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Buying a rebuilt engine that has never been run
#1334716
11/13/12 12:39 PM
11/13/12 12:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 755
Oregon
moparmedic
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 755
Oregon
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I am going to look at an engine that was rebuilt 5 or so years ago but never has been run. They guy sold the car it was going into. What are some issues that I should look for? On something like this, should it be taken apart completely, lubed and reassembled or just run it?
1968 Coronet
1968 Charger
1966 A100 Pickup
1967 Barracuda
1970 Challenger
1972 Challenger
1973 Barracuda
2021 Ram 2500
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Re: Buying a rebuilt engine that has never been run
[Re: moparmedic]
#1334717
11/13/12 12:58 PM
11/13/12 12:58 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 208
Norrland, Sweden
Swedcharger67
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 208
Norrland, Sweden
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It better be cheap...I would take it apart and check everything...very little you can trust nowadays...
Martin, 67 Charger, 512 cui, E85, MegaSquirt MS3X sequential ignition & injection
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Re: Buying a rebuilt engine that has never been run
[Re: Swedcharger67]
#1334718
11/13/12 01:03 PM
11/13/12 01:03 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Quote:
It better be cheap...I would take it apart and check everything...very little you can trust nowadays...
For sure, it would be worth a lot more in my mind if it had be run.
I would never run it without taking it all apart to check everything. Most home rebuilt engines have problems.
Even if a known pro assembled it I would not trust it without disassembly. Too many if's.
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Re: Buying a rebuilt engine that has never been run
[Re: moparmedic]
#1334719
11/13/12 01:06 PM
11/13/12 01:06 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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To me it comes down to if any rust has formed. Alot of parts are oiled as part of the assembly process as you know but there's alot of bare machined metal that ain't touched with lube even if 5qts of oil was added & it was prelubed. I would at least pull the pan & possibly the intake. My #1 Q would be was it stored in a heated facility because if not, temp changes that get the ambient temp dropped below the dew point make moisture condense & rust ferrous parts. Also another consideration would be how expensive this eng is
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Buying a rebuilt engine that has never been run
[Re: RapidRobert]
#1334720
11/13/12 01:36 PM
11/13/12 01:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
bboogieart
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
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Yep how it was stored is definitely going to be an issue. I had mine rebuilt years ago and then lost funding for the project. I took out the push rods and that sealed the cylinders and relaxed all the springs. The rest was buttoned up with cheap gaskets. I just opened it up for a look last summer and it is still all nice and shiny metal but I will still go through the whole thing top to bottom before I fire it up.
My motor cost just over 2 grand in 2008 for a long block, just to compare price.
Who rebuilt it and what is the price?
I have mechanical Aptitude.
I can screw up anything.
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Re: Buying a rebuilt engine that has never been run
[Re: mcmopars]
#1334724
11/13/12 05:05 PM
11/13/12 05:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 755
Oregon
moparmedic
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 755
Oregon
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He is local. He says it was all done at a machine shop but has no receipts for the work and the shop has changed owners. So all I can really do is look at it. He said we can pull the pan and heads. Said he has over $4000 into it and is asking $1100 for it. It is a 383 with 915 heads. Says the heads were ported and the bowls blended and the block was bored 30 over and that all parts were new at the time.
1968 Coronet
1968 Charger
1966 A100 Pickup
1967 Barracuda
1970 Challenger
1972 Challenger
1973 Barracuda
2021 Ram 2500
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Re: Buying a rebuilt engine that has never been run
[Re: moparmedic]
#1334725
11/13/12 05:07 PM
11/13/12 05:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,974
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,974
U.S.S.A.
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Quote:
He is local. He says it was all done at a machine shop but has no receipts for the work and the shop has changed owners. So all I can really do is look at it. He said we can pull the pan and heads. Said he has over $4000 into it and is asking $1100 for it. It is a 383 with 915 heads. Says the heads were ported and the bowls blended and the block was bored 30 over and that all parts were new at the time.
RUN ...  .... RUN
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Re: Buying a rebuilt engine that has never been run
[Re: JohnRR]
#1334726
11/13/12 05:19 PM
11/13/12 05:19 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
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why'd the shop changed hands? because the previous shop couldn't turn a profit because their work was so shoddy that they had to keep doing re-work for free?
I would DEFINITELY be afraid of this engine...it was built by someone who couldn't keep their doors open.
the engine needs to be completely disassembled. all machined surfaces need mic'd and bearings checked for proper clearances. bores and pistons need mic'd to be sure they are true, no taper, and proper piston to wall clearance.
but...then again, consider that a complete core 383 goes for what...$300-$500? if you're only paying $1100, are you ok with the fact that you might have to rebuild it yourself if it doesn't last?
