what about this motor?
 

There is a guy coming to buy my Cougar today, and I'm already planning on dumping a fistful of that cash into my BlackTruck project. I'm eyeballing this motor, but I don't know what I should really be looking for...

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/pts/2648045323.html
http://images.craigslist.org/5Y45Z55...ffe12c146b.jpg

What questions should I be asking this guy to make sure it is a good motor? What are ya'lls opinions on this motor in general?
I've bought a pantload of things off Craigslist, but never an engine that I couldn't drive.

Thanks!!

Re: what about this motor?
 

looks impressive for the price, ask for a build sheet or the specs on the rebuild. Was it a garage build or built at a shop? Garage builds can be leery since you cant verify quality of parts. Just my .02

Re: what about this motor?
 

build ya own or go crate...that is risk

Re: what about this motor?
 

Receipts , Receipts , get every lil speck of info from who built it to where the parts were purchased and whats is inside . if he cant provide any I would be hesitant

Re: what about this motor?
 

If you cant go for a drive w/the motor powering the vehicle, you're gambling. Some win, some lose. If it's sitting on a stand, I wouldn't give .50 on the dollar of the parts receipts unless there's a personal relationship (somebody knows somebody deal...).

Re: what about this motor?
 

The most important thing you could ask him is make it run, I've had sellers crank um up on a old tire on the ground, No cranky I don't buy.


I've heard of quite a few people getting burned buying "good" used/rebuilt engines, Be very very careful.....

Re: what about this motor?
 

With that little cam and not much more info, that's not a 525hp 396. If you can't hear it run, there's no way, I would spend that much. Even at that, I would be leary.
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Re: what about this motor?
 

What heads are on it? It will need aftermarket high flow aluminum heads to make that much HP. I doubt the motor pictured is the actual one for sale, probably just a stock picture he found. If you take a look and it has GM iron heads on it, then the seller is probably full of it.

Re: what about this motor?
 

What the others said, I doubt that is a 500+ horse motor with that small a cam. I had a similar size in a 468 with alum heads that barely made over 500.

Not saying small big blocks aren't worth anything, but whatever you do to them, you can get a whole lot more doing it to a 427/454....just my .02....

Re: what about this motor?
 

I would never buy from an unknown source.

Re: what about this motor?
 

I agree with what everyone has said about being reluctant on buying a motor of that caliber from someone you don't know, with no guarantees. However, if that indeed is the motor pictured and you could hear it run, drive, and verify $ with receipts, and you get all that's pictured, and the trans. Regardless of the HP I doubt you could build it for that. He's obviously hurting for $ or he wouldn't be selling it. If you can hear it and drive it, and want it, I would make him that .50 on the dollar offer at around $3k or less. Just a little different view point. Good luck.

Re: what about this motor?
 

I agree and if a shop built it find out who and talk to them cuz ya you can't build it for that and the tranny does come with it

Re: what about this motor?
 

All great advice, thanks!

The cougar sale fell through, so it'll have to wait until the next buyer comes around. And I was SO excited to get to go shopping this weekend!!