c5stingray

I am seeking any infomation on what would a fair market value for a 1957 EL coded engine would be worth. I have tried to google it for several days and come up with no infomation about any recent or any past sale, in matter of fact, there is no EL coded engine for sale right now or in the past that I can find. I am looking for any recent or past sell or any reasonable fmv opinion from any forum members so I can come up with a Price for this engine. The engine have the block, the 539 heads, and the bellhousing that are all matching to a june 1957 corvette. I am about 99% sure that the block is orginial. I feel maybe someone on the c1 forum can help me in setting a price for these part. I would like to thanks all forum members in advance for any help that anyone can give me. thanks

Panama 58

C5stingray. Let me see if I understand your post. You have what you believe to be an EL coded engine block that you are trying to determine what price to ask for it correct? If I am correct, then let's proceed with the following. Are you able to post a picture of the stamp pad on this site? If not, send it to me and I can post it for you. We might as well go right to the "make it or break it" determination from the start. I do have some concerns about something you said. The heads you have for this block are 539's. 539's were not used on the dual quads or fuelies in '57 EVEN THOUGH all data records say that they were for Fuel injection. The correct heads are 997's and IF you can find a matching set you will pay upwards of $3,500+ for the set depending on the condition. So, let's not jump to any conclusions based on the heads you have until we see the stamp pad. Once we determine what you have, I think we can provide you with some guidance as to price. I hope that is fair.
Panama 58

JohnZ

I'll have to disagree with that. In addition to the other sources, I have the original Chevrolet Engineering Bill Of Material furnished to Flint V-8 for build of the 1957 Corvette engines, and it shows very clearly that the 539 heads are called out for the "EL" engines; all other '57 Corvette engines call out the 997 heads.

c5stingray

thanks for the reply, I didn't post a picture because under my posting rule it stated that I may not post attachment. I just would like to know what would be a fair market price for what I belive an orginial EL block. Would $5000.00 be out of line?

62Jeff

Howdy,
You can't "attach" photos, but you can easily upload photos to a web site like tinypic.com or photobucket.com and then link them here.

You can get pictures into your Corvette Forum post by doing the following:
1) Go to www.tinypic.com
2) Upload your photo
3) On the page that appears, copy the text that starts with [IMG] and ends with [/IMG]

4) Paste that text into your Corvette Forum post, to link that photo.

That method works well, but your photos will drop off of TinyPic after a few months if they aren't accessed frequently.

A more permanent method is:
1) Go to www.photobucket.com
2) Create a free photobucket account
3) Create a photo album (not required, but you'll quickly find it's better to have different albums for different types of photos - such as one album for each car you are working on)
4) Upload your photos
5) Copy the text that starts with [IMG] and ends with [/IMG]
6) Paste that text into your Corvette Forum post, to link that photo.

Jeff

c5stingray

Jeff:
thanks for the the procedure/ direction in loading a picture to the forum, thanks very much.

Panama 58

John, I will bow to your expertise on what the records say, but I would like to hear from some of the other C1 experts out there on what heads they see on the EL suffix cars. In the meantime, my point was to say that having a set of 539's doesn't prove he has an original EL block and the best this forum can do short of inspecting the block in person is to provide an educated opinion based on a photo of the stamp pad. AND this is no assurance that we can agree (and most likely won't) on the stamp originality due to quality of the photo, etc.
Panama 58 (alias Garry Barnes)

emccomas

539 heads are definitely correct for a EL block.

Now, as to the value of an EL block, there is one important point to keep in mind. EL blocks (and other 57 two character suffix code blocks) had the last character stamped separately from the other characters.

As an example: FI022EL code had FI022E in a gang holder, all stamped at the same time. The L was stamped separately.

Knowing this, a person can take an original E suffix code block (57 passenger car, two barrel, manual trans) and "convert" it to an EL block without much effort. Ii have seen this done many times.

Yes it is rare, no it is not exceptionally valuable (for the reason stated above).

I see these blocks sell (actually trade hands, not just asking price) in the $500 to $750 range.

I would be skeptical that you could get $5K for a completely rebuild EL engine (minus the injector).

Just my $0.01 (my opinion is not worth $0.02)

Panama 58

Okay, I give. I stand corrected. The 539's are listed as being used on the 283 hp engines in Chevy's and corvettes, but were also used on the base engine, 220hp single carb corvette and Chevy passenger car engines. The 997's were used on both Chevy and Corvettes with dual quad carbs. I thought about mentioning the E suffix that Ed mentions, but didn't want to raise suspicions until we knew and saw more.

