craigslist engine for sale. Thoughts?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
craigslist engine for sale. Thoughts?
Before I commit to buying heads and paying for install I was going over all other options. Ive knocked out supercharging and nitrous and am down to a basic engine swap. The only one that would save me money over the top end on current engine is this one.
http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/pts/3972220189.html
Questions:
1) it has 426 double hump heads. What are they capable of making in power?
2) has the lunati voodoo cam already in it
3) can I use my current dizzy and carb after I get it rejetted and dizzy recurved?
4) any guesses on hp? Average as in its over 300?
http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/pts/3972220189.html
Questions:
1) it has 426 double hump heads. What are they capable of making in power?
2) has the lunati voodoo cam already in it
3) can I use my current dizzy and carb after I get it rejetted and dizzy recurved?
4) any guesses on hp? Average as in its over 300?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,359
Likes: 428
From: Seattle Area WA
Well it’s a .060” over block which might be OK if it was sonic tested, otherwise its kind of sketchy. Plus and you are at the mercy of who put it together and how it was done. The ‘462 heads do not have holes to mount your accessories so they are more than likely useless to you. You would be better off going to pick-n-pull junk yard and getting a 4 bolt vortec truck or van engine for about $150. You would have vortec heads you can have machined for more lift, already has roller cam capability, and a 4 bolt block.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
there are a lot of questions id ask about that engine, forged or cast steel crank . domed pistons ? how big a dome, what compression? what bearings and rings , stock fasteners or upgrade like arp. i have to agree, unless you know for sure whats in it get a vortec from a junkyard bore it , new pistons machine the heads for more lift add a better cam and have at it
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
Bought my engine block on Craigslist for 300 bucks.... supposedly had two summers worth of driving and less than 10,000 miles on it.... which it did! But,..... it also had a broken piston ring at one time which the owner supposedly had taken care of... well He replaced the rings and rehoned the walls but the bearings and crank were still all scored up bad. And the arp bolts he bragged about were just factory bolts.... I still made out because the pistons were fairly new flat tops and the block was a good "arguably" 509,010,020 high nickel/tin 4 bolt block.... and it had a new melling pump as well as a box of extras like new Carb spacers and chrome alternator brackets and such....
The aluminium oil pan won't work for me and has a stripped oil plug hole anyway... it also did have a almost new comp 268h cam and lifter which I still may use on a futurebuild or sell...(since I went with the 262 voodoo.
I do think I made out on my iron eagle heads for 300.00 on Craigslist.
The aluminium oil pan won't work for me and has a stripped oil plug hole anyway... it also did have a almost new comp 268h cam and lifter which I still may use on a futurebuild or sell...(since I went with the 262 voodoo.
I do think I made out on my iron eagle heads for 300.00 on Craigslist.
Last edited by augiedoggy; Aug 21, 2013 at 07:49 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I would never buy a used engine from anyone, if I didn't already know the history and the present status of that used engine.
Buying such a thing over the internet is a "crap shoot"....and you will almost always throw 2, 3, or 12 when you do.
Buying such a thing over the internet is a "crap shoot"....and you will almost always throw 2, 3, or 12 when you do.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 139
From: Syracuse NY
I bought a used 350 from a friends brother. It was rebuilt 30K ago, was .030 over and had a cam.
Or so I was told.
I thought my oil pressure gauge was wrong when it showed me 1PSI at idle. 3 days later I heard the unmistakable CLANG CLANG CLANG
of a spun bearing. When I tore the engine apart I also found out the pistons were standard. When I confronted the guy he said 'oh my bad, must have been the OTHER engine I had in the barn. The next time I buy a used motor it will be from a forum member or a guy who can show me receipts. Good luck.
Or so I was told.
I thought my oil pressure gauge was wrong when it showed me 1PSI at idle. 3 days later I heard the unmistakable CLANG CLANG CLANG
of a spun bearing. When I tore the engine apart I also found out the pistons were standard. When I confronted the guy he said 'oh my bad, must have been the OTHER engine I had in the barn. The next time I buy a used motor it will be from a forum member or a guy who can show me receipts. Good luck.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
It will certainly give you a feeling of accomplishment that you won't get having someone else build your car.
Last edited by augiedoggy; Aug 22, 2013 at 08:35 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 139
From: Syracuse NY
Well the bearing will cost about eight dollars. Who knows if the crank will need to be machined Or replaced Or whatever internal damage happened. Oil passages can get clogged with metal shavings.... Generally a motor with a spun bearing Requires a thorough tear down And a once over.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 81
From: Hamilton Virginia
When my vette engine died a few years ago, I found a 305 out of a 84 camaro for only $100 on craigslist. the guy swapped it out for a 350, so he said the engine was good, and showed me the odometer of the camaro which was reading 87,000 miles on it. so I threw it in the vette and put about 20,000 miles on it till I pulled it to put in the big block last year. I put the 305 back on craigslist and sold it to someone else for $100. All worked out well.
If someone has a motor for sale and they say it has a bunch of stuff done to it, and its rebuilt, they betta have the paperwork to back it up.
If someone has a motor for sale and they say it has a bunch of stuff done to it, and its rebuilt, they betta have the paperwork to back it up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
Good Luck
I have made out on CL motors and I have been burned up.
1000 is a steep price for an unknown engine. If he is serious pull the heads off and the pan. Look at the rods check piston parts#s and look at a rod and main bearing at random
If it checks out then you are ahead of game if it doesn't he is a BS artist and you are ahead.
If the jack hole refuses to allow for an inspection then run away.
if he is legit then he will let you look.
before the tear down run an oil primer on it and look at the static cold oil pressure and that will tell you right away if its worth further investigation
good luck
1000 is a steep price for an unknown engine. If he is serious pull the heads off and the pan. Look at the rods check piston parts#s and look at a rod and main bearing at random
If it checks out then you are ahead of game if it doesn't he is a BS artist and you are ahead.
If the jack hole refuses to allow for an inspection then run away.
if he is legit then he will let you look.
before the tear down run an oil primer on it and look at the static cold oil pressure and that will tell you right away if its worth further investigation
good luck
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
Im buying just a short block for $200. Getting it cleaned and resurfaced. Getting bare heads for $200 iron eagle 64cc and assembling them. Putting it all together. Taking it to a shop for a rejett of carb and recurve and dyno 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
No I have not. But at some point everyone has said no to that question. Im excited to try It and have neighbors who are mechanics if I get stuck and I have you guys ill make a thread about the start to finish and all my questions. Im actually gonna use the engine in my vette. Pull it and start from there I will take my time with everything and idc if it takes months.
ill make a thread about the start to finish and all my questions. Im actually gonna use the engine in my vette. Pull it and start from there I will take my time with everything and idc if it takes months.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
i would say if the engine if its complete its worth 150.00 . the heads are likely worth it . check if the crank journals or main saddles or rod journal are blue if so none of it can be used. it is a crap shoot , id offer 50 and come up a little the chance is it is scrap iron