Buying a engine that sat...

[canadian]

Last summer/fall my engine somehow starting knocking. Instead of rebuilding that one and replacing whatever is wrong with it I am looking at buying a used engine.

I found one somewhat local but it has sat (indoors) for over a year. The price is good and it ran good while it was in a car.

I am wondering what I should do before I put this engine into my car. I want to replace the head gasket with a metal one and surface the head, what else should I do to guarantee nothing will go wrong with it? Suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[CampbellsChunkySoupra]

the best thing is to tear it all down and send it to your machine shop of choice. dont waste your time "hoping" it will all work out. im assuming this is a 7m?

send in the block, get it magnafluxed[?sp] and cleaned up. get the head and block all resurfaced. you will waste your time by not getting it all done at once. all new bearings, gaskets, arp head bolts, and you'll be set.

and if u are planning on making a ton of power, u might tear into even more and upgrade the rods and pistons...

the motor might be a little siezed up too. u never know. its best to check it all to be safe so u dont have to pull the motor back out.

 

[ViR2]

if only a year, then its ok, but if it sat for more then 4-5 years, then my friend u have a trouble. It would be seized, but now I think it should be ok if u put it in your car. But if I ware u I would rebuild that just to be safe and go MHG...

 

[starscream5000]

At the minimum, do a MLS gasket or stock (depending on your power goals), do it CORRECTLY, ARP studs, and machined to fit std. sized bearings, and have everything checked to make sure it's structurally sound. New oil and water pump too .

 

[canadian]

Why new oil and water pump?

If I were to rebuild it, I just need the gasket set, MHG bearings and arp hardware? Sounds like its going to get pricey...

I dont plan on making serious power with this one.

Yes, a 7M and it sat for 2 years actually I believe...

 

[canadian]

Anyone? I need to know as soon as possible.
Where is the best place to get the bearings, and gaskets, etc?

Thanks

 

[starscream5000]

New oil and water pump because you'll never know when those old ones on the engine will take a shit on you, both of those are very important to have working properly. At the least, get a new oil pump .

 

[Stretch]

If you get a machinist to surface the block then you'll have to remove the rotating assembly anyway so he can secure it to the milling jig. This means you'll be replacing all gaskets at the minimum, and being all apart I would do bearings, ARP hardware and oilpump at least.
eric

PS. If you do that check the cylinders to see if they have any cross-hatching left, and have him do that while the block is apart. This would also be a good time to inspect the pistons for wear and replace them if they are damaged, along with rings. Check the cylinders themselves for roundness, as if they are more oval now you will have to overbore slightly to get back in gear, which would mean buying slightly oversized stock or aftermarket pistons/rings.

 

[NewWestSupras]

the only way to "guarantee" that nothing will go wrong with a used engine is to completely rebuild it, period. Or, if you're trying to save money, throw it in there and run it till it stops working...

 

[canadian]

So either way this is going to be way more expensive than I thought?

 

[NewWestSupras]

In the immortal words of IJ: "open hatch, fill with money, when full, open passenger's door, repeat".

 

[starscream5000]

^That sums it up, don't forget the small ass back seats too .

 

[canadian]

Okay, what would cost more to rebuild...this engine with possible future problems, or my current engine with rod knock? What is usually in need of replacing after an engine knocks?
I will start searching too...
Thanks

 

[Mr.PFloyd]

might have to replace the crank if its really really bad. normally you can resize the crank and go oversized bearings. same goes with rods and such. rods will need to be replaced. not a question.

 

[canadian]

So it sounds like buying the used engine will be cheaper.
I will go that route I guess...
Where can I buy the gasket set I would need for a rebuild? What about bearings?
I found the MHG and ARP stuff on HPF.com, driftmotion, probably some other places...

 

[canadian]

I might just instal a OEM head gasket with proper precautions on the used engine and run it. If something happens I will rebuild it. I have looked around and all the money involved in rebuilding is hurting.

 

[Mr.PFloyd]

rebuilding an engine pays off far sooner then you would expect....

 

[canadian]

rebuilding an engine pays off far sooner then you would expect....

You mean from enjoyment?

 

[Mr.PFloyd]

You mean from enjoyment?

i mean from costs of what you will spend on a used engine with just a HG job in the future.

 

[canadian]

Yeah that is very true, as I have been reading. But I don't have a couple grand to slap on the table to get this rebuilt in the next 2 months.
But overall I guess it would be best to rebuild it. I don't know anymore. I don't like the idea of the engine costing more than the entire car did :biglaugh:
Thanks for the replies. I will keep searching here for more info.