Things to look for on a second hand engine

[dan106]

Having a look at an engine soon just wanted some points of things to look at

And how much should I be looking to spend?

Cheers dudes

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[Ollieh17]

500-600. Compression test, videos of it running. With engine out the car wouldn't be too hard to whip a couple of caps off and check the bearings

[dan106]

Asking 500, it's already out the car and been in a garage for a while.

I know the car it's out of but it was crashed by the new owner

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[Ollieh17]

I'd say 500 fair for a engine with some history. Compression results and videos running.

[dan106]

How do you compression test while its out of the car, so no starter motor?

Yeah no history and I haven't seen it running for a few years

Maybe I'll offer less if everything else seems ok

[lukEp]

You can't unless it has a starter motor attached, needs a gearbox for that...

Unless you have a bellhousing, starter and a pile of gearbox bolts lying around that you can take with you. Compression test only tells you about rings/valves/head gasket I'd want to take the sump off as well and inspect bottom end shells for wear.

Edited September 25, 2017 by lukEp

[Ollieh17]

That's what I'm saying.id pay 500 for a engine with compression results etc. No something sat in a garage for a few years not running.

You could do a leak down test but most won't have the facilities to do that

[maddox710]

How do you compression test while its out of the car, so no starter motor?

Yeah no history and I haven't seen it running for a few years

Maybe I'll offer less if everything else seems ok

turn it on the crank nut with a rachet, it's abit more hard work and depending if it's on a stand or not maybe tricky, whip the valve cover and sump off and check for corrosion and wear

[daniel_g]

Has he left the oil in it?

If hes drained it and its been sitting for years i would be paying as little as possible.

200 quid take it or leave it bro is what id be saying.

[dan106]

Thanks for your input fella's, told him I'll pass on it, way too much of a gamble for me for that price aha!

Still struggling to find someone to rebuild my bloody engine!

[Ollieh17]

Do it yourself mate, loads of information around for rebuilding these and nothing is really that tricky. just patience and accuracy

[dan106]

Id love to do it myself but I don't really have anywhere to do it, or the time in all honesty.

Was emailing TD, but since I said I'll take it out of the car and I won't need a map I have t got a reply

[daniel_g]

Do you know whats wrong with your engine?

Local engine builders are the way forward dude.

The 'main starlet tuners' just dont seem that interested these days. Not just me saying that either.

And then we get onto the topic of.. you may aswell get uprated rods & pistons if youre doing a rebuild.

Which is normally met with, its too dear to do.

Standard rebuild all adds up.

I priced parts from idworkz to do a standard rebuild for another project i have.

Rings - 100

Bearings - 145

Oil pump - 80

Headbolts - 72

Headgasket - 50

Oil filter gasket - 5

Valve stem seals - 30

Belt Kit - 42

Water pump - 30

Front crank seal - 15

Rear crank seal - 25

Rocker gasket set - 23

Inlet gasket - 17

Then machine work. Expensive for a standard rebuild.

Or minus the rings.

Maxspeeding rods can be got on ebay for 200.

Be able to pick up a set of pistons for about 400.

Machine cost is roughly the same.

Just something to think about dude.

[dan106]

It smokes after overrun as soon as you touch the throttle, and there's swarf on the magnetic sump plug, so it's either valve stems or rings, but with the swarf it might aswell all come apart and get refreshed.

I'm currently buying a house so every little saving helps tbh

How good are the cheap rods and Pistons though?

I just wana be able to drive it, I miss using it daily these days, wish I'd of left it alone now aha

[Ollieh17]

Get a 4efe cheap as chips and boost it. Build a spare up slowly

[daniel_g]

Get a 4efe cheap as chips and boost it. Build a spare up slowly

That is actually the best budget option, did this twice before getting a decent engine built.

[dan106]

Do they run alright with standard gt management? I've just been running an external wastegate at .8bar

[daniel_g]

A destroyed 2 of them at 0.6 bar. But i am a fuckin reprobate.

[dan106]

Probably a waste of time and effort for me then, I don't need the car to work tbh, better off doing it right the first time aha