Looking At New Engine, What To Be Aware Of?

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

I'm going down to look at a new xu7 bottom end from a 306 breaker near me who I haven't used before.

 

Looks like the engines he has are all still in the car complete (not running though I don't think)

 

Basically I don't want to buy another lemon so I have insisted on stripping it down myself if he gets it out of the car ( for the money he wants I'm not doing it )

 

Given I will be removing the head and sump etc what should I be looking for? Is it a good idea to remove the bottom end caps to check the bearings and I suppose ideally a compression test would bd good too beforehand.

 

Until recently I've had very little to do with engine internals and have had a recent crash course which didn't end well. So maybe some 'noob' advice would be in order.

 

Cheers

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

I'm no expert but I would have though a compression test would give an indication to the state of the valves and piston rings. Bottom end can only be checked by sump off, and looking for excessive wear on the crank and shells. If you can see a piston sticking out of the side of the block then I would probably walk away!.

 

Have a think about how the scenario would play out if he cuts it out for you, you take it apart and then decide no. He would want something for his efforts, and the engine now being incomplete so I would agree how this works before he takes the engine out. In addition, acceptable wear is subjective in a second hand engine. The crank would probably need a polish and new shells anyway if you want a really good engine.

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

Yeah I guess, might be best to go for new shells anyway. I've got a spare crank and pistons here anyway.

 

I suppose it's just the block I'm really after

 

Cheers

[james_pug 26 1 Cars]

Make sure there's no head bolts snapped off in it

 

is it the 306 breaker that breaks a lot of cabriolets? I've been there before and he seems ok.

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

Yeah same bloke James he's got a few cabs over there that's for sure, got a nice '6 too .

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

well went down to chat with the bloke today, he had 2 1.8 engines complete, one he wanted to sell complete as it was onlu on 60k so we looked at another one that was in a lhd cabriolet.

 

just a couple of things?

 

i assume it the same engine regardless of what side the wheel is on?

 

the clocks are still in km not mph so the milage would still be in km not miles? as its reading 149000km that would equate to what 92000 odd miles?