what to look for in a Junk Yard Engine
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Capac
The junkyard down the road for my house (and I can prove this for a fact) sells god only knows how many engines out of the same "low mileage car" Personally I think these dealers should have to fill out some sort of paperwork to insure that this is not going on. Btw last time I called this place they quoted me 300$ for used 3/4ton springs 1ton would have been 4 all I have to say is F.O. to these places.
Grand Champion
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,971
Likes: 45
From: MAINE
i'd try to put it on a stand, run power to the starter and do a compression check. if ok, then i'd pull the valve covers and oil pan and inspect, also fix the plenum, replace wp, timing chain, rear seal, oil pump, freeze plugs, and gaskets. all that will be easy with the engine out. this will allow you to inspect everything very closely. if in doubt, carry it to a machine shop and let them inspect it.
all those repairs would be very easy to do with motor out. Ive done them all with motor in, except change the chain. i looked at it though and it ws good. but you can get all that done for like 300 bucks if you do t yourself, and then you'll have a nice motor
yea. i figured if it was like a cracked head or broken plenum etc. it might still be worth the $210 just to rebulid it myself. but i don't wanna get it and its something i couldn't handle myself...
pull-a-part offers a 30day return for "store credit".. but its like wtf am i gonna get out a junk yard for $200 if its not the engine???
pull-a-part offers a 30day return for "store credit".. but its like wtf am i gonna get out a junk yard for $200 if its not the engine???
Grand Champion
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,971
Likes: 45
From: MAINE
like poeple have said, junkyard engines are a gamble, thats why id rebuild it. i wont ever buy a new motor,(unless i was going to rebuild it, but i wont ever run an engine straight from the junkyard) ill build the one i have because i know whats been done to it. but thats just me, uness its a crate motor
Last edited by 95RAM360; Oct 28, 2009 at 03:34 PM.
like poeple have said, junkyard engines are a gamble, thats why id rebuild it. i wont ever buy a new motor,(unless i was going to rebuild it, but i wont ever run an engine straight from the junkyard) ill build the one i have because i know whats been done to it. but thats just me, uness its a crate motor
well i wasn't hoping to find a motor in a junkyard good enough to just drop in. but i don't want one bad enough where it would cost just as much to rebuild as it would buying a crate motor. and rebuilding my 5.2 just seems pointless when i could spend around the same amount for a 5.9 upgrade.
Record Breaker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,087
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
we have a JD diesel with 2 rods through the block...
a fire burnt an external oil line and drained it of all oil
it was an irrigation motor, it had Murphy Switchage oil press. and water temp gauges in it, but for some unknown reason the gauge failed and didn't shut the motor down, the next morning we went to shut it down and found 2 rods through the block
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Capac
we have a JD diesel with 2 rods through the block...
a fire burnt an external oil line and drained it of all oil
it was an irrigation motor, it had Murphy Switchage oil press. and water temp gauges in it, but for some unknown reason the gauge failed and didn't shut the motor down, the next morning we went to shut it down and found 2 rods through the block
a fire burnt an external oil line and drained it of all oil
it was an irrigation motor, it had Murphy Switchage oil press. and water temp gauges in it, but for some unknown reason the gauge failed and didn't shut the motor down, the next morning we went to shut it down and found 2 rods through the block
