Dr.Jass
Pastor of Muppets
The poor bastard just can't win for losing. 
Remember the hapless fella from whom I purchased the T/A heads, X-heads, rocker gear and Center Line wheels with slicks at the Jefferson swap meet? Well, he'd told me he had a 340 shortblock he was looking to sell, and he'd like to get $1,500 for it. It was a rebuild that had never been started, with forged pistons and a steel crank, but had sat for a number of years (he didn't know how many). I remember telling Stretch I could probably get it for a grand, knowing this dude. I had his phone number, but decided I had enough 340s and didn't need to spend a grand on another one, so though I kept his digits I never pursued it.
Until this past weekend. Sparky decided it was time to unload it, and he flopped it on eßay. No reserve, $100 opening bid. Either he didn't know, or didn't think it was important to mention, but the pistons are TRW and only +.030". The reciprocating assembly is balanced. It's got a brand-new roller cam in it. It includes a Moroso 10-quart oil pan with a pass-through for the steering drag link, as well as a windage tray. I still wasn't necessarily willing to drop a grand on it, but I was definitely more interested having seen pictures.
I watched it, knowing engines don't sell well on auction sites because rarely do two people want the same engine. They're also a pain to ship, and he had a steep-ish mandatory $400 shipping charge... but he's only a couple of hours down the road. I messaged him via eßay, not revealing who I was, asking if it was OK to pick up the engine in person. No problem, he said. Best of all, the auction was ending at 2:46PM today. People are at work so sniping is nigh-on impossible without a service.
I did a rare thing today and logged into eßay from work to snipe it myself.
Final price? $593.53. :dance: So that's a set of T/A heads, a set of X heads, a set of standard LA mechanical rocker gear on expensive banana-groove shafts, and a complete 340 shortblock for a grand total of $818.53, plus whatever Stretch sticks me for the ride--he assures me it will be very expensive. He also called me some bad names.
Due to the diversionary tactics of this site's linking, I'm not gonna waste time trying to post a link. Just search for item 322317535174 or "1969 Mopar 340 engine rebuilt" in eßay's completed listings.
Remember the hapless fella from whom I purchased the T/A heads, X-heads, rocker gear and Center Line wheels with slicks at the Jefferson swap meet? Well, he'd told me he had a 340 shortblock he was looking to sell, and he'd like to get $1,500 for it. It was a rebuild that had never been started, with forged pistons and a steel crank, but had sat for a number of years (he didn't know how many). I remember telling Stretch I could probably get it for a grand, knowing this dude. I had his phone number, but decided I had enough 340s and didn't need to spend a grand on another one, so though I kept his digits I never pursued it.
Until this past weekend. Sparky decided it was time to unload it, and he flopped it on eßay. No reserve, $100 opening bid. Either he didn't know, or didn't think it was important to mention, but the pistons are TRW and only +.030". The reciprocating assembly is balanced. It's got a brand-new roller cam in it. It includes a Moroso 10-quart oil pan with a pass-through for the steering drag link, as well as a windage tray. I still wasn't necessarily willing to drop a grand on it, but I was definitely more interested having seen pictures.
I watched it, knowing engines don't sell well on auction sites because rarely do two people want the same engine. They're also a pain to ship, and he had a steep-ish mandatory $400 shipping charge... but he's only a couple of hours down the road. I messaged him via eßay, not revealing who I was, asking if it was OK to pick up the engine in person. No problem, he said. Best of all, the auction was ending at 2:46PM today. People are at work so sniping is nigh-on impossible without a service.
I did a rare thing today and logged into eßay from work to snipe it myself.
Final price? $593.53. :dance: So that's a set of T/A heads, a set of X heads, a set of standard LA mechanical rocker gear on expensive banana-groove shafts, and a complete 340 shortblock for a grand total of $818.53, plus whatever Stretch sticks me for the ride--he assures me it will be very expensive. He also called me some bad names.
Due to the diversionary tactics of this site's linking, I'm not gonna waste time trying to post a link. Just search for item 322317535174 or "1969 Mopar 340 engine rebuilt" in eßay's completed listings.
