What would you pay for a 401??

[Dmntxn77]

I can get a 401 and 727 from a 74 IH pick-up if I want it. It is unknown condition, unknown mileage, and it is currently not running. I dont know what is preventing it from starting since I have not seen it yet.

Since I cant hear it run, I have to assume the worst, and plan a full rebuild for it.

The guy wants $300 for the 401 and 727, and I have to pull it.

What do you think?? Would you dump $300 on what is possibly nothing more than rebuldable core?


Oh yeah... NO, I wont tell where it is.. :D

[AlsChopShop]

i'm a little biased, but i wouldn't pay more than $200, the same price i'd pay for a 350 chevy becuase they have the same amount of power.

Al

[PlasticBoob]

I would, even for just a possible rebuildable 401. But that's because ANY AMC V8 is hard to find out here in greenie land. :rolleyes:

You should offer what everyone else on this board seems to think they're worth; $0-$10 even rebuilt. :p

[Dmntxn77]

i'm a little biased, but i wouldn't pay more than $200, the same price i'd pay for a 350 chevy becuase they have the same amount of power.

Al

Why would I want a SBC? EVERYONE has one of those... ;)



Plus, I really doubt that a SBC 350 will put out as much power as the 401. If you compare apples to apples of course..

[AlsChopShop]

Why would I want a SBC? EVERYONE has one of those... ;)



Plus, I really doubt that a SBC 350 will put out as much power as the 401. If you compare apples to apples of course..:D

actually i did the comparison to a mid 90's 350 and they turned out darn near the same. i'll have to find the thread....

Al

[Jayrodoh]

I'd do it for $300, I wasted $300 on worse things. You could part and sell the crank, rods, etc. on eBay and recoup most of your price if it was junk. Chances are the IH rusted out before that motor even broke in ;)

[wickedwagon767]

$300 is somewhat reasonable for a 401 core alone, let alone a 727 core. If its complete. I've seen them sell in similar condition for $500. I suppose they're worth what someone will pay for them.

I would pay $300,but try to turn the crank to see if you can at least get some movement from the bottom end .....since you're pulling it out anyway.

Go ahead and offer $250 to see if he'll come lower, if you haven't already;). Maybe he'll meet you halfway

I just found a '76 swb J10 with a good bed and a 401 for $1400 obo. It hasn't run in several years, the 401 block is still in the truck (rust in the cylinders) but the heads have been removed,dissasembled and cleaned for a rebuild.....a few years ago. So a full rebuild is a guarantee.The truck comes with (2) TH400's , a Dana20 and a quadratrac in unkownish condition. I might pay $1000 even for the whole she-bang, if I can work out storage for the truck.

My point being, it depends on the deal you get and how boad you want it:cool:

[mattmopar440]

I say go for it $300 for a 401 and a 727 the junk yard where I live wants $500 for a AMC 360 just the motor

Don't let Al bring you down Its a 401 thing and he wouldn't understand :D

[AlsChopShop]

actually, considering you get a 727 in the deal, you aren't in bad shape at $300. worst case your looking at one of the two that is toast, but probably not both.

Al

[Dmntxn77]

:D

actually i did the comparison to a mid 90's 350 and they turned out darn near the same. i'll have to find the thread....

Al

So, I mid 90's 350 (I assume TBI) to a mid 70's 401 2bbl??

Like I said, apples to apples. If you have a 350 block, and a 401 block, and build them part for part, good luck comming out on top with a SBC..

Granted, those parts may cost a bit more for the 401, but you will likely end up with better parts too. A lot of those cheap SBC parts are chinese crap, and that is why they are so cheap on ebay... If you went with name brand quality parts on both builds, I would expect the cost to be very close.

[Dmntxn77]

actually, considering you get a 727 in the deal, you aren't in bad shape at $300. worst case your looking at one of the two that is toast, but probably not both.

Al

True... What is a decent 727 worth though? I wouldnt expect much, but I have never shopped for one either...

[mattmopar440]

True... What is a decent 727 worth though? I wouldnt expect much, but I have never shopped for one either...
well the AMC 727 go for $150 on up one the site

[mark j]

A rebuildable 401 core is worth $500 alone to most people who are looking for them. The value is in the block, crank, and rods which are unique to the 401. Everything else is the same between the 401 and 360. I think $300 is a good price assuming the core is rebuildable. This is especially true if the block and crank have not been machined before and are standard. Most standard 401 blocks that have not been machined can easily do well with a 0.020 cylinder bore- well within factory recs and run cool post rebuild assuming you don't have significant cast shifting. I'd run with it if you are interested in going with the 401. I just drove my '89 now with a moderately built 401 and 727 with the transgo shift kit and all I can say is it just pulls unbelievably- and I was going easy on it.:D

[fulsizjeep]

The 401 alone is worth $300 as a core to me. Some places a 401 core is worth up to $1000. The 727 is worth about $50 as a core to me maybe more or less to others. The output end may also determine it's value better.

