Should I stay away from this 7M engine?

[iMod]

Hey everyone, it's been a while since I've been around....mostly cos I had to sell my Supra lol....:cry:

Anyways I found a 7M engine for $200 and I'm wondering if you guys would think it's a good idea? I just want it as a long term project over the weekends for maybe a year or so.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/pts/647269594.html

The engine is a good 3 - 3.5 hours away. That's why I wanna make sure it's worth it. Plus I hear that if it had a BHG and he ran it hot, that it could've possibly warped the block. I don't wanna drive that far, then come home and have someone check it with a machinists square just to find out it's warped. That would really suck. Maybe a new block would be an option? Does anyone have an idea of what a 7MGE block would cost? Would the head be ok if he ran it hot with a BHG?

I've got some questions written up that I wanna ask him when I call. Please feel free to add more if you think it's necessary.

Has it been sitting in the rain?

How many miles on the engine?

Has it had a BHG?

How complete is the engine? (will I get the alternator and stuff like that or is it just the block and head for sale?)

Could I get some pics?

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

Hey everyone, it's been a while since I've been around....mostly cos I had to sell my Supra lol....:cry:

Anyways I found a 7M engine for $200 and I'm wondering if you guys would think it's a good idea? I just want it as a long term project over the weekends for maybe a year or so.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/pts/647269594.html

The engine is a good 3 - 3.5 hours away. That's why I wanna make sure it's worth it. Plus I hear that if it had a BHG and he ran it hot, that it could've possibly warped the block. I don't wanna drive that far, then come home and have someone check it with a machinists square just to find out it's warped. That would really suck. Maybe a new block would be an option? Does anyone have an idea of what a 7MGE block would cost? Would the head be ok if he ran it hot with a BHG?

I've got some questions written up that I wanna ask him when I call. Please feel free to add more if you think it's necessary.

Has it been sitting in the rain?

How many miles on the engine?

Has it had a BHG?

How complete is the engine? (will I get the alternator and stuff like that or is it just the block and head for sale?)

Could I get some pics?

You are looking at a complete rebuild, at least that's what I'd figure with a BHG. The head maybe warped frome overheating, no way telling how bad without checking it. It's a crap shoot basically, he can tell you anything but without tearing it down you won't know.

 

[HommerSimpson]

200 for a block....crank...head & set of rods ...not acually a bad deal...crank worth 200 if its good....imho

 

[supramacist]

I would Run far far away from that deal.

It's a complete rebuild and you will never know what's been done to it.

 

[IJ.]

Bare minimum should be a hardness test on the head if it's soft it's junk.
(many are)

 

[Fuzz420]

I would try to offer him $150 for it

 

[Figit090]

ask him why he tore it down in the first place.

otherwise;

it's a GE....

it's far away and you'll be driving an engine-hauling vehicle for about 8 hours. take your shit MPG and the current gas prices, do the math, and add that to your engine price.

Figure in the price of a rebuild. You'll want new bearings and seals including a headgasket at the least. if he has proof of some new things, you might drop rebuild prices, but ONLY if he has proof. dont take his word for it.

you have good questions for him, now ask yourself some.

oh and one thing i'm asking; why do you want a GE?

 

[supramacist]

Ya. What figit said.

Only forget the questions and keep looking.

 

[gaboonviper85]

not worth the hastle in my opinion...you can ebay a jdm mge for $4-600

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

not worth the hastle in my opinion...you can ebay a jdm mge for $4-600

But you maybe in the same boat with a few bucks light. Like somebody else said I think it was Homer, if the crank is still good it would maybe be worth the $200, I'd ask why the crank was out.

 

[supramacist]

Look guys it's the same deal with 2j series engines.

You can buy discarded 2jz's all day for 300$ The cranks in them are worth 600$

IF......., you can find someone that wants them. This has multiple posts. Multiple pages written all over it.

Someone should be telling this guy where to get an engine that has a shot at performing for 60k miles after he unfocks it.

Because this is going to end badly. Without a sponsor.

I know my supra has kept food off my table, so I could keep the lights on.

