Market price on a 3.4L core engine?
 

Guys,

**EDIT** This is a built engine - not a core **

I'm shopping for a 3.4L engine engine for my '87 Carrera, and I've come across one that sounds and looks the part. I'm in Philadelphia, and the seller is on the west coast, so all of this is being done sight unseen. A reputable shop will be performing a PPI on the engine, including leak down/compression tests, check plugs, check for leaks/burning oil and maybe a valve adjustment.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on a fair market price for the engine.

The engine was built by a very reputable shop in California roughly 4 years ago. I've spoken to both the seller and the original builders - all of whom are great guys - but I have NOT yet seen any documentation to validate how it was built, the parts used, mileage at the time of rebuild, etc.

Here is what is represented to be included:

Complete top and bottom end rebuild 15K miles ago (roughly 4 years ago)
930 Crankcase with larger piston squirters and 930 oil pump
ARP Rod Bolts
Stock Rods
3.4L cylinders from EBS (bored & plated 3.2L jugs)
Stock Head Studs
10.0:1 compression JE Pistons (sourced by EBS)
3.2 Carrera Cylinder Headers - Valve Job, new springs/retainers & twin plugged
Webcams 20/21 Camshafts
Stock 3.2 Carrera intake, throttle body, AFM and airbox

I will be supplying my own headers, muffler, motronic ECU, Andial Splitter, twin plug distributor, coils and wires.

So let's assume the leak down/compression tests are good, the engine seems up to date in terms of service and no oil leaks/burning oil. What's a fair market price for this engine? Again, no headers, muffler, ECU, harness, distributor/coils/splitter/wires are included.

Thank you!

I think of a "core" engine as one in unknown condition and/or know it needs rebuilt....Sounds like this is a great engine and is a "longblock", instead of a core?

If it all checks out $6K would be a good price I would think. Someone has put a lot of money into it....

I didn't realize that. Thank you for the clarification. The engine only has 15K miles on it, so it should be in "like new" condition.

This strikes as being a little low. I was under the impression that the price of a 3.2L engine that needs to be rebuilt is $5K (i.e. a core engine :) ). Has the market dipped recently?

:)

The only factory original 3.4 is a 996 motor.

If its air-cooled, it must be built up from a 3.2 using Ruf 3.4 P&C's or similar. And if its as fresh as you expect, $6k is a great price.

A rebuildable 3.2 core has got to be worth between $3k - $4k.

Go for it.

Len

:)

A low miles, good quality 3.4 (based on 3.2) with the intake, exhaust, ecu, dual plug ignition bits, upgrade rod bolts, etc, is going to be closer to 10K. Depends on the exact bits and pieces, the list of mods, builder's reputation, and the PPI bill of health.

for 3.4 built, yes $ 6k is unbeleavable good price, for any 3.2 for between $3k-$4k where?

I'm a bit confused... On one line you say it's got 3.4 litre EBS pistons and then two lines later you indicate 10.1:1 JE pistons. Wassup?

Typo. EBS cylinders and JE pistons. Thanks for the catch.

Thank you for ur reply. In my case, I would NOT be purchasing the exhaust, ecu, harness, andial splitter, distributor, coils or wires. So that should knock a good portion off the price tag. What do you think the high end would be on a street performance 3.4L with low miles, good builder reputation and good PPI? $10k? Less?

Andy: To explain why I said $6K would be a good price:

I bought this engine for $4,500: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-used-parts-sale-wanted/586102-fs-engine-transmission.html

I know what a 993 engine goes for, so I kinda put the 3.4 you are interested in as a price somewhere in the middle........Best of luck...

It consensus seems to indicate that $6k is the low end for a built 3.4. What do you think the end should be? And what are the key differences between hitting either of these numbers?

:)

Fiddle around long enough and the motor will be gone.

What are you waiting for?

Len

:)

I'm waiting for the PPI to be completed by next week. Then we'll finalize numbers.

If the PPI verifies that the engine is what it is presented to be, I think $6K is too low. I think $9K is a fair price for a low mileage (15K), street performance 3.4L engine that does NOT come with an ECU, harness, Andial splitter, distributor/wires/coils, headers or muffler.

From the folks that have posted on this thread, it sounds like $9K may be a bit rich for this engine... which surprises me. Am I crazy?

I went through my 930 motor and went to 3.4L the same route as mentioned above...new cams, head work, Recon'd Rods w/ ARP hardware, recon'd rockers...easily $6K in parts!!

+1 for hurry up!

The asking price of the engine is much higher than $6K. Again, I'm in the process of getting the PPI done - I cannot move any quicker. What I'm trying to sort out on this thread is, "what is the market price for a built 3.4L engine?"

Bump.

you can very easily spend $10k+ paying a reputable shop to rebuild a 3.2 into a 3.4, that does not include the cost of the 3.2 donor...

I'm with you! That's why I'm looking at built engines.

Bump.

You are asking a very difficult question because the answer is subjective.

For instance, my 3.0 engine came with a receipt for $20k for the hop up (but still 3.0)

I would be very surprised if used, anyone would pay more than half that (or less) unless it was sold as a product from a recognized builder.

Too much risk. Many would go for a cheaper higher mileage motor, or spend more to get a fresh one from what I have seen.

Wayne - I really thought I was going crazy... Thank you for your reply. It makes sense that there wouldn't be much market history to reference for this sort of thing. Because, to your point, most guys would prefer to put big $$ into a build that they can control. That makes complete sense because I worked out for myself that I have a $$ threshold after which I would rather build rather than buy. Even though building will cost me more.

Your example is interesting. The fellow selling the engine indicated that he spent $20K on the engine and the build combined. Now that was 4 years and 15k miles ago. So it seems that my offer of $9K is reasonable. Would you agree?

My opinion doesn't mean much, but in general I always thought used parts were worth 1/2 of new on usual parts purchases (unless rare or special).

For higher end units like 911 performance motors, that might not always work, you could compare this to new car depreciation at a certain percentage per year or per miles.

I don't know the formula, but used is always worth less than new due to risk. Why would I pay close to new if I could buy new.

...now, 10k for a 20k motor is an interesting question. A reputable builder, a known installer, evidence of good health all add to the value of used for this sort of thing.

It seems most people would charge $1k to haul away a $10k motormeister engine, while a factory rebuild might go for close to the cost if well documented in all ways.