[YellowJeep]

**putting on flame proof suit**
Scrap metal is pretty high right now. That 401 should be worth a few $$! :p:p Sorry, I saw some SBC bashing so I had to chime in and defend the SBC (all in good fun)!

Personally, at $4 a gallon fuel costs, I'm not sure I'd want to run a 401, but like others have already said...for $300 go for it. If nothing else, I'm sure you can easily get your money back out of it from someone here.

[krek]

It would be worth $300 to me IF I wanted to build it.

I figure I have $2,000 in my built 401 (with Howell EFI), built 727 and twin-sticked Dana 300 as part of the J20 buy. No effort on my part and less expensive than the sum of the parts.

[AlsChopShop]

So, I mid 90's 350 (I assume TBI) to a mid 70's 401 2bbl??

Like I said, apples to apples. If you have a 350 block, and a 401 block, and build them part for part, good luck comming out on top with a SBC..

Granted, those parts may cost a bit more for the 401, but you will likely end up with better parts too. A lot of those cheap SBC parts are chinese crap, and that is why they are so cheap on ebay... If you went with name brand quality parts on both builds, I would expect the cost to be very close.i only compared stock numbers from each manufacturer. i agree its not really a fair comparison when one is carbed and the other fuel injected, then once you get into building a given block you throw everything out the window. and when your done with it, the only sure thing is the built 350 was cheaper than the built 401.

edit- found it... mid 90's sbc 350 - 210hp and 310ft-lbs stock, last year of 401 - 215 hp and 320 ft-lbs. just 5 more hp and 10 ft-lbs of torque. ;)

but anyway, back on topic..... :)

Al

[AMX factor]

I'd pay $300 for a 401 if one ever went that high around here. I pretty much have all the 401's in the area that are for sale or free floating. Granted I have never paid that much for one but i have no problem doing it. As mentioned before crank and rods would sell for that much. I actually gave a guy a 12 pack for a frozen 401 block last year. I have it sitting in a barrel of diesel(thank god I bought that last year). It has a split cylinder so it'll make a great concreted drag block. Right now I'd pay more money for a car AMC 727 than a 401. With all the motors I have I only have 2 trannys.

[Dmntxn77]

The 401 alone is worth $300 as a core to me. Some places a 401 core is worth up to $1000. The 727 is worth about $50 as a core to me maybe more or less to others. The output end may also determine it's value better.


Didnt think abou that... I wonder what transfer cases IH used in 74? That would save me some money if I could bolt it right up to a np203 or np205 without a new tailshaft. :thumbsup:


Are 727's decent tranny's? How does it compare to a th400?

[bigun]

I want to be like my hero Flint and have people pay me to haul them off.

[The PIG Smith]

I'd do it for $300, I wasted $300 on worse things. You could part and sell the crank, rods, etc. on eBay and recoup most of your price if it was junk. Chances are the IH rusted out before that motor even broke in ;)

LOL! ME, TOO!
I would say Three Bills is a fair price.

[fulsizjeep]

I want to be like my hero Flint and have people pay me to haul them off.ahem ;) yeah hauled two of them off once for $225 each in our pockets. Too bad I can't tell the story like this: "they both had 401s in them" One was a Z coded Cherokee - but no motor... :(



Robert - I would pick a T400 over a 727 most days...

[mimmp]

Are 727's decent tranny's? How does it compare to a th400?

I have both, 727 in the GW, t400 in the Commando, not really any difference in them that I can tell in similar usage.

All you might care to know about 727s

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/torqueflite.html

[Tad]

Hmm,
I would just pay $500 for a running 80K Caddy 500/rebuilt TH400, crush the Hearse and call it good.
I'm not an AMC guy, so I do not undestand the 401 thing very well.

[fulsizjeep]

I have to admit that not many GMs get much of my attention but that Buick sounds pretty healthy and your rig kicks butt Tad. I like the stock headlight bezels on the painted grill too. Nice touch. So, if you understand that respect you already understand the 401 thing. :cool: Now a 500 Caddy to me would be like a 418 punched Vigilante like one raced back in the day. :p


http://jubileejeeps.org/327/418_03.jpg

[Dmntxn77]

Hmm,
I would just pay $500 for a running 80K Caddy 500/rebuilt TH400, crush the Hearse and call it good.
I'm not an AMC guy, so I do not undestand the 401 thing very well.



