Reposting this since the server apparently was rolled back.

I'm hoping to replace the engine in my 98 v6 camaro over thanksgiving break. Was planning on going to a local LKQ junkyard and buying a motor from a wrecked car. I know I've seen a good number of threads on here where people buy used motor, thinking they're good, then find out it has all sorts of damage once they open it up. That being said, what should I check for when I go to inspect the motor? If anyone has had experience buying a used motor, or with LKQ, please comment and post your experience and etc.

Also, if someone in the Houston area has a working l36/l26 short or longblock, I may be interested.

 

Hard to say man, it is really hit and miss, just picked up a LQ4 with 65K miles, looks great till we pulled the cam to stuff a real bump stick in and the cam bearings look like ****, pitted and the lot. I dont mind getting new cam bearings, i just dont want to take the short block apart just to do it, apparently the machine shops are scared to do it with the crank it.

 

anyone else?

 

Crack open the oil pan and check for metal debris.

 

check the ring ridge, look at the oil pump, pull the rod and main caps, keep taking it apart till either they say no or your satisfied

 

I work for a shop here in Dallas and when folks can't spend money on a rebuild engine or transmission we use lkq never had any problems

 

Oh yea, the look of the internals of an engine should be golden brown, anything less has really low or nearly no miles, avoid dark, black and crust ridden engines, they were abused and not maintained, here is the color to look for:



That or lighter.

 

this.


but just go into it knowing that it's entirely possible that even though you check everything you can you could still end up with a turd. that's the game you are playing, there's an inherent risk so my advice is to have the funds for a back up plan or to rebuild it etc. it really sucks breaking your bank on something that was supposed to be the "low budget route". i speak from experience on this one.

 

^Exactly, just try and find a place that will warranty a POS engine.

 

You can get a 6 mo or 1 year warranty with LKQ stuff.

 

Yeah i've never delt with junkyard stuff, but i feel like if i were to bring back a bad motor, they'd just give me bullshit like that it was a install error.

 

^^^honestly in that case what Ive always done is just get another junkyard motor and try again, theyre cheap and easy to find, plus, statistically youll get a good one within the first 2 or 3. plus youll get ****** good at swapping motors lol

 

I worked in shops where we bought LKQ engines from time to time, and never had a problem. It's hit and miss, though. It'd be nice to hear it run in the wrecked vehicle before they pull it. I'll be looking for a 6.0 in the Houston area in the near future, so I'll have to roll the dice just like you.

 

you buy without warranty? every junk yard i go to has some sort of warranty. if they dont i'd have them run it till i was satisfied. i wouldnt buy from a junk yard that had no warranty. i can understand electronic and smaller parts...but expensive parts like trans/engines...they should have something.

 

Warranty doesn't mean much. I have seen junkyard motors put in that didn't sound perfect, but the junkyard said their warranty was that it would run and wouldn't smoke/burn oil. If it gernades soon enough they will proba stand behind, but otherwise the warranty isn't worth too much.