Engine blocks

Looking into engine blocks and seeing people claiming they get "$70 a block" which I don't see possible. I'm a big car guy and have people willing to sell blocks for $10-40. Many at $10 a block. This a deal? Should I pick it up and bring it to the yard?

Engine blocks go as automotive cast iron here. A bit more than prepared steel usually. Same with any cast iron auto parts like brake rotors and drums.

$70 is too much even if its NZ$ & Aluminium.

Its not a 'Core price' is it? Like its being sent out to the middle east to be remanufactured into a new engine?
Maybe if its just for Toyotas or Nissan engines.

I would just call the yard to see what they pay for engine blocks (prepared)

Next ... look up the engine weight here:

Engine Weights II

Multiply the weight by what they're paying and you'll have your answer.

For example:

You've got a Ford 302. V-8 Weight: 460 lbs

Yard pays : .06 per lb

Gross profit before expense: 27.60 USD

Just an afterthought. The net profit margin seems awfully narrow. I wonder if the better than scrap option could possibly work better.

Take a Ford 302 high performance (used) for instance.

A quick check on ebay puts them at 350.00 $ used on the low end.

The Chevrolet LS series of engines seems to be popular with the racing and tuning enthusiasts.

Ebay puts them at around 500.00 $ on the low end.

It might be a scrapping opportunity for a guy wanted to do motors ?

If they have V-8 aluminum block motors, the price could CURRENTLY be close to that ($70) where I sell my scrap aluminum blocked motors. There are also a FEW core engines out there but not many that pay more than scrap and could bring more than $70.

Originally Posted by nagol68

Looking into engine blocks and seeing people claiming they get "$70 a block" which I don't see possible. I'm a big car guy and have people willing to sell blocks for $10-40. Many at $10 a block. This a deal? Should I pick it up and bring it to the yard?

Most engines with cast aluminum top out at about 40-50% aluminum recovery. So ask your yard if they have a cast aluminum engine price or a 40% aluminum breakage price. Then do the math and see if it works out good for you. Because alumimum is in the tank right now the prices will be less than you'd hope for but still worthwhile if convenient. Predominantly cast iron engines pay less than that. Also look around to see if you have any core buyers locally. If so they may have a price sheet for the various engines they buy as cores. As cores engines can go into the hundreds of dollars for some not too uncommon ones (same to all of this for transmissions).