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| | | | Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 109 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 109 | Hello.
I've found a 235 to replace my 216. The previous owner had it rebuilt. Its out of the car, however, so I have no way of testing it to see if it runs until I put it into my car.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can check the engine before I make the purchase?
Thanks,
Judson | | | | | Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 924 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 924 | Hidiy Judson-
That's a "buyer beware" situation (meaning you), but you should at least make sure the engine will turn over. Look for obvious cracks on the head & maybe see if you can peek under the valve cover. Print off the shop manual engine diagram page or a picture of a complete 235 engine to compare to the one you're looking at purchasing. Make sure all the parts are there.
Another concern is that whoever is selling it may not even know what condition it is in. If the previous owner had it rebuilt, I'd ask for any paperwork/receipts they may have for the parts, or at least ask who did the rebuilding. Ask tactfully, but a "no" answer to that information would be fishy to me.
You don't have to post it, but their asking price will be directly proportional to how much the 'rebuild' parts cost if it was a recent job. New parts for a complete rebuild of a 235 are about $700-$900 (at MINIMUM).
Hope this'll at least get you some thinking points & I hope it works out for you getting a new motor.
Brad
Wrench Fetcher, PhD | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,214 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,214 | You can start and run a motor for 30 seconds sitting on the floor not hooked up to anything if the motor is all there. Hook a fuel line up to the fuel pump, drop it in a gas can. Make sure it has oil. Connect a battery with a wire to the coil and start it up. Just a thought... Mike B  | | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 872 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 872 | Unless there is paperwork to prove WHAT work was done 'rebuilt' could mean he gave it a tune up.
Master parts kits are $800 or so, machine work is another $500. You never said what the asking price was, but that would also play a role in how much of a rebuild actually occurred.
Even running it for 30 seconds won't tell you much.
Scrap is $10/100lbs. A 235 is about 600lbs so scrap price is $60... and a full rebuilt motor is $1200-$1500 if DIY.
Now your part is how much do you want to gamble on this guy's story? Me... unless the motor is still wrapped up from the shop, rebuilds do not put much value into an engine... how many miles? Why is he selling? What the motor look like now? All those questions take $100's off the asking price.
And no matter what a seller says, scrap won't be more than $100 | | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 57 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 57 | a lot of good advice here .. i have heard the word rebuilt meaning anything from a real rebuild to a valve lap job... pull the spark plus and do a compression test.. or at least look at the condition of the plugs..then grab the fan and hold in on the fanbelt and rock the engine back and fourth.. listen and feel for any clunks | | |
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