You'll spend 1000$ after you get it legal in the 1st week of toying with bandaids for whats wrong because it takes research, research, research. On how to fix these cars the right way the 1st time.

Start pricing toyota and other quallity parts and start running the numbers.

The golden rule of resto-modding is to start with the best you can find.

If this is it. Have at and enjoy the ride. RE-motgage all your shite 1st so you'll have a chance at keeping the car on the road. This is an exaggeration. But it's not too damn far from the truth.

Ask around dude.

 

[suprarx7nut]

^^This is a weekend project for him. It will NOT be a priority.

From my point of view you could learn a ton by trying to rebuild a motor or even just taking it apart and putting it back together.

Offer him 100 and if he takes that then you found an ok deal. If any one piece of that motor is in good shape you stand a chance at making your money back.

Can't you have the metal recycled for 50 or so? :dunno:

 

[supramacist]

That is just what I was thinking rx7nut.
a franklin. Max bet.

Because there is alot to learn and if you are serious and get into it they aren't half bad to work on and you can find an online tsrm everywhere and read all of the sticky's that relate to enable you to ask better and or more precise questions so we can all aid you efficiently.

 

[Figit090]

^^This is a weekend project for him. It will NOT be a priority.

From my point of view you could learn a ton by trying to rebuild a motor or even just taking it apart and putting it back together.

Offer him 100 and if he takes that then you found an ok deal. If any one piece of that motor is in good shape you stand a chance at making your money back.

Can't you have the metal recycled for 50 or so? :dunno:

i like that idea, and yeah if you recycle that aluminum head and maybe some other parts i bet you could make most of your money back.

if its a weekend toy project or a learning experience I say ask if he'll take 150 and go for it. I just didn't know what you wanted it for. I'd be weary about using up that money on a GE for an upgrade or replacement, and use the money to help restore a GTE. but that's me.

 

[HommerSimpson]

spare parts that fit the gte is always wise...cant wait till i can aford a 2j

 

[iMod]

Thanks for all the replies. I ended up not getting it because the guy already sold it. This thread was useful though, for the future if I find another one. I can go through most of this info when considering buying another 7MGE or 7MGTE for that matter.

I'm fairly new to working on cars and I love my old Supra and plan on buying another one maybe in a year...hopefully sooner lol. I figured this would help me learn for when I get my next one. Or maybe I could even drop this engine into that car.

The two biggest reasons I want an engine like this is for learning how to build one up, and for fab work. I could use it as a "dummy engine" to see if parts I make, will actually fit. I'm about to get certified in welding stick and MIG in a few weeks, and my degree in welding in a few months. I'd love to try and make some headers and do some dynos to prove if my designs make any differences. Not really a "make money" idea. Just an idea for building up my own car/cars.

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

Thanks for all the replies. I ended up not getting it because the guy already sold it. This thread was useful though, for the future if I find another one. I can go through most of this info when considering buying another 7MGE or 7MGTE for that matter.

I'm fairly new to working on cars and I love my old Supra and plan on buying another one maybe in a year...hopefully sooner lol. I figured this would help me learn for when I get my next one. Or maybe I could even drop this engine into that car.

The two biggest reasons I want an engine like this is for learning how to build one up, and for fab work. I could use it as a "dummy engine" to see if parts I make, will actually fit. I'm about to get certified in welding stick and MIG in a few weeks, and my degree in welding in a few months. I'd love to try and make some headers and do some dynos to prove if my designs make any differences. Not really a "make money" idea. Just an idea for building up my own car/cars.

There's a thread here in the NA section on header design Defiant started up, has a lot of good info for the design of a good header for a NA.

 

[iMod]

Oh cool, I'll check that out right now. I've got mine all designed and I have everything I need in the welding lab I go to school at. I just need time to fab and weld it all up. All my time is dedicated to getting certified at the moment

 

[Figit090]

sounds like you have a cool plan. I'd like to become a welder...i'm not lined up for it but it sounds fun and rewarding. good luck.

I'd love to have a dummy engine to mess with on an engine stand... no money or time though.