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Old 09-28-2013, 11:31 PM
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Default Shortblock Purchase

I'm seriously considering purchasing a shortblock, and was hoping to get you guys' opinions on it.

How do the bores look in the pictures? Should I ask for any other pictures?
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Old 09-28-2013, 11:37 PM
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Herpaderp. Here's the pics:

http://imageshack.us/a/img443/1940/i5g4.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img842/1299/talp.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img600/9268/vj6g.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img823/3785/hi2y.jpg

Note that the fluid, or so I was told, is from flipping the block upside down.
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Old 09-29-2013, 12:20 AM
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There is nothing too alarming there but I would hone and re-ring if it were mine. There are some vertical marks from skirt slap. In one pic it looked worse in #4 cylinder which would suggest to me it may have seen low oil at one point but please don't trust my opinion after a 3 second look at a picture. You look at it and decide if there is merit to my concern.

My opinion is that is not a perfect short block that has a lot of life left in it, even though it very well may. As a buyer I feel you need to look at that as a core and buy accordingly.
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Old 09-29-2013, 12:35 AM
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This engine is supposed to have 200 miles or less on it. Skirt slap and low oil can develop that soon after a rebuild?
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Old 09-29-2013, 12:43 AM
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Yes, and no. It is my opinion that you can see the ridge at the top of the cylinder from ring wear and that does not happen in 200 miles. Also, sure seems like a lot of carbon for 200 miles but I am not sure of that one. I have never pulled apart and engine with that low of miles! I am interested to hear what other have to say about this....
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Old 09-29-2013, 02:52 AM
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I agree: no way is that engine looking healthy
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Old 09-29-2013, 10:55 AM
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Originally Posted by 18psi
I agree: no way is that engine looking healthy
Price is $2350 shipped for it, I'm assuming that it's a Bad Idea?
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Old 09-29-2013, 11:01 AM
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I feel that is not a good deal. If they cut corners on one part of the rebuild how do you know that they did not cut corners elsewhere?
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Old 09-29-2013, 12:00 PM
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It looks like a motor that was worn out and instead of boring it, was honed and put back together. I would stay far away.
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Old 09-29-2013, 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by blaen99
This engine is supposed to have 200 miles or less on it. Skirt slap and low oil can develop that soon after a rebuild?
Probably wasnt overbored, some homo just slapped stock sized pistons in there and then piston slapped all over town at 8k rpm.
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Old 09-29-2013, 01:07 PM
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You don't want that engine, for 2350 you can find a block buy a pistons and rods and get the machine done.
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Old 09-29-2013, 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by blaen99
Price is $2350 shipped for it, I'm assuming that it's a Bad Idea?
yes
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Old 09-29-2013, 02:55 PM
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You can have a fresh one built for $2350. Walk away.
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Old 09-29-2013, 03:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Savington
You can have a fresh one built for $2350. Walk away.
By TSE?
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Old 09-29-2013, 04:34 PM
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Throw in another $50 and you might get a clean and leak free one
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Old 09-29-2013, 06:04 PM
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Um no. Has in no. *******. Way.
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Old 09-29-2013, 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by cr_sti
By TSE?
Close. $2600 if you provide the core and pay shipping, and that includes a Boundary oil pump and ARP mains, and it will last more than 200 miles without scuffing the **** out of the bores

Last edited by Savington; 09-29-2013 at 07:47 PM. Reason: price correction
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Old 09-29-2013, 07:08 PM
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Cross hatch looks good, but not 200 miles good. Camera may be playing tricks, but at the bottom of the piston travel, the hatch seems significantly absent. Scoring is 100% not normal, over-sized pistons and a bore would be in my plans. Far too much carbon. Coolant ports have a sludgy look to them. Yeah, they're normally not that pleasant, but even a sub-10k mile engine wouldn't look like that.

My biggest issue would be the scoring, as it's not in just one area. There's hints of different depth/length scores all around the bore. Pistons are likely not properly sealing.



The mileage is a lie, or it got a super shitty rebuild.
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Old 09-29-2013, 09:13 PM
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$700 JDM engines with 30K on them look better than that.
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Old 09-29-2013, 10:08 PM
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Late to the party, but I will echo what others have said. To much carbon to be a recent rebuild. Too many scores to be a quality rebuild, if it even was at all. Priced too high for what it is. Too many lies to be a trusted seller.

Walk away.
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