I'm thinking about buying this 3.1 from a guy that's going V8.It has 160k on it, no leaks. Since I am unable to hear the car run because he has already started breaking the engine down to pull it out, he ran compression checks on it and this is what he sent me.








He gave me his word the engine runs great, hes putting a 350 and he has another car he uses as his DD. I'm getting all the V6 components for $100. Is it too good to be true?

 

160psi isn't too bad. It's definitly showing it's age of 160K, but for $100 for everything, I think you're getting a pretty good deal. At the very least, you can put a clean build on it and have something to replace your current motor with.

 

Well that's the thing, I'm on a extremely low budget, I mean low. I don't have the funds to have a rebuild done nor the time. I blew my 2.8 and was thinking about replacing it with this. I was mainly looking for something I could drop in and go for the meantime.

 

thats a bargain, get it before anyone else does. buy a set of main bearings for not alot, at least. take the sump of and replace them. itl go for ages after that.

 

The compression on the motor is excellent to maybe a little high. I think stock compression should be anywhere between 145 psi to 160 psi. Higher compression could mean carbon build up on the pistons and valves.
I would check oil pressure, and if that's good, chances are the bottom end is fine too. You could probably get another 100k out of it if the motor is taken care of right. Get it and drop it in.

 

I could definitely do the main bearings, I know those wont' be a hassle since the engine would already be out. I won't be able to check the oil pressure until the engine is all put in and I am able to fire it up correct? Is there anything else I can check before I get it, my friends dad was telling me to pull the spark plugs and look for something, but I can't remember what it was.

 

the sparkplugs will tell you how it was running - lean/rich normal detonating etc. id take em out now cause there a bitch once the engines in - if you have any probs.

 

Yes, the plugs will give you a good idea of how the engine had been running. I believe that you may be able to check oil flow of the engine by using a similar procedure that is used for pre-lubing an engine after a rebuild. That procedure involves using a hand drill and a spare distributor shaft to rotate the oil pump. It will allow you to check oil flow in the engine before firing it up. I am not sure about the exact procedure tho. I have never performed it myself. I have just read about it sometime ago.

 

Since it'll be out, it would be a good idea to at least replace the rod and main bearings and all of the freeze plugs.