how can you tell if an engine is good if its not in the car and running? i have a lead on a 455 a couple towns over from me. its not in the car and the guy i talked to on the phone says "all it needs is" a timing cover. and that it ran fine. any tips on how to look at one of these? hes also got a 71 rivie boattail for sale with a "new" 455 in it. seems like if all the old one needed was a timing cover he wouldnt take all the time and money to get a "new" or rebuilt motor. makes me wonder?:spank: planning on taking a look this weekend. pete
cannot hear run pull the rocker covers & check for sludge . pull the dipstick & smell the "oil" & test i drop on your tongue for anti-freeze . pull the plugs & check them for color . pull the distributor cap & use 1" socket & johnson bar to turn the crank to see if the distributor shaft turns . check the points . check the exhaust ports off the heads . my guess is that it is a high mileage , oil burning unit in need of an overhaul . $2000 + to do the motor if the block is sound ? your choice . for a $100 buy it .
I agree, for $100 it's not bad. To add to the suggestion, I'm go as far as pulling the oil pan...the gasket is toast anyways if the timing cover is off. Look for signs of overheat or bearing flakes in the pan. Look for oil coming from the rear main seal as well...
I say you MUST expect to rebuild it. The timing cover didn't fall off, and the engine didn't fall out of the car.:Brow: Where is the car? If the car was junk, but the engine runs fine, you leave the engine where it is if you want to sell it. If the car was good, but ran like crap, you yank the engine out and either replace or rebuild, then sell or drive the car. Either way, expect to rebuild. Like they said, offer $100 or pass. A rebuild will cost some jack... :Smarty: The ONLY real way to know is to take EVERYTHING apart, then cleaned, magnifluxed, measured, etc.....
Re: cannot hear run Wow.... :eek2: I would smell it and feel it..... but I'm not going to taste it! :laugh: :gt:
Good is a relative term. o No: I took a "good" 455 from a Riv in a junk yard. It was good because it was rebuildable. It was not so good as it sat since I found a number of broken ring lands on some pistons - but it was still rebuildable and is now a great engine going on 10 years. When I took it for $90 there was no way to know what condition it was in unless I tore it down in the car. Depends on your wishes, goals, budget. I have another 455 sitting on a stand. Been there for ten years. I know its good since it came out of my car running. But I wouldn't put it back in without fresh bearings since it had a minor knock when cold. Its all relative.
