In theory,which would be easier/value to sell?

Running proven engine package:not wornout junk.
OR
Disassembled for inspection and or changes for the assembler?

I have bought stuff both ways,always tear it apart anyway.lol

Good question I guess if you know the builder an assemble engine would be fine but for my piece of mind I'll have it inspected anyway.

Currently trying to decide on this for my project now

It depends on what youre selling. Is it a 318 or a hi dollar racing engine?

Even a running engine can be a "wornout junk" engine.

This is how I buy/sell racing engines. My first blown hemi engine I bought was in peices when I got there and spent 1.5 days with the seller and he showed me how to put it together and I came home with a assembled engine. The time spent and one night in the hotel was well worth it.

usually to get the most value out of an engine - you end up parting it out

I learned a long time ago that my definition of a good, running engine was different than a lot of sellers. I prefer them apart unless its someone I know well.

I have had people make deals after the engine is proven on the dyno. the deal when down before we unbolted it. LOL


Joe

this

I sold a guy a Challenger once with a really good, strong running 440 in it. The first night out a rod bolt let go on it. He couldn't have driven it harder than I did. It was just it's time.
I treat every engine like a core, apart is better.

I have seen so many engine deals that - to be nice about it - were not as advertised or expected, that I would not buy a complete piece and bolt it unless it came from a reputable, known engine shop. A complete engine on someone's word would have to be a smoking deal and I would expect to have to take it apart.

If it's already apart, has good verifiable parts, and it's not burnt up, it would be worth more to me.

Running engine apart is probably the better way to go, but beware the "pile of parts" engine that has never been assembled unless you're a builder yourself. Wrong parts, wrong clearances, no history marks to see how it was put together or signs of potential problems.

If you can, get the manufacturers part numbers from the seller, as it may not be evident from looking at the parts. These can be really helpful when it comes to replacements or checking the manufacturer's instruction sheets to make sure things were done correctly.

Buddy of mine is going through this right now. Bought a "just built, never run" motor from a well known builder. It sat for awhile after he got it, so he took it to a friend of ours to have it looked through. Compression is 3 points lower than claimed, pistons were so tight they would have seized if he started it, and the bearings were full of dirt. To top it off, the head on it was one another friend of ours had given the builder because it was junk.

As said before, I always treat complete motors as cores unless I know them well.

If I am buying I would rather start with a core. I can build the engine the way I want. For those that are not able to build one, I would either:

1. buy from a builder that is well known and will stand behind the engine,

2.at a minimum buy from someone who is willing to pull the pan and heads to verify condition,or

3. hear the engine run and witness oil pressure, verify compression, etc. Anything else and I would treat it as a core and be happy if it turned out to be better anything better than a core.