Hi everyone. I found a Olds 403 complete from oil pan to air cleaner with accessories and transmission for $400. I want to get it for my cutlass. Should I buy it? How can I know if it is worth it? Would it still be worth it if it has a cracked block or warped heads? Also can anyone tell me how much I could expect to spend rebuilding and machining it? Thanks for the input guys. This will be my first build if I decide to go for it.
Should I buy?
- Thread starter duppyconqueror
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if I were you I'd do a little reading on the 403 to see if it is what you want. You can spend lots of money rebuilding an engine if you want...
i have a 403 it is a 1979 . yes the are alot more to build than a 350 chevy. i had mine built. bored 40 over all new pistons,rings,crank,connecting rods bearings ect.then picked up some old 350 olds heads had them rebuild all new valves springs ect.i think i am about 4500.00. i as well checked in to a 350 chevy it would have only been about 2500.00. so that being said depends on what you want to spend.got to luv the olds power.
Yea that's kind of a lot of money for the build. I see that you can get a rebuild kit for the olds 403 for like $500 on ebay and its like another 200 for a crankshaft. Then There is the machine shop cost which I'm guessing would be about $1000? If everything is usable on the motor I think 400 is pretty fair, but maybe I should try to talk him down to really make it worth it...
where abouts are you, there is a 403 sorta close to me in Hamilton Ontario that's still in the car and running for $1,000
http://london.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles ... Z521468096
http://london.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles ... Z521468096
the 403 i have,i used to have in a 81 cutlass.the body and floor rusted out,i sold the car for 250.00 with the engine. the guy pulled the engine and let it sit in his garage for 5 years i bought it and the transmission back for 250.00. the had it rebuild
I'm just a few miles south of you... Florida... hahaha... The guy selling this 403 said it wasnt running when he pulled it, but it is not seized it can be turned by hand... Is 400 a good deal? he said it has all accessories complete oil pan to air filter even has the fan and ac compressor and transmission... Is 400 too good of a deal to pass up?
wonderboy24 said:
No doubt you can spend $4500 on a rebuild but your numbers are not a good reflection of cost delta between building a SBC vs SBO. Head work is the same regardless of engine type. Machining operations are the same cost in most cases. Depending on duppyconqueror's goals, he could have the 403 short block gone through and buy a set of good used heads for a lot less than that. If you are patient and can wait for good deals on the parts you need on sites like oldspower & realoldspower.com, you can save some bucks. Back 20 years ago, I paid $375 for a 80K running 403 from a 79 Trans Am. Since then, I got one for free and another for $50....
As long as the block is good, it is OK to buy. The heads flow so so and should be replaced with either early 350, if you use dish cast pistons. Procomp or Edelbrock heads are good to use forged Arias, Diamond or KB hyper small dish pistons. I have a set of used custom .039" Veniola forged pistons with .927 sbc pin on Scat sbc 2" rods that work with an offset ground crank. They are stock dish, so they will with early 350 heads or milled aluminum heads. You might get away without a girdle 550 gram pistons and much lighter and stronger rods. I have lost interest in the project due to being ripped off $550 from an Olds expert. Plus I found a really nice running Olds 350. I paid $400 shipped but would make a deal, make me a reasonable offer and their yours.
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