buying motors from junkyards...
 

like the topic says, who has bought motors from the junkyards and what do you look for when doing so before purchasing the motors? there are a few options i have locally for one, and i want to see what you guys say.

Re: buying motors from junkyards...
 

i bought a jy motor for my toyota. was clean as ----, but the bearings, oil pump, and timing cover (chain timing, not belt. it hold water/oil pump) was trashed inside. water in oil, spraying out from the oil pump. fun times lemme tell ya.

pop off valvecover. if its black, dont take it. if it looks clean.. its worth the shot. also do an oil check. if the oil feels like it grits between your fingers.. theres at least 6000 driven miles on that oil. maybe 12000 if it was old lady.

Re: buying motors from junkyards...
 

look over the plugs for oil and or coolant and look inside the valve cover for massive deposits of gunk. If both look good id just make sure that the engine doesnt look like its been overheated to kingdom come. Other than that, weve usually had decent sucess going by this. This is just a VERY quick once over. If i was paying any kind of real cash (read, a grand or more) i wanna do compression testing, esp leakdown. The only thing these dont really tell you is if the engine knocks or not, and the condition of the bearings etc. Some places have a warranty too, usually cheap. The one yard by my house any engine is $120, but its u pull. If you have them hack it out (i stress hack) its only like another 30-40 i think... cant remember.

Re: buying motors from junkyards...
 

yeah its a 151 with a 30 day warranty at parts galore here. ive found numerous ls engines and even a clean d16a1 as well. from my understanding all the oil and coolant is drained from the vehicle before its put on the lot. the teg looks unmolested under the hood although the valvecover was removed. no d16z6/y8 engines though. plenty of f series, and the only h was gone. plenty of tegs though, old to new. just considering my options and really looking at the d16a1.

Re: buying motors from junkyards...
 

an engine with no oil = rusted rotating. no thanks. its sort of a federal policy to drain toxic liquids, but that leaves room for rust and corrosion.

Re: buying motors from junkyards...
 

there is still oil in the head and the hood is on the car. i like the fact that the oil and coolant has been drained. plus who pulls a unknown motor from the junkyard not running and tosses it in their car? i was gonna rebuild it back to stock specs and put it in my hatch. send it to the machine shop to get dunked for 20 bucks.

Re: buying motors from junkyards...
 

If you are just looking for a core for rebuild I think that a junkyard can be a good option.

If you just wanted to drop it in and run you are just gambling.

Re: buying motors from junkyards...
 

exactly, a core for rebuild. maybe a little high compression build or vitara for boost. not to sure yet.

Re: buying motors from junkyards...
 

I like to look at cars with body damage when looking for engine parts. Just because you know it's probably not there cause the engine is bunk. I mean it could be but chances are just are kinda slim.

Re: buying motors from junkyards...
 

Bingo....I especially look for crispy (burnt) cars because you know they were running when they went in, I have gone through a handfull of junkyard motors and so far so good! The yard I like to go to charged $150 if they dont know for sure if it works or not (core) and $300 if they know for sure it works, I ALWAYS gamble on the $150 cores and have always been lucky so far, lol. Same with tranny's I have gone through a bunch, alway's buy them as cores, so far every one worked.

I would just look real close to make sure it hasnt been molested since its been sitting there, make sure you look at the odometer (if not melted), pull the plugs/valvecover and look for obvious dammage.

For $150 with a warranty sounds like a great deal i'd scoop it up.