buying a cl built motor? or rebuild mine?

[AlexGsxCummins]

alright im in the middle of rebuilding my 92 gsx i have it completely torn apart and my original plan was i would build the block and head (i have a ghost list made up but i don't need to waist time posting it all) well basically i was cruising craigslist today and came across a 6 bolt motor for sale. I've already contacted a machine shop that is planning on doing the machine work to the head and block. but this guy is selling his for 2k obo with almost a identical part list i had planned - the valve springs are a different brand. NOW i got to thinking. me building my own motor will cost me around 6-8k i would imagine. so i am looking at the savings gap now. i e-mailed the guy who has not responded yet asking who built it, has it ever been ran or turned over. i don't want to spend this money to find out it has a horrible rod knock or something. what would you guys do? part of me wants to say i assembled the motor. but my bank is screaming at me to go the craigslist route. here is what the guys says about the engine.

The engine is a 6 bolt block that has been line honed, the deck has been polished, cylinders been honed .20 over, hot tanked, magnafluxed and been painted.
The crank: stock 6 bolt crank, that has been hot tanked, magnafluxed, and ground for .20 over bearings, and rebalanced.
The rods and pistons: The rods are forged Manley rods hung on forged weisco pistons with 8.5:1 c/r
The headgasket is a oem mitsubishi mls
The cylinder head: has be hot tanked, magnafluxed, deck has been polished, 5 angle valve job, with ferera valves, super tech dual valve springs, kelford 272 cams and bc gold adjustable cam gears.

 

[SrKegler]

Hard decision. Who built the engine, how long ago. I always wonder why someone puts that kind of money into an engine, then wants to sell in cheap.

Just to make your decision more difficult, check this post out.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/1990-awd-for-sale.494411/#post-153525270

Don't know the reputation of the shop, but it sounds like a better deal.

 

[darknezz7]

Hard decision. Who built the engine, how long ago. I always wonder why someone puts that kind of money into an engine, then wants to sell in cheap.

Just to make your decision more difficult, check this post out.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/1990-awd-for-sale.494411/#post-153525270

Don't know the reputation of the shop, but it sounds like a better deal.

looks kinda monkied and half done, but that is a great deal for all those parts, engine and a second shell

 

[fastfred]

I don't know anything about the shop building the car, but I know Brewster machine and fox lakes are legit. I may have to go check that one out for myself.

 

[AlexGsxCummins]

a little more insight, he told me the name of the shop and that they assembled the bottom end and he (the owner)assembled the top and mated them. never been installed/started the shop name is action machine in shoreline

 

[AlexGsxCummins]

It's down at 1500 now l. Any other thoughts?

 

[SrKegler]

It's always going to be a tough decision. If every thing he said checks out and it seems legitimate, I would go for it. At $1500 your looking at what used JDM motors go for on Ebay. Being 71 y/o though, I'm always leery of those deals that are too good to be true. Do your research. Might have stumbled on a fantastic deal.