In searching for a motor i ran across a "fresh" 355 for sale.

Heres the bad part the guy claims it had a fresh rebuild 4 years ago but has since sat and hasnt been run.

Its a 355 with pink rods
"low compression" pistons (not sure what he means)
.550 lift cam solid flat tappet
victor intake
fuelie double hump heads
this is all the guy can remember

any guesses on what this motor should be putting out?
What problems could there be with a motor that has sat for so long and not been fired?

Any advice on what i should check?
He's asking 1000 for it, good deal or no?

Any help would be much appreciated

 

To me it definately doesnt sound like a good deal for $1g


Low compression, oldschool heads and by the sounds of it a fairly big cam. doesnt sound like much of a good combo.

 

Other ideas? what would you guys give for a motor like this?

 

I'd first want to know the vintage of the block and more detail about the re-conditioning of the bottom end..how far have the journals been turned etc. From the description above, it sounds very much like a late 60's or 70's long block rebuild with too much cam and pre-smog leaded gas camel hump heads. The price is too high.... I'd pass on it unless you can purchase it for (a lot) less than half the asking price.

 

I had asked about reciepts and who did the work but it had been so long ago he couldnt remember. The motor was built and put in a 69 camaro, well the camaro was never finished and so the motor wasnt put to use.
Are all double hump heads 76cc? I think im either going to pass completely or go and pull some numbers off the heads/block and take a look under the valve covers and oil pan to see how things look. He seemed pretty set on 1g, but then again hes had it for 4 yrs. Thanks again for the input

 

to much money esp since the guy doesnt know exactly what he has.

 

Double-hump heads are 64cc.

They were the best heads you could get, IN THEIR DAY. But that day was long ago. We can do better now.

Problem is, until you have them in front of you, you have no way to know whether they're 68-back, with no accessory bolt holes; or 69-up, with the bolt holes. If they have the holes, then they have hardened seats, and you can install your minor creature comforts like an alternator, and they will at least WORK in a modern motor. If they're the no-bolt-hole kind, then the seats are NOT hardened, and your accessories wiil NOT install, and they're all but worthless. I'd almost be willing to bet money that they DON'T have the bolt holes, because ones WITH the bolt holes are worth a fair amount of money to the old-timers that like them.

Nobody in his right mind builds a "low compression" motor and gives it a Vic intake and double-hump heads and a big solid cam. That combo is about the biggest mismatch you could create, short of using swirl-port heads in it. It sounds like somebody swept up his garage floor and assembled whatever turned up in his dustpan, and now he wants to sell it to you. All in all, it doesn't sound like a good deal; sounds like a block in whatever unknown condition, some pistons you don't want, heads you can't use, an intake that makes no sense, and a cam. The guy "can't remember" what's in it, just means he doesn't want to admit to whatever it is.

Pass.

 

In all honesty the guy who has the motor now isnt the one that had it built. He aquired the motor with the car, but was only interested in the car and not the motor. You guys have pretty much confirmed my gut feelings on this one.
Thanks for all the advice, i think ill just keep looking for another motor.

 

Offer him a grand for the 69 Camaro (if he still has it). That would probably be the buy of the day!

 

Why would you want to buy a motor that someone else built? Buying a crate from a reputable place, or building it yourself, is the only way to have peice of mind.