dropped 57 (1/29/2011)
I won the thing... is it worth $199.00? Im planning on swapping out the 223 in my '57 thanks for any and all helpCould be worth it...I have never paid over $200 for any y block I have not personally looked over. This one does look complete and I would think that if it comes with the transmission...and you need it or the parts,,, could sweeten the pot. Obviously other people wanted it, or it never would have come up to the price you gave.
Is your 57 a truck as well?
swapping out from a 6 to an 8 is the way to go... hopefully these exhaust manifolds are up to snuff and you've got not cracks, holes, or missing pieces - using single exhaust? If duals, then forget about the manifolds. How about that oil filter arrangement? The one on this engine is made for the tight frame/steering gear issues on those bigger trucks that ran Y's. As you can tell, quite a bit would come in to play here over whether or not "is it worth...$199.00?". I have paid up to that price for good cores, but the engine had desirable heads, good parts, and OH - one even had a forged steel crank in it! So there you go.
Let us know how this all turns out!
Daniel JessupLancaster, California
aka "The Hot Rod Reverend" 
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com