273 4-bbl Hi-PO Engine Appraisel?

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Suregrip391

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I have a complete 1969 273 4-bbl hi-po engine complete from air
cleaner to oil pan that came with my 1967 Barracuda "a la carte" It has an
excellent running 340 in the car now and I dont ever see myself using
the 273. Is this engine worth anything or is it basically a boat
anchor? I have a guy that wants to give me $500 for it. What do you
guys think? Hang on to it or sell it? Thanks.

Aaron
 
The 273 is worth even more if some one needs a 273 to finish a numbers car!Performance wise,its not going to beat much ,unless it was being built as a D-Dart.If you never intend to make that car you have a numbers matching car,sell it,but think long and hard what you may want to do in the future,Mrmopartech
 
Boy, that's one rare motor seeing as they only produced the 273 hi po (Commando V8) in 65,66,and 67. Bu 69 the 273 had hydrolic lifters and the 4 bbl option was a distant memory.What is the casting date on the motor? Does it have the domed pistons or flat tops?
 
This engine was a factory warrenty engine for my 1967 barracuda 4-bbrl 273/235HP. I have not run all the numbers on it but the carb on it is correct for my 67. I have the 4 bbl intake, exhaust manifolds and all! I see the block is dated 1969. The engine still has mechanical lifters. So I would assume they swapped everything over to the new block in 1969 from my original 1967 block. I wish I had papers to prove this dealer warrenty block! I am the fourth owner of the car and that was the info passed along to me.
 
If its a dealer installed motor,you should have a serial number or numbers on the deck to show this.Check the left front of the deck,in front of the head and you should mark and post all the info so it can be decoded.Mrmopartech
 
I will head out to the garage tomorrow after work and pull all the numbers I can off this engine. I will post it and see what you guys think......Thanks guys!
 
Ok, here is the skinny on the engine I have:

Left front deck area in front of head: Cant find anything, sorry!
Casting date on side of block: 1-8-69 and a "ND"
Casting number on block: 2806030-2-73-4
Intake maniifold #'s 2536563 date: 12-5
exhaust manifold#'s 2465769 date:1-10-69
other exhaust manifold# 2780945 date: cant make out, sorry!
Carter Carb # 4305 S

Now, on the right side of the block near the pan, there is a machined pad. There is nothing stamped into this machined pad. Its clean, clear and "empty!"

Can anyone tell me what all the above numbers come back as??

Aaron
 
Your motor is a 273 block with casting number 2806030 and was made from 67-74.This block was also used as a 318 block as well.The ND is for the shift that the block was cast,and should have a arrow pionting to the N or the D.They stand for Night shift and Day shift.Mrmopartech
 
I'd say $500 is good..You wont find a guy dying for one to get his #s car the closest to "correct", with a '69 casting date. But, the intake, valve covers, carb, and air cleaner total close to $500 on their own to the guy that needs them to make their '66 casting block close to correct.
 
Thanks guys! I think I will part with it as I really dont think I will ever use it. Im a "go fast" kind of guy and my 340 is pretty well built. Thanks again for all that was said here.....

Aaron
 
I have several 273's laying around and I know that the HP273 was stamped on the block 273-4 and the 273 2 barrel motors were stamped 273-2. Pulled a 273 out of a Barracuda Commando car and it had 273-4. My 67's original 273 was stamped 273-2
 
I have to respectfully disagree with mrmopartech on his statement that the 273 Hi-Po "its not going to beat much." I ran my 273 for two years on the street and didn't run a 283 chevy or 289 ford that could beat it. It wasn't stock but it did run. I replaced it with a 68 340 motor in 80 nwhen I built it for show. I still have my "baby" today.
 
273 235 's are good little motors in the lightweight 65&66 Valiants&Darts. You hit the gas and they wind right up to 6000. They are the FIRST hipo small block and ate 283's and 289's for lunch
 
Suregrip391 - The only way you can know for sure if that's a Commando motor is to pull off a head and see if you have the dome top top pistons or not. Sounds like a regular 273 to me, with a commando intake, carb and air cleaner. Not hard to build. I have the same 1969 setup in my '65 Barracuda and it's not a commando motor, but nobody would ever know unless they pull a head or check the date. There's nothing stamped on mine either.
 
If I'm not mistaken Egge has the pop of pistons for the them now. There cast, but hey, when I had my little 273 nobody was making them. Anyway I couldn't find any.

Lee
 
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