Value?--'57 997 heads

[George W.]

Apx real money value?
I see them on E Bay from 2-4K.
Don't think I've seen any actually sell?
Thanks,
G.

[Edward L.]

Re: Value?--'57 997 heads

$3,000-$4,000 is a realistic number for a set of 997's.

[George W.]

Re: Value?--'57 997 heads

$3,000-$4,000 is a realistic number for a set of 997's.

Must not be much of a market for them (right now)---a set on e bay did not sell at 2K?

[Edward M.]

Re: Value?--'57 997 heads

I would say $2,000 to $2,500.

The thing to keep in mind with these heads, and really any set of heads, is "are they rebuildable?

Heads with paperwork that they have been checked and are not cracked, damaged, etc. are worth a bit more.

Completely rebuilt heads are worth more as well.

However, caution is the name of the game. I know a guy that bought a set of 56 762 heads that had been completely rebuilt and were "ready to go". However, when he installed them, he found that both heads had cracks in them. The seller, apparently knowing they were cracked, rebuilt them anyway (he worked in a machine shop) and sold them as good heads.

Seller claimed that they must have been damaged in shipment. Buyer never did get a refund, but he was able to get the heads repaired, at a significant expense.

[Mike G.]

Re: Value?--'57 997 heads

nothing is bringing what it once did. you would do good to get 1500 for them today. i have not sold any parts in over a year because they are not bringing what i have in them. sign of the times but dont worry, obama's hope and change will kick in any day and all will be well.

[Steven B.]

Re: Value?--'57 997 heads

I have checked a few sets the past months on ebay. A number of non-Flint heads were passed off as Corvette pieces.

[George W.]

Re: Value?--'57 997 heads

I have checked a few sets the past months on ebay. A number of non-Flint heads were passed off as Corvette pieces.

There's a difference?

[John H.]

Re: Value?--'57 997 heads

There's a difference?

George -

Absolutely - makes a BIG difference in the asking price.

[Steven B.]

Re: Value?--'57 997 heads

George, the Flint cast 997's were the ones used on Corvettes.

Steve

[George W.]

Re: Value?--'57 997 heads

Okay,
How do you tell if they are Flint castings?

[George W.]

Re: Value?--'57 997 heads

I have checked a few sets the past months on ebay. A number of non-Flint heads were passed off as Corvette pieces.

Is the single number (7 vrs. 57) of the year in the date casting the only indicator of a Flint head?
Thanks,
G.

[John H.]

Re: Value?--'57 997 heads

Is the single number (7 vrs. 57) of the year in the date casting the only indicator of a Flint head?
Thanks,
G.

George -

No, that's not the only indicator. The surface of the casting symbol on the end of a Flint head has been machined (broached) flat, perpendicular to the deck surface; the casting symbol surface on the end of Tonawanda heads is unmachined (as-cast).

[George W.]

Re: Value?--'57 997 heads

Really,
Broached?
How/why did this happen?

[John H.]

Re: Value?--'57 997 heads

Really,
Broached?
How/why did this happen?

George -

Slightly different tooling/gaging/part registration system in the machining process between Flint and Tonawanda, like the drilled/tapped front oil gallery and external plug on a Flint block that isn't on a Tonawanda block. Plants were allowed some latitude in process details as long as it didn't affect the compatibility of bolt-on parts.

[Edward L.]

Re: Value?--'57 997 heads

George -

No, that's not the only indicator. The surface of the casting symbol on the end of a Flint head has been machined (broached) flat, perpendicular to the deck surface; the casting symbol surface on the end of Tonawanda heads is unmachined (as-cast).

John:

I agree that the 997 head symbol was machined flat. A rotary tool of some sort was used that left radius lines (1/2 moon) over the entire symbol.

I have never seen a Tonawanda 997.

Ed