Im 18 and me and my dad have been trying to restore a 1988 camaro rs and swap the v6 to v8. Weve had trouble with engines a bit, considering we've bought 2 and both ended up being a total loss of money, time, and confidence. Well were trying and hoping for 3 to be our lucky number, but i want to know.

What are some things that will help us determine whether the engine is good or not on spot? We dont have time to actually set up and crank the engine outside of some guys house, so what can we do to test the engine quickly and with a good solid response.

The type of engine were trying to buy is a 5.7 350 from around 85-95

 

Welcome to the board, sorry it has to happen under these circumstances. Let me guess, craigslist? Don't buy an engine if you can't watch and hear it run. Not much you can check otherwise really. Get one from a wreck in a junkyard that has some kind of warrantee, most will give you 30 days. Check the mileage, look at the oil - if it's extra thick or extra dirty beware, metal flake is nice in paint, not in oil, look at the oil pressure, pull the PCV valve and the oil filler cap and look for smoke, look for smoke in the exhaust, listen for engine noises, look for bubbles coming up in the radiator. Examine it like you are buying a used car, because you are buying the most important part of one. If you don't have time to check an engine running you certainly won't have time to find another one if it happens again.

 

What you can do to check an engine without running it. Joe is right - starting is practically the only way, but if you can't there are some things like
* compression test - pull all spark plugs first
* pull valve cover look for sludge (missing bolts(!)) springs not broken, metal shavings etc
* outside leaks of course
* oil and pcv like Joe says
* rotor and cap check
* freeze plugs original or changed

Still its a big gamble without starting it. Shoot even it was free the trouble of finding out it was toast would make it not worth it to me.