Thread: What are they worth????

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Have a chance to pick up a pair of Holman-Moody 427's out of a 1960's Hateras Cruiser. The boat may not be worth restoring so it will be only the 427's. One will probably be an opposite rotation. I posted this in the HR Lounge forum and was directed to your site, for those in the know.

Typical marine 427's of the 300hp nature run around $2000-3000 each. If these are indeed a pair of race prepped H/M 427's there will be H/M tags or stampings in the block. H/M was a big fan of tagging and stamping there engines. These will bring more $$$ depending on heads and internals used. You can easily spot if they are true sideoilers. Some marine 427 blocks have the sideoiler galley shaved to clear the motor mounts. These are topoilers. Most 427 marines are cast as sideoilers but machined as topoilers. But there are exceptions and some true sideoilers have been found in Chris Crafts, Trojans and Hatteras. So look on the left side of the block above the crossbolts at the sideoiler galley. If it's shaved it's a topoiler. If it's not shaved and has three allen plugs in it they most likely are sideoilers. H/M was big into marine engines so anything is possible. All 427 marine blocks have brass screw in freeze plugs and the tell tale crossbolt maincaps. So look for those also. Most marine blocks are solid lifter castings also. Heads, intake and the rotating assy of the std marine 427 used std 390 parts for the most part. Corrision is also a major player in marine engines and whether a open or closed loop cooling system was used. So check all that well... i've seen more than my share of rotten marine blocks.

G.