Yep, I know what you mean. I am not an AMC guy either. I am however a Jeep guy. And, since this is the biggest engine Jeep offered, it has my interest. A Caddy 500 would be cool, but if I were to build something that huge, it would go in a street rod, not a wheeler.

[J4GRAND]

Are 727's decent tranny's? How does it compare to a th400?
Very comparable in strength and performance. I have no idea what xfer case it would have but I would suspect a Dana 20.

BTW, are you still interested in the Chief badges? I have them ready to go.

[malodin]

dmntxn, if that rig is up here in washington snag it up because 401's in non running condition can fetch an easy 600 on c/l (ive sold 2)

[olemisst]

http://cosprings.craigslist.org/pts/691168746.html

I think it is.

[COLOFIREMAN]

I've got a running 401 4bbl that I'm going to sell. $500.00 and I have the parts for a TH400 with it. Sorry for the hyjack http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd218/COLOJEEPGUY2K/Emotions/811380321470c4e9e2b59e.gif :D

[fulsizjeep]

this thread is crackin me up! :lol:

people do pay $1K for a 4 OH 1

umm, not us... well, the J20 was

wrapped around one for $1.5K

So it happens. They get premium sometimes

That one in Salida looks kinda in my price range actually... :p

[AMC_FAN]

Prices for 401s depend on a couple things like location and who is looking for one. It seems to some Jeepers, they just aren't worth THAT much. To an AMC person (meaning an AMC car owner), finding a 401 is like finding gold. For location, I live in the Northeast and trying to find a 401 is VERY difficult, so prices for a useable 401, even just a core, is very high. There's just not that many around here. It seems like the Western portion of the country has an abundance of them, so the value of them is much lower. I remember hearing of one 401 owner a bunch of years ago who lived in Washington state that scrapped a Cherokee or Wagoneer that had a 401 because no one wanted to go get it. Around here, people would drive hours to go get it.

The last 401 I bought was a standard block, 10/10 crank, and rods/pistons I got for $500. Again, it was the best deal I could find anywhere around and it wasn't even local to me. I happened to be going to Virginia (where it was located), so I bought it ad picked it up. I feel I got a decent deal. Not great, but better than any other deal I'd found.

Two other examples. Since my 69 Javelin was originally a 390 car, I wanted to find a 390 for it. I found a totally stock, low mileage engine out of an Ambassador (already removed from the Ambo, otherwise I would have bought the whole car and left the 390 in it). I paid $850 for it. It's complete carb to pan. The other one is a friend of mine that was desperate for a 401. Found a low mileage (70K) engine that someone removed from a Jeep. I thought he was crazy, but he paid $1200 for it. Both engines will need to be completely rebuilt. Again, AMC car owners want them and will pay for them.

So to me, when I hear someone saying "should I get a 401 for $300", I say no. Tell me where it is and I'll go grab it. :D

Oh, if anyone on the east coast has any 401s for sale, I'll gladly pay up to $500 each for them. Just let me know. ;)

[sportsidedan]

if you don't take it for 300, then i will!!!

[FSJeeper]

When I started selling off my FSJ stuff I have never gotten less than $400 for a 401 core and usually $500 or more. The 401 is like gold to the CJ guys. No clue why.

[AMC_FAN]

I never got the 401 in a CJ thing, either. Even a "mild" 360 seems like it would be enough for one. But I guess I do understand the "bigger is better" thing. I'm building two stroker motors (one a 416, the other a 422) for a couple of my cars. Probably my Concord for racing and my Matador coupe because of its girth, but I'm still not positive yet...

Now back to your regularly scheduled FSJ talk...:D

[fulsizjeep]

Awww, c'mon - you don't drop those juicy tidbits without sharing pictures of the Matador Coupe at least. :cool:

http://www.thet-shirtguy.com/JFPInt/images/CC091.jpg

[SCscoutguy]

Didnt think abou that... I wonder what transfer cases IH used in 74? That would save me some money if I could bolt it right up to a np203 or np205 without a new tailshaft. :thumbsup:


Are 727's decent tranny's? How does it compare to a th400?
If it is in a IH pickup then it will be a 2wd transmission. IH never offered the 401 in a 4wd truck and even if by some chance someone converted this one to 4wd it would still be a 2wd transmission as IH used a divorced mounted transfer case setup. IH used the NP 205 from 1970+ in the fullsize lightline pickups and Travelalls unless some idiot actually ordered the vehicle with the IH built TC-143 aluminum case, chain driven, single speed, cable operated transfercase. I once saw 1.25 ton IH truck with a Dana 70 fron and IH built 2 ton rear end that someone had ordered with a AMC 232/T90 three speed transmission with the single speed cable operated tcase!:eek: