dhen

Hi,

I'm going to be putting an LT1 into an old Jaguar. I've been looking at complete pullouts on the internet and I was wondering if I should get a junkyard engine or go another route.

Anyway, I would like to hear your experiences. Those of you who have used junkyard engines, was it worth it or would you recommend a rebuilt engine instead?

Thanks,

Darian

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

I'd check the boards first. That way at least you have some alleged accurate info of what you're buying. I have a friend in Maryland who is selling his complete long block with cam and supporting valvetrain which has resulted in high 11's w/ a M6. Engine has 75,000 miles. I can put you in touch w/ him if you'd like...

Here's the thread he made about his latest track pass:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...y-finally.html

jaycenk

iTrader: (1)

If you buy a junkyard pullout, get it cheap!!! Bought a junkyard pull out from a guy who was going to do an RX-7 and never got around to it and I am glad I got it cheap because the crank and rods were trashed. Ended up having to buy a new rotating kit for it.

lt1-xjs

Complete pull-out, engine and trans. "Guarantee with warranty" and you can't go wrong.

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

Even with a warranty it's a huge gold plated pain in the *** to have to haul an engine back to the junkyard. Usually the "guarantee" at a junkyard is time limited.

UpinsmoKe68

I Have a complete drivetrain thats still in my 96 z28
if i were to sale it i was wanting to get rid of everything
from the mas air flow sensor all the way down to the oil pan
all sensors fuses wiring harness computer o2s
it has 105k miles
needs gasket ovwrhaul kit
still in car running

if interested or know a place i can get rid of it
email me upinsmoke1505@yahoo.com

Z28Roxy

iTrader: (4)

If you're near Milwaukee, WI you can come pull the engine and transmission (4L60E) out of my caprice if you want. You can even drive the car first to see that it works.

hyperzone

I would say get everything but the long block from a yard. I mean, you never know what kind of abuse the motor had in its life. Like mentioned above, warranty is great but, it will still be YOUR TIME AND MONEY spent pulling it back out and returning it if there's a problem. Just my honest opinion

Gojira94

iTrader: (4)

If you want a junkyard pullout, that's a potentially cheap source for an engine. However, plan and budget for an overhaul of the long block, around $1200-1600. I went through my 67,000 mile engine and found surprises in the cam bearings and a couple of scars in the crank bearings. Glad I looked- I would not have guessed my relatively young engine would have these issues.

If you were doing an LSx swap into it, you'd have a ready and ample supply of very low mile engines, say for instance one from a GTO. If you want an engine that's not been produced since 1997, prepare to spend a portion of the difference getting it machined to suitable use for your purpose. What's your budget like for the project?

dhen

Thanks, everyone. I probably should have said where I live earlier. Right now I'm not interested in shipping an engine across the country as I know that some are available close to home.

I'm overseas at the moment, but I'll be coming back in a couple of months. If someone in San Antonio happens to have a pullout, though, I have a friend who could come by.

You bring up some good points. I guess it's kind of a crap shoot on whether or not you get a good engine. It might be better to buy the whole car, I suppose, but my neighbors wouldn't like that too much.

I have about $5,000 to spend on the swap. I know a good machinist, but if I could get a good used engine I would do that instead.

What about used transmissions? I'm planning on using a 4L60E.

Thanks,

Darian