I also agree with Ed on the value. I recently sold an original '59 CU (270hp) bare block that I had prepped to rebuild for $850. The EL would be very rare and could be more valuable to someone building a numbers car where the dates align with the VIN. That would be a real find. The 539 heads however are everywhere for the reasons stated above and can be bought for a couple of hundred dollars.
Panama 58

c5stingray

thanks to all for all the infomations, I feel I am a little bit more informed about the subject of an EL block valuation now.

emccomas

Not to beat this horse to death, but I am pretty sure that all 57 Corvette engines used the 997 heads except the 283 hp FI engine, which used the 539s. Even the 250 hp FI engines used the 997 heads.

The 539s were also used on all 57 passenger car 4 barrel engines, which is why they are so common.

A friend of mine sold a real 57 EL short block, needing rebuild, to another friend for $600 about two years ago. Both were knowledgeable Corvette people, and the seller even knew the VIN of the Corvette the engine came out of when it was totalled in 1968.

CJS

Corvette 220 hp base engines definitely got the 997 heads. This is because all Corvettes in 57 got the valve relieved pistons, (fuelies got domed and relieved). The 997 heads give back the .5 compression ratio that is lost with the relieved piston "eyebrows". 997 and 539 heads have the same flow rates, only the CC of the combustion chambers were different.

bill connell

Garry,

You asked for some specifics as to use of the 539 heads.

My RPO 579D car, engine F502EL has 539 heads dated 4/16 and 4/19. Both the engine and the heads were noted in Mike Hunts files as being original to the car. The car has been judged both TopFlight and Bloomington Gold without any questioning of the heads.

bill

bill connell

C5stingray,

How do the casting dates line up, and what is the actual build date?

bill

c5stingray

Mr. Connell:
the owner of the engine, do not want to release these info but I do have a question for you. I know it is possible that a block cast and build date can be 1 day apart. ie: stamp f510LE and casting # of E97 but how rare do you think something like this do happen.
and my second question is is it possible for a 1110908 distributor dated E217 be correct for this block. thank you J Lee.

bill connell

J Lee,

I don't know how rare that might be, but can tell you that the cylinder block casting date on my F502EL engine is April 30----two days earlier. I should note however that my engine was built as part of a pilot run of seven RPO 579D engines that was spread over F502EL and F503EL engines.

The 908 distributor was pretty much limited to RPO 579D tach drive application until arrival of the 4960 Fuel Injection units. Do you still have the original fuel injection unit?

bill

bill connell

J Lee,

I have a lot of information on these engines. Why don't you simply call me at (513) 281-0678 and I'll be happy to share whatever I have.

bill

Mailbu Beach

The last EL bare block I was offered by a reputable seller was asking $750 and it probably went for less than that. 539 heads are in abundance and are dime a dozen ( actually about $300 to $500 a pair ) make sure you get Flint heads ( single digit year code ) and not Tonawanda heads ( two digit year code and T stamped or cast in the head ).Corvettes had only Flint heads ( Saginaw foundry ). Some Chevrolets also had Flint heads when demand was more than Tonawanda could fill.

Finding someone who needs what you have in terms of casting date/Assembly date could substantially increase the value.

Going from memory...I think the FI 250 HP automatic transmission Corvette engines used 997 heads ( or was that the Chevrolets ). I have two complete unrestored 1957 FI engines ( one EL and one EK ) and they both have 539 heads.

If you have not sold the engine..call me I might be interested. 479-435-1855

Joe

Mailbu Beach

The last EL bare block I was offered by a reputable seller was asking $750 and it probably went for less than that. 539 heads are in abundance and are dime a dozen ( actually about $300 to $500 a pair ) make sure you get Flint heads ( single digit year code ) and not Tonawanda heads ( two digit year code and T stamped or cast in the head ).Corvettes had only Flint heads ( Saginaw foundry ). Some Chevrolets also had Flint heads when demand was more than Tonawanda could fill.

Finding someone who needs what you have in terms of casting date/Assembly date could substantially increase the value.

Going from memory...I think the FI 250 HP automatic transmission Corvette engines used 997 heads ( or was that the Chevrolets ). I have two complete unrestored 1957 FI engines ( one EL and one EK ) and they both have 539 heads.

If you have not sold the engine..call me I might be interested. 479-435-1855

Joe

c1guy

I am definitely interested if it can be proved that the block is real. I have a 57 fuelie VIN 6148 that's been in my family since 1975. I am restoring it to keep, never to be sold. It was a project that my late father and I never got to finish. I am not trying to "fake" a car.
I have been out of town and out of pocket but am truly interested in any real block. Email me at billymbuckner@yahoo.com. I'll be out of town for a while yet, so email is the best way to catch me for now.Can try cell phone at 205-516-9872