Saw an old friend last night at a cruise inn, and he began to tell me that he's got a 600ci motor that came out of his 70 chevelle. It broke a rod but didn't mess anything else up. The block is in great shape and all that. Motor made 1180hp on motor (he has dyno sheets to back it up) at around 6200 rpm's. My question is..should I get this motor? He made me an unbelievably GOOD deal on it. all it needs is the rotating assembly. So what should I do?? It's to hard to pass up at the price he offered to me for.

I personally woulnd't do it...bought two used motors and got bit to an extent on both.

The only way to consider it is to have the owner take it to a machine shop and have them inspect all components so you know exactly what he has, what the condition is of these parts and also what needs changed to fit your combination...quite certain there will be some changes that need to be made to optimize it for your setup. This will add cost and to me, it sounds like a mess I'd want to steer clear of.

Proverbial "Can Of Worms"

broke a rod without hurting the block? Not that it couldn't happen, but I'd have to see it to believe it. ask him how he knows it didn't hurt the block, did he tear it down, have it vatted and magnafluxed? or is this claim based on a visual inspection? Without that magnflux what you're buying is a set of heads with some bent valves.

Tom

I guess without knowing how much you can get it for, We cant tell you if it's a good deal or not.... graemlins/beers.gif

My buddy sold his 540 last year for $6000 with a blown lifter .....The guy went through it and Dave now wishes he never sold it.....The guy that bought it put new bearings,lifters,gaskets and it's making 824 on the dyno and running 9.70's @ 141......I would just make sure it doesnt need a crank etc ...Unless it's real cheap......

I can get the motor for $8000. I think i'm gonna do it. It's just too cheap to not get it. I called some people this morning that knows him real well and the motor, and they say that it's a damn good motor and the block isn't hurt. One of the guys that I called built the motor and tunes it for him. He assured me that the block isn't hurt and that it's in great shape. It has twin 1150 Gary Williams Dominators, sheetmetal tunnel ram, 14* big cheif heads, custom headers, jesel 1.8 rockers, Lunati Billet roller cam .800+ lift, etc.

Sounds like an easy $15K+ engine
You couldn't replace the top half of that engine for that kind of money with those parts done right graemlins/thumbsup.gif
I can believe the HP numbers but I don't think it will be at 6200 without spray.
With those heads, cam, intake & carbs etc. more like 8000+ on engine.

Agree with that, at least 7400+ for peak HP.

a friend of mine bought one of these big inch high H/P engines a while back. only supposed to have 3 runs on it. car got away from him, hit the wall, totaled the car. that was the story anyway. My friend bought the engine and took it to the machine shop, crank needed turning at least .030. flat cam. block had 3 cracks in the walls. every valve in it was bent. i guess what im sayin is, its for sale for a reason. get it checked out first. just my 02 worth. Dave

NO way stay away...rotating assembly = $$$. you can build an honest 800 HP at 6500 540 motor for $8500 Carb to Pan.

I just don't understand how you can break a rod AND NOT tear the block and cam up??????

Unless the rod was broke in a VICE using a great big Ford Tool!!

Explain this to me please...

pdq67

I've got no problems buying someone else's used race engine - I've done it before.

Here's how I would do it: tell him you'll take it, and you'll pay for a teardown/inspection. If it passes the look-see, then pay up. If it doesn't make it past the teardown inspection then you are only out a minor expense.

That is a pile of $pendy parts in that engine, it would be worth it to gamble a small amount on a thorough and proper inspection.

Sometimes a seller overstates the case of what is wrong. Maybe there is real collateral damage. Only way to know is to open it up and inspect.

Thomas

how many car adds have you seen where the seller claims "minor damage"....and then you go look at it and form your own opinion, that of which is generally in disagreement.

I've seen lots of broken rods before in race motors and every one of them takes parts with it. As was pointed out, I supposed it's possible that the broken rod is the only casualty, but it's not probable.

If you're going to buy it before having it checked, I'd make sure that the heads, carbs, crank and other parts that turn out to be expensive parts are at least worth what you're paying, and plan on ditching the block and crank and pistons. If those turn out to be decent, you're money ahead, but I'd be really surprised.

When you break a rod in a motor, it's violent. Stuff's flying around all over the place. Chances are that the head is damaged, the crank could be damaged, and the cylinder is very likely damaged. Not to mention other possibilities.

I'd be *very* careful, and if he's an honest guy, he shouldn't be opposed to having the stuff fluxed before you pay for it (at your expense, of course)...it's cheap insurance.

That's what I thought after knowing my b-i-l's younger brother blew a rod outta the side of a '56, 265 running down the highway one Sat. night, late!!

He said he stopped , looked under the car, got back into it and fired her up and drove her about 7 or 8 miles home running about 75 mph!!

He parked it out beside the house AND that was the last I ever saw of it..

pdq67