Second hand engine

Hi guys I've seen a second hand engine for sale his not too far from me the engine is already out the car, what I would like to no is what should I look out for when buying a second hand engine that can not be heard running as it's out the car don't want to get stung with a fcuk'd engine other than taking the guys word for it.

I think its a risk you have to take to be honest as you cant do a compression check or hear if theres a mechanical fault in the engine like bottom end for example, if the enginre cant be heard running   

yes as above

all you can really do is turn it over on the crank pulley to check that its not seized.
big gamble tbh especially due to the age of these cars now and there possibly abused past use

if your getting it dirt cheap then it may pay to pull it apart to check it over but then you could probably do that with your engine if theres a fault

I got stung recently when I bought an engine that was out of the car.
It was sold as a low mileage full service history with service history book stamped...
I fit it and it was knocking its tits off bottom end
If it's cheap enough, it's worth a gamble!

If they want top money for it I wouldn't risk it personally!!!

I have finaly learnt my lesson! Never buy a car blind and never buy an engine without hearing it running!!!

always thought its better to just rebuild an engine if its already out then you have piece of mind, nothing worse fitting something then having to remove everything again

unless its from a company with a warranty or scrap money then just leave it

i would only buy an unknown used engine if needed head or block & was intending to strip it.
generally it is a waste of time & reason so many people end up with poor reliability as most of these engines on the market are fit for nothing but stripping.
You can check in filler cap with torch to look at general cleanness & any oil froth that may indicate issues of shite servicing and head-gasket sealing concerns, also pull the plugs & look at condition & deposits & piston crown & bores as gives a little idea on health & perhaps issues but still is a huge gamble & not one I would bother with.
Either buy from someone who has tested it running & has a reputation & warranty or rebuild your current one. If you have a trusted/quality machine shop doing a rebuild is not that much hassle or expense unless you going serious HP .

Thanks guys for the info, It's not worth it then he wants £500 for it , there's nothing wrong with mine I just wanted it as a spare so I could do a forged engine rebuild on it slowly over next year some time thought it might have been a good base to start from so I don't have to take my own car off the road next year as I no doing a forge engine rebuild is not cheap and I can't afford it at the moment so I would have slowly done it on this spare engine I was going to buy

Not unless any one fancy a swapping they forged engine with my standard. Engine with cash they way would be the cheapest and best option

Will put an add in swap section see if I get any interest

Where is it for sale mate is it on eBay whats the blokes username if its the bloke I think it is

Forged piston rebuild for the more sensible hp builds really isn't that expensive compared to a decent rebuild on standard pistons.
Up to you really , not buying another engine saves some dosh to buy parts for the rebuild & you can collect basic parts required in advance so you all ready to go when needed thus making down time minimal.
You could pay £500 for this & find crank fubar & head skimmed to limits etc etc.
doing a rebuild on a unknown base lump is seriously risky unless you really know how to check everything.

Concrete-GTIR wrote:Where is it for sale mate is it on eBay whats the blokes username if its the bloke I think it is

The ad is On gumtree, the guys based in Keighley, West Yorkshire
I don't want to go for massive bhp I'd be happy with 350 as I want to keep reliability
My engine is stock and I no the pistons and head gasket are weak point

My spec
Completely standard engine
Hks air filter
Hks dump valve
Front mount intercooler
Walbro fuel pump
1 bar loop
2.5 blue flame full exhaust system
560cc injectors (not fitted)
Z32 maf (not fitted)
3" elbow (from Bogdan not fitted)

Still need
Electronic boost controller
Gt2871r turbo
Nistune remap

Do you guys think the standard engine will handle it with the mods I will have done or will I be better going forge

Standard engine will easily handle 350 ponies mate, theres standard engines out there running over 400bhp... Standard rods are good for 500bhp Proven!

If your only wanting 350bhp then theres nothing to worry about with standard internals All will be fine with the mods you have listed above & a good map

Can still compression test the engine even though it's out

I wouldn't buy a unheard engine unless you are planning on doing a rebuild ..  The engine will run 350 bhp but it's all down to a good mapping for how long it will last A friend pulsar run over 400bhp and lasted over 4 years in till it spun a big end

Keighley...... I wouldn't buy a toffee crisp from keighley let alone an engine.

Sir Dangerous Dave wrote:Keighley...... I wouldn't buy a toffee crisp from keighley let alone an engine.

Are you on about Keighley car sales Dave? If so I agree, that place needs shutting down!

It needs burning down.....


I went to buy a pulsar from keighley that was meant to be running when I got there the mug said he couldn't get it started... My answer was no shit there is no injectors in it.

Waste of time.

Lol how the feck did he think he was going to sell it to you then dave.... it would of been funnier if he had jumped in it and started making engine noises   

Ha sounds about right Dave... Hmmm im keeping my mouth shut about that place   

Tbh I think the prat would of done if I gave him chance.


Soon as I had seen the lad I knew the car or engine would be fucked just one of the day to day ball bags you meet in keighley.

Are you guys on about Keighley trade center where they sell stuff like scoobys, evo's and supra's mainly jap imports?

Yeah mate and keighley in a whole.

I'm on over 10 years & it been at 330 & 345hp for those years & all fine but not huge mileage. If mapped well & serviced well & in good condition to start with a standard lump will handle 350hp with ease.
If it ain't broke don't fix it, doing an engine health check & if all ok get car mapped/checked on rollers by a decent mapper make all the difference between reliability & long term minimal costs.
Without a doubt at low price of CP pistons these days & better head gaskets its hard to find reason not to use them on a rebuild unless on minimal budget.

As above not racist in any way and could be just unlucky but this statement is fact i have had 3 friends buy from keighley all were faulty one was a full car crx one was a engine the last was parts all 3 different sellers but all foreign now that probably has noting to do with it but still happend and the last asian guy we bought a v tec lump off  from up my way said dont trust anything from down there all the rubbish ends up there bit of a bold statement but sure my mates would agree from there expensive mistakes

johnny gtir wrote:As above not racist in any way and could be just unlucky but this statement is fact i have had 3 friends buy from keighley all were faulty one was a full car crx one was a engine the last was parts all 3 different sellers but all foreign now that probably has noting to do with it but still happend and the last asian guy we bought a v tec lump off  from up my way said dont trust anything from down there all the rubbish ends up there bit of a bold statement but sure my mates would agree from there expensive mistakes

Ha ha I thought you were talking about them Johnny I agree with you I am Asian my self and about 6 months ago me and my brother went down there to go look at a black golf r32 what a dog where there no more than 5mins we didn't even bother to even start the thing just walked out any ways enough said about them or will all get into big trouble   

Ok guys will stick to the standard engine as when I did compression test on it got 160+ on all four cylinders
The only thing I will do is change big end bearings with ALC bearings just for peace of mind and will see how long engine last me once all done and Finnished some time next year