used engine

[gsxr141]

i may be picking up a used but rebuilt engine for cheap. i was told that it was all redone, and has a mls headgasket and new pistons etc...
the engine is out of the car right now, so what can i look for to judge the condition of it?
thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Suprapowaz!(2)]

Leak down tester will show if pistons rings, headgasket and valves are seating correctly. On the engine stand you can remove the rod and main caps and inspect for any defects. Measure all clearances with plastigauge. The procedure is laid out in TSRM shown here in the next few pages. http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Library/TSRM/MK3/manual.aspx?S=EM&P=69
Do this fast, and before you try to run the engine. If you run into any problems you can hopefully resolve the issue with whom you bought this engine.

Oh I see you haven't bought it yet. I highly doubt he'll let you tear into it, but you could probably to a leak down test at minimum. You'd have to bring your own tools though. Ask him if he has a compressor, and bring the leak down tool.

 

[Dan_Gyoba]

If the cylinders were honed and the rings are new, the leakdown may not look as good as it could, since the rings won't be seated.

If the engine is out of the car, you can at least verify that it has the mls gasket. You can probably tell if the engine has been hot-tanked, so then at least you know that it's seen the inside of a machine shop.

If the engine has been broken in (IE: redone, then installed in the car, and run for a while, then pulled) then the leakdown test will give you good information.

Personally, I figure that I'd treat it as an unknown engine. You don't have access to the coolant anymore to do a block test, you can't hear it run to listen for knock. If you buy it, check bearing clearances and condition, flush out the cooling jacket and oil system before installing.

 

[gsxr141]

thanks guys. i'm just trying to swap in a running engine until i have the time-money to do a "real" build.