Is this a good price?

[Lewie]

Im in the process of throwing money into my VH so I always have an eye out for things Ill need/want. One of the guys at work has an engine for sale and Id like opinions if this is a good price.

4.9L (VK/VL black) HDT long motor - (factory 200KW) complete with factory fitted 'B' cast heads. No sump or ancilliaries. Otherwise intact.

He wants $1000. I have no reason to doubt his or the engines integrity as he seems to know what hes talking about when I asked him about it. Ive heard good things about B cast heads so Im wondering if its worth putting myself in a little financial hardship for a little while and have a good start for the motor I want to go in.

Also, can I get the general consensus on what the term "long motor" means? Im under the impression that its just block, internals and heads.

Thanks.

[soop]

I've seen standard black motors go for around $800 in good working order.

And yeah, thats what a long motor is.

[Lewie]

Hes also said that it includes inlet manifold, water pump, oil pump, harmonic balancer and rocker covers.

Any thoughts?

[ari666]

my thoughts are: where did he get the "factory 200KW" stat from?

dude you need to know how big the bores are. if they are stock 0.00 over, then id say go for it. otherwise No

[DerekP]

my thoughts are: where did he get the "factory 200KW" stat from?

AHH LOL, crack me up.....

Assuming the long motor requires a rebuild? Knock him down to 800 or less.

[Reaper]

my thoughts are: where did he get the "factory 200KW" stat from?

dude you need to know how big the bores are. if they are stock 0.00 over, then id say go for it. otherwise No

The VK Group A's were 196kw from memory which could be considered close enough to some. I'm not sure what differences those blocks had to a standard 304 block however. A factory VK Group A/3 block could be worth a fortune to anybody with a blue VK. Heads are the best old style you can get (assuming they aren't cracked etc).

Reaper

[ari666]

my book says:
VK- HDT SS group3 5.0ltr blue option V5H
5044cc
9.2:1 CR
101.6mm x 77.775 bore/stroke
octane, 98
177KW@4800 RPM
419Nm@3500 RPM

or there was the V7X engine which had 170kw@5200rpm

edit* oh, the VL had a couple more:

L89 which was fuel PFI 180kw@5200
group 3 signiture 187kw@4700



HOLD THE PHONE! holy crap, ok...

VK 4.9 litre RED option A9L SS group A bingo 200kw@5200rpm ... if that is for sae for a grand then buy it!!!! thats a race engine basically and only 500 were ever released into the market. must be worth a fortune. lol get this: lightened fly wheel, bigger vlaves, hardened shortened pushrods, crane adjustable roller rockers "high lift camshaft", "special hydraulic lifters to suit the camshaft" modified combustion chambers, inlet matched to heads, headers.

[Reaper]

my book says:
VK- HDT SS group3 5.0ltr blue option V5H
5044cc
9.2:1 CR
101.6mm x 77.775 bore/stroke
octane, 98
177KW@4800 RPM
419Nm@3500 RPM

or there was the V7X engine which had 170kw@5200rpm

edit* oh, the VL had a couple more:

L89 which was fuel PFI 180kw@5200
group 3 signiture 187kw@4700



HOLD THE PHONE! holy crap, ok...

VK 4.9 litre RED option A9L SS group A bingo 200kw@5200rpm ... if that is for sae for a grand then buy it!!!! thats a race engine basically and only 500 were ever released into the market. must be worth a fortune. lol get this: lightened fly wheel, bigger vlaves, hardened shortened pushrods, crane adjustable roller rockers "high lift camshaft", "special hydraulic lifters to suit the camshaft" modified combustion chambers, inlet matched to heads, headers.

Yeah that's the one. The 177kw motors were nothing particularly special. B cast heads were an improved version of the old L34 head. Lightened fly is great if it still has it. A little difficult to get off the line but helps to rev cleanly everywhere else.

Reaper

[Lewie]

I've asked a few more questions about the history and the bore sizes. His responses are as follows:
"the block numbers are VBxxxxxx for the HDT motor"
and
"As far as I know the bores are virgin in that motor.
It came out of a running VK (I know the bloke and the cars history) and was babied all its life."
Also I didn't include this:
"NOTE: These engines are NOT Brock enhanced or spec'd."

Does these details match up to anything specific in your books?

Cheers.

[ari666]

well, yes and no. "these engines were not brock enhanced" the 200KW one was a HDT item, so not brock-esque. only 500 released. from what i can gather the HDT team had to make 1000 of them to be eligable to race, 500 were raced, 500 were released into the market.

what doesnt add up is the book says the A9L, which is the 200kw version has an engine prefix of VC... the VB prefix is listed as 4.9ltr V5H which was the 177kw version i posted:
VK- HDT SS group3 5.0ltr blue option V5H
5044cc
9.2:1 CR
101.6mm x 77.775 bore/stroke
octane, 98
177KW@4800 RPM
419Nm@3500 RPM

[Lewie]

I ended up buying the donk. He sold me the HDT one and another short motor with virgin bores. For 1000. I've cracked open the intake manifold and it looks really clean so all up I'm happy. Bad part is I'm going interstate for the next 2 weeks so I can't play with them!

I did give me a baffled HDT sump also but it's was damaged so I'm going to have to take out the baffles and weld them into another sump.

What book do you guys get your engine specifications from?

VK- HDT SS group3 5.0ltr blue option V5H

He told me this was a black motor. Is this info still valid?

Also, 4.9L is a 304 yes?

[vk.jonno]

Sounds good mate!
If ur really keen to work out what it puts out
Get it dynod

[ari666]

He told me this was a black motor. Is this info still valid?

Also, 4.9L is a 304 yes?

apart from the fact you can paint an engine any colour if you want... i havnt got my bible here (its at work) but im pretty sure that all black motors have a VT engine prefix, you said yours was VB?

yeah 4.9 is 304,

[DerekP]

I'm pretty sure my blue 308 has a VT prefix - I thought it was a 308 thing....??

[Lewie]

Thread dig but...

I've started pulling apart the above mentioned engine to check out what goodies are inside and I've come up with a question. I was told by the guy who I bought the engine from that it is as it came from the factory as in, never pulled down but, looking inside there are flat top pistons with "030" stamped on each one as well as the number 1. Are these 30 thou over pistons? Is this guy full of crap?

I'm guessing that the 308 cast on the side of the block does not guarantee that it is actually a 308 either does it?

[180sc]

yep 030 is 30 thou over so its been reconditioned at some stage.
pretty sure 304 had 5.0 instead of the 308 cast on them or had nothing.