Ok so i was looking at building up my own 302 bit by bit and I stumbled on a motor and am wondering if it is worth what is being asked for it. It is a 302 030 over, new rods, pistons rings. Crankshaft magnufluxed and polished, new bearings. Block was dipped and magnafluxed as well. Heads were reworked to an unknown degree.. they were opened up to match the intake and exhaust gaskets. New springs and retainers were put in. Has ARP head bolts. The cam is an Elgin 290 with camgear driven timing. The intake is a Summit stage 2 and the carb is a Holley 650 with a manual choke. I forget what distributor it has in it, something freshly rebuilt as well. Block, heads and crank were in a 1989 302 HO. It needs a oil pan gasket, intake gasket, alternator and that is it from what I remember. The guy wants $1000 for the motor as it sits. He has all the paperwork for th work that was done. It was done at Borchardt Speed shop in Milwaukee here that has a good reputation. The motor is set for 10.5 compression and the seller says he was told that the motor should make 325hp at the rear wheels. I have yet to get bad advice here on the HAMB and am hoping to get some good advice as I am going to look at the motor in the morning and if it is a good deal, which I am of the impression it is I will buy it on the spot.
Doesn't sound like you can go wrong on that deal, if it really is what the seller says. You'd not be able to duplicate it for twice the price.
I'd think that if you priced out the parts on it you would be way over that 1K asking price and then add about the same amount for machine work. If it's a fresh engine I'd say it's a decent deal. If it's been run before it still may be a good deal for what's there.
Around here machining and parts would be around $1200, not counting the accessory's and speed equipment. If everything you've been told is true I'd say that's a good price.
The seller's receipt says he paid just over $2700 for machining and the internals that were replaced.
I would want to know what pistons and rods? Forged, hyper or cast pistons, and what brand, big differences. What rods? Stock, I beam, H beam? Brand? Matched to what intake gasket? There are several. Elgin is the cheapest cam out there. Nothing wrong with them other than they are old technology. What valves, springs and retainers? Are they matched to the cam? What are the valves made out of? Stock or some version of stainless? HOw about the springs. There are tons of choices for cheapo valve springs and retainers. What rockers? Adjustable? Screw in studs with guide plates or stock? What heads are on it? If they are the original '89 heads how did he get to 10.5:1 compression? Stock style pistons would be a great deal below that. It would take domed pistons to get there with a smog head. Why does it need a pan gasket and intake gasket? Problems he's walking away from? Just asking. As for 325 at the rear wheels, I doubt it. Depends a great deal on tranny choice. Maybe 325 at the flywheel. IF you are looking for a motor it may not be a bad deal. Ask more questions, get all the info before you decide. JMO, SPark
I will definately ask all of these questions. It needs the gaskets because the pan is not tightened down so that the internals can be looked at. The intake and carb were bought and not installed on the motor. As far as the HP rating I'm not to concerned. The seller says he is selling because he is getting divorced and needs cash.
If everything is as you described, that is a steal. Machine work on a block alone is $ 1000 to $1200. and that doesn't include head work. Grab it, even if you have to slip in some lower compression pistons. Don
100% all of this. Its all about the short block. Works E7 heads are not going to be better then even stock GT40's. Drop a set of Trick flows on it and you will get to that power level. Should be OK, but it will come down to the cam spec's. If its got a good bit of overlap it will help. Obviously timing and again, back to aluminum heads, but I would not think it would be a problem running 93 as is. I have personaly run 93 on a 302 turbo motor at 10 pounds of boost, and tame timing. Made 398/502 (small turbo's) If he has the reciepts, you can always do the math. He might even be wrong and basing the compression off of some advertizers arbitrary head size. Stock E7 heads are 62cc. SO use that and ask him how much the have been milled. You might even find its higher then expected. As far as it being a deal? Sure, its cheaper then you can build one for. but there are deals out there. If your in the market, check your local street racing boards, or Mustang boards. An example would be this one. http://www.buckeyestangs.com/vb/showthread.php?33366-DSS-Pro-Bullet-306-short-block-with-500-miles I sold that motor to the guy selling it now. To me.....The e7 heads on that motor are worthless. A set of 200 dollar GT40's would out perform it , obviously. Is this set up more overall? Yes, but it will always be worth more. Its a known builder motor with paperwork. I am only posting this as an example because its no where near you and could not possibley be considered me trying to sell you this one.
life´s too short ,just buy the dang thing or are you yellow?? this has nothing to do with the fact that im gettin $200 from the seller if you do buy the engine
I'll be going and looking at the motor and paperwork in the morning. If all goes well I'll post up a pic or two.. Thanks for the info and input everybody.
Went and looked at the motor and the paperwork. The motor isn't what he said it was. He doesn't have any info on what was done to the heads, doesn't know what kind of pistons are in the motor, doesn't have anything showing what cam is in the motor. Looks like a rubyild that is 30 over.. His receipt even says he only paid 1500 for the work, not the 2700 he claimed Sent from my iPhone using TJJ app
Wow, funny how they sometimes represent things one way and when you get there it is totally different.......bummer ! I think all of us have gone to see something and when you get there you wonder if you are looking at the same thing advertised.....don't they think you have eyes and will ask questions ? You probably were smart to pass. Don
Be careful these days with any flat tappet cam. You must break in the cam with expensive Joe Gibbs breakin oil or it will round off a cam lobe. A 5.0 with E7 heads should be a roller tappet motor anyway
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