Hi guys! Not my usual kind of post, but doing a favor for the step-daughters boyfriend. Good kid. His father passed a couple of years ago in a boating accident.
He has a what he thinks is a '71 "Hemi-Cuda" in the garage as a shell. He was recently contacted by a friend of his dads telling him that his dad left a motor in his storage in W.V. The friend said it was a 426 Hemi, and was generally honest with him about the details. The close friend of his dad told him that he would like to buy the motor for $15,000. We're not sure if this is the original motor or not. Of course, if it is the original motor, then we will re-mate them. 1+1=3!
First off, is that a fair price for a Hemi long block? Do years matter? We are just starting the research. We are kind of lost as where to start as far as to find the true source, and value of his find.
Vin tag numbers will be here soon.

 

thats about what they go for, there are crate engines that go for 13.000~15.000 new,
but if it a original for the cuda im with you there.
i could not tell you if any year is more desirable.

 

Bob is on with the crate prices. It's not a convertible by any chance ???
Seeing as only 11 of those were made in 71 with the Hemi.
I'd be real interested to get a look at the tag.
I guess Scotty it depends on whats there...does the block match the tag etc etc
Keep us posted Von Doom.

 

do you know if the hemi has the original manifolds (both intake and exhaust)
if yes, then around 13-15k seems right

 

Grant, we're gonna check it all out. Since I have never even TOUCHED a hemi before, where would we find the #'s to match it to the car? And the other build year info on the block. And sorry, it is NOT convertible. Rats. This cars been stored for a long time and the kid insists that his dad told him that it was a hemi cuda. but we will see. You are my #'s go-to-guy Grant, so I figure doing a de-code like this would just thrill you if it turns out to be real! Kinda like a scratch-off lotto ticket! 67, I will check about the exhaust manifolds. They mean nothing to most folks, but for the "correct" crowd, they are a big thing. Thanks!

 

Hey Scotty, Ya I am cranked..lol
This thing should have a vin that reads something similar to this BS23R1(B or R) and then the sequential build number starting with 100001.
The block numbers will be the last 8 digits of the sequential number with the year cast and plant being the other digit.
This can be matched to the vin. The numbers should be found on the passenger side by the oil pan rail near the motor mount. If the motor was a warranty job sometimes there are no numbers to be found as it was up to the mechanic to hand stamp the 8 digit number back into the new crate motor.

Now..on the trim tag there will be numbers we can use also like tranny etc etc but we will get to that.
Keep me posted bro.

 

Yes that is a fair price and like said above that is about average price for them. I have seen them sale for around 10k before not too many times, 15k is probably about tops. So if he doesnt want to keep it then I would most definately let it go for that. But of course if the hemi is matching numbers to the car it is of course worth a TONNNNNNN more than that. You asked about years, 1971 Cudas are extremely valuable, and in all honesty have never seen a matching numbers 71 hemi cuda for sell before. So I couldnt tell you what it would bring. As a project I would start asking somewhere between 30k and 50k for it just to see what happens. That may be a bit and it may be low IDK. I once a saw a 70 hemi challenger on ebay with the matching hemi in it and it was a pretty rough project car, I think it was a drag pac car if I remember right, anyways they listed it 2 or 3 times each time they bid up to 69k on it and the seller never let it go.