**Photobucket sucks**
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Re: Buying a rebuilt engine that has never been run
[Re: DaytonaTurbo]
#1334728
11/13/12 05:47 PM
11/13/12 05:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 755
Oregon
moparmedic
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 755
Oregon
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I was able to call the shop, it has the same phone number just different name and owner. The last owner died and the widow sold the business. This seems plausable to me. I initially called to see if the owner either had records or remembered the build.
Good points on all of this, it is a huge gamble unless I can get it for the price of a core engine which I doubt, so I will pass unless I can get it cheap.
As always, I appreciate the advice.
1968 Coronet
1968 Charger
1966 A100 Pickup
1967 Barracuda
1970 Challenger
1972 Challenger
1973 Barracuda
2021 Ram 2500
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Re: Buying a rebuilt engine that has never been run
[Re: RapidRobert]
#1334729
11/13/12 06:07 PM
11/13/12 06:07 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Quote:
To me it comes down to if any rust has formed. Alot of parts are oiled as part of the assembly process as you know but there's alot of bare machined metal that ain't touched with lube even if 5qts of oil was added & it was prelubed. I would at least pull the pan & possibly the intake. My #1 Q would be was it stored in a heated facility because if not, temp changes that get the ambient temp dropped below the dew point make moisture condense & rust ferrous parts. Also another consideration would be how expensive this eng is
Rust doesn't bother or worry me like some. I have put some rusty stuff togeather and it stayed togeather and ran a long time.
The short block 440 motor that is in my 71 sat uncovered in a shed in Detroit for many years, lot's of rust, even on the cyl walls. Took scotchbright pads and removed most of the rust off of connecting rod and deck surfaces. One cly had some serious deep pitting in a 3" circle in one of the clys. It surely was not able to be cleaned up with a hone and I wasn't gonna bore the block again because of rust in one cly. I honed all 8 holes again and all the rings sealed up great.
I put higher compression pistons in it without rebalancing and it runs great. The cly with the rust was a non issue.
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Re: Buying a rebuilt engine that has never been run
[Re: moparmedic]
#1334730
11/13/12 06:11 PM
11/13/12 06:11 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,533
Indiana
Fury Fan
master
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master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,533
Indiana
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If I were selling such an engine for $1100, I would be willng to spend 1-2 hours disassembling with you to inspect to your satisfaction. Not to measure every component, but to make general the assessment that things had been been machined and were still untarnished (that it was not a junkyard rebuild). Provided, of course, that you assured to me first that you were a serious buyer and that if the engine were found to be acceptable inside that you'd hand over the full $1100 (or a close amount agreed to beforehand). If it appears to be a good build with some performance parts inside, try spending $1100 on a fresh build and see how far it goes. I'd rather have an $1100 383 than a $3300 440. 
Parts I seek:
driver doorpanel, 65 Sport Fury, prefer black, needs to be 7-8 on 10 scale, might buy set
16" x 6" Dodge truck wheel(s), from early 70s?, takes 9" dogdish - need for a research job so cheaper is better.
69-73 C-body caliper brackets and/or splashields
Send a PM.
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Re: Buying a rebuilt engine that has never been run
[Re: Fury Fan]
#1334731
11/13/12 06:28 PM
11/13/12 06:28 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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I have bought a few racing engines over the years,like 6 of them. My first racing hemi was bought from Chuck Beard from assumtion Ill. I spent 12 hours the first day in his shop on Jan 1, new years day and 6 hours the second day. We took the whole engine apart and put it back togeather. And then I decided to buy a trans from him also and took it all apart and back togeather. Can you say it was termendous learning experience? It was huge and worth a lot of $$ to me. I have done the same thing for guys who I have sold engines too, start with a complete engine and take it all apart with the potentional buyer. I have done it several times. This time the guy did not buy the motor, only a supercharger.   
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Re: Buying a rebuilt engine that has never been run
[Re: bobs66440]
#1334733
11/16/12 02:30 AM
11/16/12 02:30 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,558
Midwest
Chargerfan
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,558
Midwest
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For $1100 I would buy it if I could see the inside to make sure they are new parts and see the condition of the block. Try rebuilding one for $1100. If I did buy it, I would definitely pull it apart and lube everything and put it back together. But that's just me.
2011 Challenger R/T
2017 Ram 1500 BIG HORN Edition
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Re: Buying a rebuilt engine that has never been run
[Re: Performance Only]
#1334735
11/17/12 01:37 AM
11/17/12 01:37 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 755
Oregon
moparmedic
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 755
Oregon
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[quote I would agree with partially disassembling the engine for inspection. on the other hand, do you have the tools like mic's and bore guage and expertise to measure everything and reassemble it properly on your own? if not it might be a can of worms.
That's really the problem, I have no idea what to look for except nice freshly milled iron and I don't have the tools to check it. Sounds like a good deal if it is what he says it is but you never know for sure.
1968 Coronet
1968 Charger
1966 A100 Pickup
1967 Barracuda
1970 Challenger
1972 Challenger
1973 Barracuda
2021 Ram 2500
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