My buddy has a 350 short block engine sitting in his garage that he is willing to give me. How do I figure out if it is any good and will run. Would it be easier and less costly to just go down to the JY and pick pne up there?
Without sonic checking the block for cracks ($) and tearing it down for inspection it's kind of a **** shoot.
you stand a better chance of getting a good sbc from your buddy than a jy their a dime a dozen so pick it up what you have to lose
kinda what i was thinking...but hell, bring it to the machine shop and ask them if its good, if its not pitch it in the s**** heap, they really arent in shortage..then again neither were bigblocks and hemis back in the 60s/70s. But for now theyre everywhere lol.
Free is ALWAYS worth the price. Even if it turns out to be junk you can s**** it and get a little $$ for buying one from the junk yard. Chances are your buddy isn't storing a junk block in his garage. -Brad
put wrench on the crank and see if it will turn over a little FREE is always the best and even if it doesn't work you will have bunch of extra parts
I have 15 years of road miles on a "freebie" Mopar 340... but that's a mopar! (not really "period" enough for me, but it runs strong and it's in there...) But hey, just because it's a SBC there's no reason not to run it... just try to do something interesting with it! (Now there's a challenge!) Good luck!
To me it would be 'worth it' if I had the rest of the parts to get it running. If you don't, stop and think about what it would cost to get ALL the parts/pieces/nuts/bolts/brackets before taking the "free" short block. Might be better off doing both. Take the free short block, look at the "pad" to identify what it really is then go to a auto yard and BUY a COMPLETE one. Using the two, build what you want. If you don't really want a sbc, forget the whole thing.
$300 to $400 and a trip to the machine shop. Then, all your questions will be answered. At least with the free block, you won't be out the $$$$ to the junk yard.
I just got some good news my friends co-worker who works on cars on the side said he'll check it out and getting running if it's good. If not my dad has a friend who works on engines maybe it's time to use my good ol pops resources.
How were you going to figure out if the one in the junkyard would run? It's not like there giving out warranty's at the junkyard. There, I'm done breaking your chops, I would say why pay for something that you can get for free. Scott
He won't be able to get it running if it's a "shortblock". That term means it's a block with internals only. No heads, manifolds or any accessories.
That would be a "long block" or, as I like to call them, a "complete motor that needs a pan and a carb"! Free means you can't go wrong. Just get it checked by someone honest before you dump a bunch of money into it. If all you buy is an oil pan and a carb, well you can put the carb onto any motor and an oil pan isn't all that expensive.
hey free **** is nothing to balk at..go get it all you SBC haters...take a good look at my tail lights..while you can
Actually, the junk yard i worked for did give a warranty for every engine and transmission they sold. If it was bad, they'd give you a new one. Same with everything else there as well.
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