There is no way to tell if a engine is bad by looking at it (Unless a connecting rod is sticking out of the block!). Buying a junkyard engine is a gamble, you really do not know.

Have you considered re-building your current engine? What is wrong with it?

 

if its in the junkyard still in vehicle, most likely its bad. if its good they usually have them ulled and already out of vehicle, thats how i tell

 

I have that before too.

 

yeah, if its in a junk yard and the body isn't smashed up then it more than likely has a bad engine.

 

Dont know bout round where you are at, but just recently all the CARS vehicle showed up in mine. They all have crap motors but are labled and or painted. If you use a shady yard then I would not touch a motor for a long long while out of a junkyard.

 

i would see if by some chance you could find out who the previous owner was, if the yard has a title for it or some kind of record to get a hold of them. that is, if the body was smashed in or not drivealbe like sheriff said. if the body isnt, well that leans towards an engine/transmision failure and you dont want that.

 

some junkyards will have the year and mileage written on them. if that info is available, i'd look for one with < 100k on it.

most junkyards will provide a 30 day or 90 day warranty. so if you find something sure enough wrong with it, then they'll get you another one. the trick is to find it before you put money or labor into it, as well as before you install it.

if its a 5.2 or 5.9, you can bet the bank that it needs a plenum repair, and if its the wrong year, then it might need an intake swap also.

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.

 

 

i got a 99 5.9 out of a wrecked van from a recycler
103k on in i saw the van they pulled it out of,

i was planning on rebuilding over the winter,
so i did a leak down test

i had one good cylinder at 15 % the other 7 were 50 %plus
i sent the heads out to the machine shop
it turned out the heads all were cracked inbetween valve seats
i got another set from the yard with a billion more miles on them
have yet to send them out yet

anywho , for the 1,000 -1500.00 im going to have in this motor
next time id just by a reman and be done with it

warrenty is only good another questionable motor


good luck