What to look for in a used shortblock?
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: st louis, mo area
What to look for in a used shortblock? There's a LT1 stroker shortblock for sale locally. I'm dreaming of throwing some AI stuff on/in it and pulling off some 400-450 rwhp dyno pulls.
I know it should turn over smoothly but what else do I look for in the shortblock to determine if it's any good?
I know it should turn over smoothly but what else do I look for in the shortblock to determine if it's any good?
Need to have it magnafluxed to see if there are any cracks. See if the guy will let you take it to your machine shop to have it checked out before you buy it.
I would want to see the bills from when it was built. If the motor is a "throw together" I wouldn't mess with it.
Other than that, after doing a visual once over, do the following.
1. Check the cylinder walls for damage.
2. Inspect the bearings, etc.
3. Measure the bore and stroke.
Other than that, after doing a visual once over, do the following.
1. Check the cylinder walls for damage.
2. Inspect the bearings, etc.
3. Measure the bore and stroke.
personally I wouldn't pull it apart completely. If it's a stock engine, look at the cyl walls, and generally inspect all the hard parts. Then maybe pull the rod and main caps just to verify the bearings haven't moved. Aside from that run with it if it's cheap enough.
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: st louis, mo area
seller got indignant when i asked him to produce documentation backing what he says about the shortblock. That made me a little nervous so I'm still looking for a big-inch shortblock. Thanks for clueing me in on what to look for.
Brett
Brett
main thing for me is confidence in the seller. take a look at his car/house/shop.. if everything is done properly on his stuff, and no duct tapes/chewing gums/abused parts, chances are he was nice to the motor as well. pull a random main cap and rod cap to check bearings. look at cylinder walls for deep scratches. other than that, you cant do much more. you cant ask the guy to disassemble the thing and have it magnafluxed..... unless maybe its a $70k engine with a billet block.
