The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 302 engine

Can anybody give me a ballpark figure on what a rebuilt 302 engine would cost?

A rebuilt 302 could range from $900.00 to $4,000.00. A very good Craigslist price for a rebuilt civilian would be 1500.00 or more or less. For a military rebuilt 302? Perhaps less than $1,000.00 depending on the source.

The cost to rebuild these depends on several variables and unknowns not knowing what the condition of the engine is. GMC engine parts do run higher than Chevy rebuild parts.

Complete machine shop tasks, that include labor, and parts, (tear down, assessment, measuring, boring, fitting parts, ordering, and reassembly) and the core itself could easily go north of $3,500.00 give or take. Factor in 10-15% profit for a seller ... and it’s easy to see that an engine could be priced at or north of $4,000.00.

I see the these engines on Craigslist or EBAY and the prices range from $300.00 to $4,000.00 depending on the condition and source. Purchasing from an unknown seller is always a risk, and you can expect some disappointing surprises that add up to additional costs if the condition has not been tested or properly evaluated at a machine shop.

In perspective, old iron projects; from trucks, to tractors, to engines; I view as a "kit" knowing that what the seller says most often than not is not the condition that I find when it shows up - and I expect to invest time and dollars into these projects. Its nice, on occasion, to be pleasantly surprised, but expect the worst and you will be happy (or in other words: expect to be disappointed ...and be happy).

Of course there are those that will tell you they have at least a dozen of them and paid less than $100.00 each, found them cheaper than what you paid or offered to sell, and rebuilt them in their complete machine shop for the price of parts. That is admirable but wishful for the average person making ends meet while fitting in a truck project - expect that to be atypical and not the norm. There are very fine, highly intelligent and technically competent people in this hobby or avocation. More power to them!

I have had three 302's come through the door that I found on Craigslist. One needed a rebuild and I paid 400.00. A rough military 302 came in at 500.00, and I found a crated military 302 and I paid 700.00 and it was worth it, but it needed an investment in parts and time to modify it it for street use. I invested approximately $250-$300.00 into the conversion to fit a civilian truck (not including the add-on parts to the block). I never regretted paying less than a $1,000.00 for a 302. Anything over that, I would be certain that you did your homework and know what costs, condition, and work would be required of it.

Just recently, I missed out on a $300.00 rebuilt short block that was 50 miles from home. That would have been a good buy, but it needed to be disassembled, honed, and cleaned out - because it was sitting open and exposed in a barn for some time. Yet the other costs for a correct head assembly, gaskets, carburetor, manifolds, and the other costs could come in near or over $600.00 if you do not have a spare head, rocker assembly, gasket set, manifolds, carburetor, flywheel and clutch etc laying around. Therefore, a $300.00 short block could fast become a $1000.00 investment or easily more (add in fuel pump, oil, starter, bellhousing, distributor, cap, wires, plugs etc. etc.).

Seems like there are several replacement blocks or short blocks on EBay that range upward to $4,000.00, for short blocks, $1,500.00 for blocks, and complete engines range up to $4,000.00. There is a cost for convenience and if I was into building at all costs, reducing the unknown risks and buying a tested, bored, and verified cblock without waiting, and drawing out a search ... then those prices are justifiable. It all depends ...

A 302 has the advantage of providing good torque without adding high performance modifications to smaller cubic inch engines (and the costs to purchase the after market parts). However, there is nothing wrong with a good GMC 270 too (or for the Chevy brand, the larger Chevy 261). But for those who are into old school Hotrod performance, squeezing out more hp from a large bore inline six, or, quite simply dropping in a stock inline engine for immediate gain... then a 302 is for you. These engines are fascinating, and I am more interested in seeing a a 302 in these trucks than a standard SBC 350 or other 8 cylinder engine used as a replacement.

One also has to figure in freight or travel time, I have several GMC engines that I have picked up when convenient just for spares.

Ed

I would not offer more than what a core would cost for any engine, unless I knew who rebuilt it and I was in good standing with the rebuilder.
Too many pigs in a poke out there. If I were to buy a rebuilt engine from someone I do not know, I would tear it down to check everything no matter how much I payed for it.