Things to consider before buying a rebuilt engine

[shawnn82]

IM gettting ready to purchase a rebuilt volvo penta engine from out of state. Any tips as to what to look for before buying? How would i verify the engine being rebuilt has been rebuilt. The engine is not mounted and has been sitting for just about a year.Firing it up is not an option as there are still parts disconencted. I have a snake cam that i could use to peek into things. What exactly am i looking for though?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Things to consider before buying a rebuilt engine

Firing it up is not an option as there are still parts disconencted.

Ayuh,... Just how stripped is it,..??

Other than general appearance, 'n Look's,... Ya might have to just Roll the Dice...

 

[shawnn82]

Re: Things to consider before buying a rebuilt engine

It is missing the exhaust manifold / riser. Distributor plugs / cap and Heat exchanger pipes. All of which I can pull from my engine. Here are some pics of the valve stems. What can you tell me from the pictures? What do you make of the silicone? normal or a mask to another problem?
Pictures attached are in cylinder order 1,2,3,4

 

[88wellcraft]

Re: Things to consider before buying a rebuilt engine

I would think if it had been rebuilt it should be a little cleaner than that. I guess depends on how many hours have been put on it since the rebuild....Be Wary..

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Things to consider before buying a rebuilt engine

Those pics are from a rebuilt engine ? Damn...looks scary... There is surface rust down by the valve seat [IMO] whats the condition of the cylinders? Rusty as well ? Is there documentation of what has been done.Machine work, new parts... Rebuilt could mean someone tore it apart to look at it, decided not to do any machine work, and...rebuilt it just the way it was... Looking at those pics again, Thats your old engine, or the one u wanna buy ???????

 

[shawnn82]

Re: Things to consider before buying a rebuilt engine

No this is of the engine i want to buy. Im gonna press for some more information see what i can find. Maybe i can strip it for parts or something.

 

[insttech1]

Re: Things to consider before buying a rebuilt engine

Yeah those pic's confuse the heck outta me too. Looks like three dirty valves, one clean one, and one nasty looking head. And I don't get the grease either. I can see putting the post-rebuild startup lubricant on there (the term escapes me, but I thought it was usually black so nothing tears up during initial startup), but it looks like that stuff was thrown on there with oil and debris still in place.

So to me that is not a rebuilt engine....maybe looks "rebuilt, then used, then maybe inspected, then partially lubed, then for sale"....

I've seen some short blocks rebuilt by what looks like semi-reputable places while looking around for other parts. Some of the brand new 4 cylinders go upwards of $5k to $6 for long blocks, but I've seen newly rebuilt and inspected engines for under $2k on e-bay.

What does he want for that engine plus shipping?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3-0L...at_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item56461509c0

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Things to consider before buying a rebuilt engine

What size of engine?

From the pics it (at least the head) looks to be rebuilt with assembly lube on the valve stems. Though it wasn't stored too well from all the trash in the ports/valves and signs of slight surface rust on the valve seats.

Pic #3 shows pitting on the valve. I would have replaced the valve, but it's a judgement call from the rebuilder. (I'm not saying they made the right call as I had a head rebuilt recently and the machine shop left an erosion pit in the head, right where the head gasket fire ring sits. I took it back and made then fix it, right.)

 

[woppini]

Re: Things to consider before buying a rebuilt engine

If its been truley rebuilt, looks like its been stored outside. Dont forget that the rings might be stuck too. Id pass on that engine in a heart beat.