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pre-a engine price

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 9:37 am
by Kevin Bryant
Anyone know how much i should ask for this pre-a engine? I think I had a price that was too low. Some honest people had contacted me and told me as much. I am not looking to rip anyone off but surely don't want to get ripped off either. Just trying to get the fair price.

Thanks,
Kevin

Re: pre-a engine price

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 6:46 pm
by Martin Benade
The third piece is pre A. Do the case halves have matching numbers that go with the third piece? It may be a collection of different things as the manifolds and fan shroud at least are younger.

Re: pre-a engine price

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 7:27 pm
by C J Murray
I don't know much about pre-A engine details but.... The serial number says 1955 1500 Normal. The fan shroud seems to be a modified single barrel shroud with the throttle rod still attached. Yes, it has Zenith manifolds from a later A. The distributor is pre-A, right guys? How about the fuel pump, does that look right? What about the belt pulley? Valve covers?

Martin asks the most important question...
Martin Benade wrote:The third piece is pre A. Do the case halves have matching numbers that go with the third piece?

Re: pre-a engine price

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 7:29 pm
by C J Murray
So guys, what is it worth if it is a matching 3 piece case? Kevin needs a little advice.

Re: pre-a engine price

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 8:54 pm
by Tony Proasi
I will take a stab... anyway you look at it its a core. Th distributor looks to to be a 383 and the fuel pump could be correct it is a pre a /VW pump. Those items could bring up to 600.00 for the pair. The shroud is scrap or parts. The zenth manifolds well who needs a set of those... that leaves the heads have they been cut? Are they usable? What about the crank and rods? The case is valuable if the car is still out there and three pieces match. I would offer 3500.00 and take the chance that some of it can be used. But I will admit I'm cheap.

Re: pre-a engine price

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 10:16 pm
by Kevin Bryant
I did some research on where to find these numbers (since I really am in the dark with all this)
The 2 case halves and the case 3rd piece all have the same number stamp - 184. The case casting number is 9388 and the engine type number is 546/2. Hope this helps and thanks for the replies.

Kevin

Re: pre-a engine price

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 11:56 pm
by Cal Ensor
Engine # 35243 with case casting # 9388 - engine type 546/2 correct according to THE MAESTROS LITTLE SPEC
BOOK. Produced slightly after date stamp 12/14/55

Re: pre-a engine price

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 12:27 pm
by Tom Coughlin
Cal: You say Produced after 12/55. I believe '55 engine numbers in the 352xx range were a good deal earlier.

Re: pre-a engine price

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 3:31 pm
by Rob DuBerry
I agree with Tom, my engine number is 35731 and is in a 55 pre A car.
Dr Johnsons book says the 55-1500 engines went up to 35790, so I would imagine 35243 would be earlier than 12/55.

Re: pre-a engine price

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 6:11 pm
by James Davies
Eh, it's hard to say. Certainly the block is worth ~$2-3k if in good shape. Beyond that, it's a collection of parts, mostly the same as parts used on the later A engines. As already said, the pre-A bits such as the distributor and fuel pump, fuel lines, throttle linkage and possibly heater boxes down below are worth a bit. My guess would be $5-6k total, but again, who knows what's inside. The 1500 pistons and cylinders are almost never reusable unless you want to get the cylinders nicasil lined. The heads are interchangeable with later ones. It's a core, as Tony says.

I just sold a '55 case for ~$2500. It ended up going to its original car which it had been separated from at least since the early 1970s. And it was in excellent shape. Anyway, without taking your engine apart, you don't really know what's inside. It could be good or it could be bad. =/

And yeah, this engine was assembled sometime in June/July 1955 if the internal number is 9388. Maestro's correlation between date stamps on the 3rd piece and internal number (mis-named "case casting number") is merely incidental. The castings were done, but the cases could sit around for a bit until they were built into motors. There's a very strong relation between internal number and Kardex date of the car it was installed in, as the engines were assembled for installation at Porsche Werk II and might have sat on the shelf for a day or few before being installed into a car on the assembly line and rolled out the door.

James

Re: pre-a engine price

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 1:38 am
by Spencer Harris
FWIW 1500N #34817 installed in my '55 coupe with assembly date of May 10,1955.

I would say Tony's $3500 is fair if not generous. Spot on for the 383 & early fuel pump values since the new owner is surely looking at another 3 hundred in rebuild costs. I was gonna suggest $3000 yesterday, but Tony's $3500 should get the hammer.

Re: pre-a engine price

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 11:41 pm
by Cal Ensor
No Tom I did not say "Produced". I said date stamp #. Maestro was not clear on pre-A numbers but I believe
12/14/55 means engine was produced between the 12th and 14th week of 1955. Thus late March or early
April of 1955. Sorry about misunderstanding.

Re: pre-a engine price

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:26 pm
by Jules Dielen
9700 it is! Glwts