Need help on setting price for 401

[Mike Caldwell]

I've recently discovered that the 401 I have is locked up. Not sure how bad, but even a little isn't good.

Then a guy from another forum where I had posted a want ad calls and says he got one and it's running.

So now come the big question -- What's do you all think a 401 (out of a Unisystem ) worth?


Problem is we need to have some idea soon -- he's coming this way this weekend and will need time to load it.

Anybody sold/bought a BB V-6 lately??

At least shoot me an opinion.

[Ed Snyder]

Mike --

Prices for V6s can vary widely, depending on lots of things of course. Distance between buyer and seller is a major factor. In the past I've paid $50 for a 305E, $100 to $150 for a 351E, and $400 for the 401M I put in my Suburban. I haven't had much luck selling them, although I was able to sell one 351E for $250. These engines seem to keep finding me unsolicited. So I buy them usually as a favor for friends who are just trying to get rid of them. But I've hauled two 305s and three 351s to the scrap dealer lately when I couldn't sell them. I just needed the space.

[bigblockv6]

I haven't bought any in recent years but the last 401M I bought 22 years ago which was in running condition from a wrecking yard cost me $400. Fours years later I picked up a 478M that had a stuck piston & cracked water jackets, made an offer to the wrecking yard of $175 and they accepted that. A few months later I picked up a rebuildable short block for the 478M minus a crankshaft for $250.

[Funky61]

The 401M I picked up about two years ago cost me $425. It was advertised as a 351 but I got lucky.

[turbobill]

Generally speaking, these engines aren't worth a lot, except perhaps to members of this forum. I scored a perfect 305 with transmission and front driving axle for free. The most I've paid is $250 with most being in the $50 to $200 range.

[bigblockv6]

You can't compare the 305 to the bigger 400 plus cubic inch V6 engines when it comes to prices or in any other way. For the most the 305 is worth less than a $100 as scrap. $400 to $600 is the range for the bigger V6's all depending on the condition of the engine.

[turbobill]

That was not my intent to "compare".

For the record, the last 401 I bought was $100 (ran great), a 478 Toro Flow for $70, a perfect running 478 with a Clark 5 speed OD for $200. The 305's ranged from free to $250 with 4 speed transmissions.

[BarryGMC]

I paid 100.00 for my 401. Got to hear it run. And he delivered it.