How to tell if you are buying a good engine

[Nosroxs]

Hi guys i spun a rod bearing and in need of a new engine for my car. After checking on priced for a lower end rotation assembly and rebuild kits etc. plus the cost a machine shop is gonna charge me i figure just buying another motor and throwing it in is gonna be way cheaper. So i found this engine but i am leery on paying $600 to a guy on Craigslist for a engine that i am not even gonna be able to hear run. So i am looking for some pointers on what to look for or anything i should take with me to test the engine; Seeing its about a hour and a 1/2 away, i want to be ready when i go to look at it. This is what the Craigslist page says..

7 Bolt 4g63 engine -eclipse/talon - $600
I have a 7 bolt 4g63 that was rebuilt . compression is 175 cold all cylinders -$600 longblock

new npr pistons
2g rods
head has new valve stem seals and cleaned
engine is mint and you wont be dissapointed .


sale includes full longblock valvecover to oil pan with all timing components oil pump ect
can include jdm intake manifold

-no alternator
-no ac pump
-no ps pump
-no sensors


also have
13g turbo with 02 housing -50
ebay exhaust manifold -40
stock 450cc injectors with rail -60
stock intercooler set up with 2g bov -50
stock clutch -40
act 2600 used with life left -75

The only other choice i have seen so far is $1500 for a JDM motor that was imported from japan with 40 - 60 thousand miles on it off eBay. here is the link.

94 96 Mitsubishi Eclipse Talon 2 0L DOHC Turbo 7 Bolt 4G63T Engine JDM 4G63T | eBay

So my questions are...

1. What should i be looking for on the rebuilt 7bolt for 600 and what should i take with me to check the engine?

2. What would be the better route to go? The rebuilt 7bolt for $600 or a Imported JDM motor with 40k - 60k miles on it.

 

[fierosail]

is it me or dose that ebay one look like the 4g63 in the suv that had the top mount IC. im saying the because of the routing of the piping and the turbo outlet (not a t25)

 

[keithlag]

is it me or dose that ebay one look like the 4g63 in the suv that had the top mount IC. im saying the because of the routing of the piping and the turbo outlet (not a t25)

It looks like a Mitsubishi RVR engine.

 

[Nosroxs]

ok after studying the ebay page for a little longer i see i will have to change the oil pump for it to work in my car because of it not having a crank sensor :-? /. I am looking more for a drop in without having to do shit like putting on a new oil pump and shit. So i am gonna have to say i am leaning more towards the rebuilt but i still need to know what to look for to know its good before i buy it..

 

[fierosail]

well you dont here a ebay one run ether . id go the 600 one. The ebay one is a little steep in price and you have to add shipping
id rather be out 600 then 1500+ and a ebay headache of returning it if it bad

 

[uummm]

If you have a snake camera (I don't remember what they are called, but you can put them through spark plug holes) you can get a good look at the pistons and see if they look pretty new, or you could just ask him to remove the head (probably easier) so you can see what it looks like inside. Also, I would ask for reciepts for anything he has said he has done. If its recently rebuilt, I'm sure he can dig up a couple reciepts.

 

[gieri002]

You might want to post an ad in the classifieds, I see short blocks go for cheaper here all the time. Plus you will have the protection of paypal (versus buying locally) if things go astray.

 

[n0de]

Never heard of st.louis Michigan but I would check the local DSM group and see if any of them have a spare shortblock laying around, you'd be surprised. I sold a 6 bolt shortblock that I had laying around (no issues) to a local dsm guy (we all goto a dsm meet every couple of weeks) for $75. Even sold him a rebuilt head for an extra $120. This is one of many reasons to get to know your local dsm community, there will always be that guy that has a few extra of everything laying around in his garage and more than likely willing to let it go at a good price.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

That is an RVR engine for sure, and it does have a crank sensor. I've installed them in 2gs before, and since you have a 96, it should drop right in. As for buying a JDM ebay engine, not something I would really do unless it was to be used as a core.

 

[BogusSVO]

Ask if he has an air compressor, then run a leak down test on the $600 engine.

With the plugs out you should be able to see the part number on the piston crown also.

 

[Wild Bill]

Ask if he has an air compressor, then run a leak down test on the $600 engine.

With the plugs out you should be able to see the part number on the piston crown also.

And get/borrow a borescope, homedepot or someone like that might even rent them. Look for cylinder scoring. Leakdown will tell you the most..

 

[Nosroxs]

That is an RVR engine for sure, and it does have a crank sensor. I've installed them in 2gs before, and since you have a 96, it should drop right in. As for buying a JDM ebay engine, not something I would really do unless it was to be used as a core.

You said it has a crank sensor on it but the ebay add says..

PLEASE CHECK THE CODE ON YOUR STOCK ENGINE FOR PROPER FITMENT BEFORE BIDDING ON THIS ITEM, ALSO BE ADVISED THAT THESE ARE JDM IMPORTED ENGINES AND >> DOES NOT HAVE CRANK SENSOR OR EGR <<<. "YOU NEED TO PUT A USDM OR US MODEL OIL PUMP WHICH HAS THE CRANK SENSOR WITH IT FOR PROPER USE / FITMENT". IF YOU ARE USING THIS ENGINE IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAN MITSUBISHI PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH...

Anyways after your guys post i see getting a Imported JDM motor sounds like a bad idea anyways.. i called the company and they are in Irvin, Texas the engine will cost $1,452 that is with the $220 dollars to ship it with lift gate service to my door step. If all fails on the $600 engine i will reconsider this ebay motor we will see, i really need my car back on the road, spring just got here and its nice out not having my car is like having a virgin 18 year old poosey and not being able to touch it



!!UPDATE!!

OK i finally got a hold of the guy with the $600 engine it is gone.. f me running.. I am still considering the jdm but am still gonna check with a few more machine shops about this one getting rebuilt but i still kinda want to have all the parts ready if the price is going to be right.. i know all the big secondary accessories i will need while the motor is out like.., water pump even tho the one i have on has less then 2,000 miles on it, timing belt and pulleys/tensioner gasket kit, rebuild kit, but the main question i am asking here besides what else i need because i see a couple posts that have the rebuild list already that i can go off.. But what rod bearings will i need if the crank can be saved? does this matter on how much is ground? this is the original motor and never be rebuilt. and also would it be wise to bore the cylinder walls out and get bigger pistons?I am not looking for extreme speed or hp, i just want to get my car back on the road as cheap as possible without modding anything else. But if i can bore it out and get the rebuild kit with the bigger pistons and dont need fuel/air mods wouldn't this be logical?f

I guess with out all that rambling.
1. what else do i need that i hadn't mentioned.
2. the rebuild kit comes with different size bearings. standard, .010, and .020 what do i need if my crank can be machined and saved.
3.will i need bigger pistons if my cylinder walls are honed.