Selling an Engine: Better Assembled or Disassembled

So it is looking good that I'll probably be offered a job here in the next couple of weeks that will take me out to Florida from Texas. I've been looking through my garage to start figure out what I would want to take and what I will need to think about selling here prior to moving. 

One of the things on the list is my 340 that I have there. It's a 73 340 that I've built up to 70-71 340 specs. During assembly, We found an issue with the crank and I needed to get a new one. Since I since sold the car it was going to go into to Greg here, I just never did anything else with the motor. So the motor is just sitting there disassembled and bagged. 

So the question for the Hive, What do you think I should do with this motor? Will it be easier to move as an assembled and ready to run or trying to part it out? 

The long block is a '73 340 with the cast crank. It's a late production 73 block that has been bored .040 over. It's got a small Comp cam XE262 and 10.5 to 1 forged pistons on shot peened rods. Overall, nothing too fancy. Just a good solid build that will still look like a stock motor if it's used in a restoration. 

For someone without a pickup and engine hoist, it's easier to move when disassembled, but for those with those things it's the other way around. It's easier to see for yourself what condition the engine parts are in when it's disassembled. And seembling it is a good bit of work, so I'd leave it disassembled. Also means that you don't have to worry about anyone stuffing the assembled engine into a car, blowing it up, and then coming back to you about it.

Assembled will be the faster way to sell and you will get a lot less for it.

Disassembled will get you more money but you will likely only sell some parts at a time.

If it's already disassembled, I'd throw all the parts up on eBay with standard 10 day auctions. That way you are sure to sell each little lot in a reasonable amount of time. Advertise the eBay auctions in forums and stuff.

It's a 340. It'll sell no matter how it's displayed.

I'd probably just sell it as-is, for a price that will get it gone in a hurry, and promptly move on to more important affairs.

Advertise as is and sell for what you can get. Cant see it worth the trouble to pull it apart. As long as you can give an honest description of the condition, you are good.

The only reason I see to sell an engine in parts is if you want to sell it with some kind of provenance that backs up a claim for condition.

Pete

Either assemble and take a video of it running, or take video of the cylinder walls and heads and crank while it’s apart, and THEN assemble it.  

either way, you have verifiable facts that it runs or has a good condition. I sold a 22re that way, even though it was pulled from the car already. Took video of start up and revving. 

Thanks Guys. Good advice here. I think I'm going to list it disassembled instead of spending more time and $$$ assembling it. I've got a lot of stuff to sell. 

Being that it's already disassembled and therefor semi portable, why not just take it to FL and sell it there.  Or not.  Pretty easy to get a disassembled V8 into even a smallish car provided you can get the bare block in.

I never assume that anyone assembling a motor knew what they were doing - and when I've disassembled 'rebuilt' motors before using them, that opinion has usually been validated. Agree that selling apart, with any receipts you have for parts/machining is the way to go.

Tough call... For people who have a clue, they'd pay virtually the same either way. For those less knowledgeable, assembled would get more. All depends upon the audience. 

In reply to A 401 CJ :

I wouldn't be moving till the fall provided everything goes through as it's looking like it will. I'll be commuting back and forth a bit till then so I've got some time. I'd rather rather not worry about it at all and spend the time and space to move it if I don't see a need for it which I don't honestly. Texas has a big enough hot rod market. I'll probably just hit up one of the big swap meets with all of the stuff I've got.