What to pay for a block.
 

What should I be willing to pay for a used LS short block? I'm also wondering about the price difference I should expect between the iron block and aluminum. It just seems that the prices are all over the place. A new one can get up to $2,000 and I've seen used iron blocks for $150. I just want to clear this up.

I just bought a 2000 LS-1 for $250 for block,crank,piston & rods and just needs to be honed and new bearings.

Where did you pick up an engine for a price like that? I assume that was the iron block or can you get a aluminum block for that cheap?

ls1 is aluminum.

What an amazing deal!

Dumb mistake. Still where's a good place to find a good LS1 for a price like that. I live in North Dakota, so building anything is hard.

keep an eye on the classifieds section. people sell blocks in there every now and then, just be aware that scammers are lurking all over that section.

Are you looking for a bare block? short block? long block? complete engine? Prices are going to vary quite a bit depending on what all you are trying to purchase. From what I have seen, long blocks tend to go for $1000 to $1500 depending on condition/mileage etc. Short blocks tend to go for slightly less, maybe $750 to $1250. Complete engines closer to 2K to $2500. I bought an original 50k short block that was just freshened at the machine shop (never run) with new bearings for 1K but had to drive 2 hours to pick it up. It had covers and an oil pan that I later sold for $200. I sold my old block, 8 good pistons and rods, and a good crank with no bearings and no covers, disassembled for $375. Hope this helps.

I'm looking for a short block. I want to build it up, so if it would have the non-stock parts I wanted I would be okay with it.