Value of RV 440/727

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RussellSullivan

RussellSullivan

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A coworker of mine has for sale a 440 out of his old Winnebago motor home, with a freshly rebuilt 727. As I understand it, the industrial/RV 440s and transmissions had specific parts that are useless in cars. Accessory brackets, different exhaust manifolds, different tail shafts in the transmission, etc.

What would be a fair price for a running engine with transmission? Considering the cost of parts and effort to swap it into a car. Thanks.
 
I would say different parts of the country will bring different prices. But, I think 500.00 - 650.00 for a carb to oil pan RV 440 that runs decent is more than fair. Most of them are low miles. As for the 727, you can swap the tail shaft to make it serviceable, but as to it's value it would be the eye of beholder. For instance, a car guy may give 75 bucks and plan on a tail shaft swap. A guy needing one for his RV may pay 200 if it's proven to be rebuilt.
 
Best part of that deal is that it’s already pulled and you don’t have to get rid of the motor home carcass!!!!
 
pauly said:
Best part of that deal is that it’s already pulled and you don’t have to get rid of the motor home carcass!!!!
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YES! IF you have to pull it and get rid of the RV carcass, then the value drops considerably, to maybe even free if the scrap yard demands you cut it all up before scrapping.
 
And this price range is for a RUNNING engine and transmission. One sittin on the ground or on the shop floor after being pulled is NOT a running engine, but a core.
 
RussellSullivan said:
A coworker of mine has for sale a 440 out of his old Winnebago motor home, with a freshly rebuilt 727. As I understand it, the industrial/RV 440s and transmissions had specific parts that are useless in cars. Accessory brackets, different exhaust manifolds, different tail shafts in the transmission, etc.

What would be a fair price for a running engine with transmission? Considering the cost of parts and effort to swap it into a car. Thanks.
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it can be done but most rv 440's r NOT the high horse 440's they have smaller spark plgs ( bigger water passages in the heads for more collong ) as got the 727 trans ? they r truck trans u can hake it work if u have the right trany cross member & drive shaft length
 
If I remember correctly the small plug heads were not too good for performance applications
I’m pretty sure there are special gaskets to run regular heads
 
RustyRatRod said:
And this price range is for a RUNNING engine and transmission. One sittin on the ground or on the shop floor after being pulled is NOT a running engine, but a core.
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I see @Minnesota Muscle disagreed with this statement. So tell me, does that mean you'll pay premium price for an engine sitting on the floor that does not run?
 
318willrun said:
I would say different parts of the country will bring different prices. But, I think 500.00 - 650.00 for a carb to oil pan RV 440 that runs decent is more than fair. Most of them are low miles. As for the 727, you can swap the tail shaft to make it serviceable, but as to it's value it would be the eye of beholder. For instance, a car guy may give 75 bucks and plan on a tail shaft swap. A guy needing one for his RV may pay 200 if it's proven to be rebuilt.
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I agree 100% as long as it was stored inside and out of the elements.
How long ago was it pulled?
Was there anything put in the cylinders to keep the engine from seizing?
If it wasn't taken care of in this way, it would be deemed as a core to me and worth $200 to $300 with the tranny.

After this is all put into perspective, the R.V. engines (depending on the year) are considered low compression engines that might have the different heads with smaller spark plugs (for cooling) and valve rotators which isn't bad overall.

If it was proven good, I think that your post is right on the money.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I see @Minnesota Muscle disagreed with this statement. So tell me, does that mean you'll pay premium price for an engine sitting on the floor that does not run?
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Stop being a sensitive Nancy because someone disagreed with you on the internet. It's all relative. In my area a decent looking non-running 440 on a pallet that turns over is worth $800 all day long of not more. A running 440 is $1000-1200. I bought four 440's and two 413's last year, and some of them I had to fight for as they sell quick.
 
Had a friend inherited 2 Class A Winne's with 440/727's. The Scrap yard would not let him even bring the barges on their parking lot with the 'Black Water' tanks still in the frame. Its like $8,000 for them to scrap one that has the tanks under. Hazardous Waste fees.
And with all the wood inside, the scrap value is not much so my friend took them apart and got a lot for the aluminum, chassis and running gear. No one wanted the 440's on Craigslist.
 
Dave_J said:
Had a friend inherited 2 Class A Winne's with 440/727's. The Scrap yard would not let him even bring the barges on their parking lot with the 'Black Water' tanks still in the frame. Its like $8,000 for them to scrap one that has the tanks under. Hazardous Waste fees.
And with all the wood inside, the scrap value is not much so my friend took them apart and got a lot for the aluminum, chassis and running gear. No one wanted the 440's on Craigslist.
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Craziness. Local trend fluctuations are always interesting. I need one more 440 and two 727's with passenger car tailshafts if he still has them, lol.
 
Minnesota Muscle said:
Craziness. Local trend fluctuations are always interesting. I need one more 440 and two 727's with passenger car tailshafts if he still has them, lol.
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i paid 500.00 canadian for a very low millage 440 and funky tail shaft transmission. when i get a blown up 727 then i will pirate the tailshaft and then it will be a normal trans again but no need for a rebuild. gutted to engine (1977) and have a very nice engine core to build my beer can headed 440 source screamer for my 69 Cuda. motorhome had a kitchen fire so the front where the engine was is perfect and i was not stuck with the dead burnt whale. got the same deal for a 454 last gen all 4 main cap bolts bottom end with a one piece rear main seal. can one say nice blower motor build base? Dodge will need a girly girdle to survive my right foot hay watch this play time.
 
Big BIG problem with motor homes around here is
1....People want you to take the whole thing with you
2....They actually think they are worth something

By the time you add up all the nonsense....and possibly money out of pocket......to get rid of a motor home hulk and by that I mean AFTER you have cut it up into little bitty pieces.....if they GAVE you the thing with a running engine/ trans it might not be worth the trouble AND MONEY
 
Isn't the output shaft different on the RV transmission, flanged instead of a slip yoke?
In order to change the output shaft the trans needs complete disassembly.
 
Oldiron440 said:
Isn't the output shaft different on the RV transmission, flanged instead of a slip yoke?
In order to change the output shaft the trans needs complete disassembly.
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Pretty sure that is only true of the big "class a" stuff. The smaller "van nose" types are pretty much slip yoke

Other thing you need to watch out for in the big stuff is the -3 engines which can be much different, esp. 413/426 with the oddball heads/ intake/ exhaust. What you essentially have with them is a block, crank, and "I guess" rods
 
Yeah, after considering all the trouble that would come with it, I decided against it. I had no idea the dissimilarity between the RV motors and "regular" motors. Add to that the fact that I'm trying to downsize anyway, it didn't make sense to go for it.
 
I have paid $500 for a good running ones 10 years agao, and now I see some can be had here as cores for $500. Time marches on. Tx. is higher than Mo. too. Less its running, it is a core!... price depends on location and how easy the buyer is to get $$$$ out of! That why gas is higher in Ca!!!
 
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