I can help with ID and pricing. New-style Ford Torpedo converters from about 1999-up are priced by number, and range from about $120 to well over $300. The old-style Torpedo with the air pipe in the side is garbage, those are not much better than a Low-Grade Domestic. They are huge converters, though, so they seem like they should be worth more. I have even created nicknames for some of the big, junky converters. The Old Torpedo I like to call the "boat anchor". The 6.4 Ford diesel filter (which is also huge and only worth about 40 bucks), I have dubbed the "garbage can". It sort of resembles an old metal waste can, and the material in it is junk.
The Honda center straight (98-02 Accord 2.3) is easily worth $200+, even with the lower market we're in now.
Many (but not all) junkyards are very low on converter prices because they have no idea how to grade them properly. They're guessing on many of them, so they buy everything low. They may regularly pay $20 for $5 aftermarkets, but they'll pay the same $20 for a $200 unit. Needless to say,it usually balances out very well for them. This is strictly my personal opinion, but, if they don't know what they're buying/how to ID it/how to price it correctly....Then they should not be buying that particular type of material. Here in PA (and many other states), we're not even allowed to buy them from anyone who does not possess a business account.
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