Used engine?

[trainguy1989]

A person in my town has a 94 3.2L SHO motor with about 85K. He is selling it for $500 and includes everything and everything attached to the motor(alternator, starter, etc...). The car it came out of was involved in a frontal collision. It did not hurt the motor but destroyed the cooling system. The guy says it has been sitting in his shop for 2 years. I asked him if oil was still in it and he thinks he drained it about 2 years ago too. This could be a problem right?

Thanks,
David

 

[Eric VerValin]

Well.. maybe... I would pull the spark plugs out, and see how easy it turns over. With a couple foot cheater bar on the crank bolt, it should crank pretty easy.

(I'd pull the belts loose for that)

In theory the cam guides and all that *should* be ok still. Where is his "shop" ? Is it out in the cold? or is it heated? Stuff like that might make a difference too.

 

[trainguy1989]

Thanks, if it has been sitting for 2 years and not been ran, would all the seals be in pretty bad shape? I forgot to mention that he said the oil filter had a slight dent after the collision. Told me the car ran well before he yanked it. I do not know if his shop is heated, will have to ask.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Seals are a crap shoot, and %85 of the time if they're not bad now, once you warm it up and drive it for a week, the old ones will show themselves. Assume you'll need to seal it up, the VC gaskets and plug wells should be ok, check those out when you look at it.. talk him down a bit for the gaskets...

 

[firebat45]

Don't pay $500, that's a lot for a frontal collision engine that's been sitting for years. You might find problems related to the hit down the road that you won't see in an initial inspection. Same goes for the sitting. I'd pay $200 tops, assuming you aren't getting the tranny with it.