What would you check for when buying a used complete motor?
10-15-2010, 06:11 PM
#1
What would you check for when buying a used complete motor? Going to pick up what I am being told is a gently used 30K LS6. Motor is complete. I already confirmed the block is an LS6, but what could I do quickly to confirm it is in good running condition if any? Here is a couple that come to mind
Drop the pan and look at the crank/bearings for excessive wear
Hand turn the engine and make sure it spins freely?
Drop the pan and look at the crank/bearings for excessive wear
Hand turn the engine and make sure it spins freely?
10-15-2010, 07:09 PM
#2
Leakdown test with each piston at TDC, 100psig test pressure.
You won't see much useful about the bearings just by dropping the oil pan, have to remove the bearing caps and no sane seller would permit it.
If it still has the oil filter attached, remove it and cut it open. Spread out the filter media and look for metal in the pleats.
If it still has oil in the pan, pull a sample and send it in for analysis. Blackstone Labs is a good vendor, there are others as well.
Pull the spark plugs and read for abnormal burn or mechanical impacts.
You won't see much useful about the bearings just by dropping the oil pan, have to remove the bearing caps and no sane seller would permit it.
If it still has the oil filter attached, remove it and cut it open. Spread out the filter media and look for metal in the pleats.
If it still has oil in the pan, pull a sample and send it in for analysis. Blackstone Labs is a good vendor, there are others as well.
Pull the spark plugs and read for abnormal burn or mechanical impacts.
10-16-2010, 08:30 PM
#3
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Leakdown test with each piston at TDC, 100psig test pressure.
You won't see much useful about the bearings just by dropping the oil pan, have to remove the bearing caps and no sane seller would permit it.
If it still has the oil filter attached, remove it and cut it open. Spread out the filter media and look for metal in the pleats.
If it still has oil in the pan, pull a sample and send it in for analysis. Blackstone Labs is a good vendor, there are others as well.
Pull the spark plugs and read for abnormal burn or mechanical impacts.
You won't see much useful about the bearings just by dropping the oil pan, have to remove the bearing caps and no sane seller would permit it.
If it still has the oil filter attached, remove it and cut it open. Spread out the filter media and look for metal in the pleats.
If it still has oil in the pan, pull a sample and send it in for analysis. Blackstone Labs is a good vendor, there are others as well.
Pull the spark plugs and read for abnormal burn or mechanical impacts.
10-16-2010, 09:32 PM
#4
Hope the old oil filter is still on the engine and cut it open...it will tell you alot about the condition of the engine.
I bought a used 454 once, cut open the old oil filter and founf it was full of water....tread carefully with used engines that you can't drive.
I bought a used engine out of a low mileage 84 ta once too, luckily I pulled the intake and checked it before installing it. All the valves were rusted and once ii pulled the heads i found the rings rusted to the cylinder walls, Engine was junk. Salvage yard tried to screw me out of 500 bucks on that deal but i stood my ground and finally got another good low mileage engine.
A good salvage yard will check and run any engine before they sell it.
I bought a used 454 once, cut open the old oil filter and founf it was full of water....tread carefully with used engines that you can't drive.
I bought a used engine out of a low mileage 84 ta once too, luckily I pulled the intake and checked it before installing it. All the valves were rusted and once ii pulled the heads i found the rings rusted to the cylinder walls, Engine was junk. Salvage yard tried to screw me out of 500 bucks on that deal but i stood my ground and finally got another good low mileage engine.
A good salvage yard will check and run any engine before they sell it.
Last edited by HotSilverBird; 10-16-2010 at 09:39 PM.
10-16-2010, 10:09 PM
#5
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got an lq4. biggest mistake i made was not turning the crank by hand. next day i realize i got a stuck piston ring. smh. but its alright. im plannin on rebuildin the engine from bottom up anyways.
10-17-2010, 11:58 AM
#7
I would pull the dipstick to see what the oil looked like, if they didnt drain it. Pull the oil cap off & one of the valve covers. From that I would get a good idea if the oil was changed often enough. Then just give it a good visual inspection for any signs of external leaks or damage. If everything looks ok & the internals are clean its most likely ok. I have installed a lot of used engines & had pretty good luck with them but have had a few that had a slight knock after it warmed up.
