years old I've seen many, cheap, that are standard bore. Of course up here the vehicle rusted away before someone could rebuild them. But check anything you buy carefully, some are mutts, rebuilt with an assortment of parts.

[chilly460]

$300 or so in VA, can definitely find them cheaper if you have time to wait. 

[Joe-JDC]

Check the San Antonio Craig's list on Ford engines.  There is a 390/c-6 combo for $600.00  I would check it out, but they don't want to part the transmission from the engine.  Has Streetmaster intake.  Joe-JDC

[emorrison96]

Thanks for all the feedback.  After reading these I'm definitely going to hold out for something cheaper.  I'll also expand my search to include 360's.  Since the 360 was truck only, does it require the distributor bushing to use a car distributor or are they the same?

[Joe-JDC]

FT engines required the distributor bushing.  Not regular 360/390s. Joe-JDC

[Qikbbstang]

Around here Obama's Cash-For-Clunkers plan basically doubled or tripled the value of core 360-390 FEs within months. Pre CFC the local Pull-Ur-Parts always had 2-5 FEs laying around. Now it's rare to even find a one in a big yard.   I think back on all the FEs I saw w/o hoods and the bare open carbs/intake manifolds open to Florida's frequent rain.

[Rory428]

Up here in Western Canada, not worth much at all.about 2 years ago, I advertised a pair of standard bore 1968 car 390s on CRaigslist I had laying around in my garage, for 300 bucks each. Both were complete long blocks, less the point distributors, 2 barrel carbs and intakes, cranks turned over freely. Both are still sitting in the garage.

[GJCAT427]

I got a complete 390 this summer from a 76 f250. Cost me around 300 bucks. It ran with no problems.

[66FAIRLANE]

Bought a Std bore 390 block for a carton. Not real common around here. Had to drive 500 miles to get it though 

[fe66comet]

200 bucks all day long in IL  and IN. A local paper had a rebuilt one for 450, said you could hear it run.

[sanddoc]

SoCal is all over the place for pricing
$50 for a bare block, $900 for a running engine, $3000 for a good rebuilt

[Ford428CJ]

A rebuilder FE for about $200~250 and a runner for $350 in Oregon....