I want to buy a new engine and was wondering what it is that I should look at and consider, can I tell by pictures etc. as to what shape it is in? I know by the casting that it is a 350, 3970010. The motor is about 6 hours away, I don't mind driving for that I just don't want to get it back here and realise that I bought a brutal machine cause I didn't know any better.

This is the article originally, the person has also sent me pictures of it, thats where I got the casting from.

"1977 sbc 350, 4 bolt main motor, complete less heads, intake and exhaust manifolds. Comes with 30 over 10.5:1 pistons, not sure what cam. Also includes HEI distributer, starter, ring gear, water pump, oil pump, balancer and pan. Drove fine in 69 Camaro, replaced with higher HP motor. $450 or reasonable offer considered. Can email pictures and more details. "

My motor was running when I drove it home in a 69 Camaro last year. The reason that I am not selling complete is that some of the exterior parts are date coded to the 69 Camaro and I want to build a motor that is numbers matching. I currently have a 350, 400 horse motor in the Camaro that I bought about 3 years ago

any opinions would be awsome...thanks!

 

If the pistons are flat tops, and it's in running condition (sounds like the seller thinks it is), then it should work.

Things to look at when you get there, would include evidence of oil leaks, pull the front main cap and the front rod cap and check the condition of the bearings, cyl wall hone marks still present. If all those things look good, and you don't want to rebuild it, it's probably OK.

 

the heads look like they have a crease down the centre of them I believe its coming out, but I'm not 100% according to the pics. Also, I can only see one side of the engine's pistons, but there is one piston that is shinny, the rest are all black. All I could think of was that when he stopped the engine it must have been in the middle of firing that one cylinder??? And by the pics, the engine has just the block, pistons and crank in one piece... he told me that the other parts obviousley come with it but I assume he took it appart to sell it.

Is this a good price for a used 350 (canadian)?

also, stupid question probably, but is this considered a head when you buy an engine normally (with the pistons/crank in tac)

 

That's basically a shortblock w/ pullies lol. It's a good deal in canadian currency. I paid 400 for my engine / 80k on it... it came w/ the short block and heads and intake... I reused my old accessories, and put my intake on it since the other one didnt have emissions stuff and a accessories hole for the alternator.

I would ask him what compression ratio the pistons are for with a -insert cc of head you're going to use on it-. Also ask him what cam is in it.

As for just one piston being shiney and the rest being black... it could just be the picture, or a head gasket leak on that one cylinder, or he bent that rod and decided instead of a full rebuild just to redo that one cylinder.

 

thanks so much....I was also wonerding though, for the few castings that I've seen, there seems to be several size engines for it ie. if it was out of a 60's it'd be a 305, a 70's 327 and 80's is 350 for that engine...I'd love to take the word of the seller and assume that it came out of the 80's car their telling me about, but I've gotten my screw a few times an now I'm kinda worried that someone could have made a mistake and is selling me a70's or something smaller than the 350 I want. Is there any way of guaranteeing the year of the car?

 

go to www.mortec.com and look at the area on where to find casting numbers for the block.

Also, if he has the heads off, just measure the bore. It should be 4 inches on every cylinder for a 350.

BTW, if it doesnt come w/ heads or intake, dont listen to any horsepower or torque numbers that he may give you to try and sell it... the heads and intake and cam determine the horsepower and torque you'll be making... and if you're not getting those parts then the horsepower and torque numbers mean NOTHING to you... also, people like to throw out the "this block is from a corvette!" and I'm sure it was, but that doesnt imbue it with any special horsepower modifiers.

 

thank you for that one for sure, cause I know if the person had thought to tell me about the horse power rating etc. I probably would have definatley believed it. I knew about the fact it didn't matter what car it came out of, but haha, I'm sure even I could sucker myself into buying somethin like that

 

I saw that too and was very tempted for the price. However I would rather just buy a core block and have the work done so I know its right. Tell us how it goes