Used engine + trans buying tips

Post by **98v70dad** » 10 Mar 2017, 15:58

I'm looking at buying a used engine (not for my volvo) and wonder how you go about it. I'm considering an engine swap in a vehicle I got for free, but the engine in it isn't nearly powerful enough for my needs. Its a good engine with low miles, just not suitable for towing. Looking around online it looks like buying used is buying a big (huge) unknown. Junk yard shopping, I would guess, is also a big unknown. I've read that rebuilts usually dont go beyond 75,000 miles without giving trouble.

Does anyone have some generic tips on picking up a GOOD used engine and transmission for a good price. My wrench head buddy advised me to buy a low cost running car that I can test drive and hopefully get some idea of its maintenance history. Good advise but I probably wont have room for it in the driveway. I could probably have it around in the back yard for a week or two before the neighborhood covenant committee came knocking on my door.

Post by **tryingbe** » 10 Mar 2017, 23:56

Drive it would be the easiest way to test both engine and transmission.

Post by **abscate** » 11 Mar 2017, 02:25

A compression test will tell you a lot about the state of the bottom and top end.

Bring a battery and jumper cables to jump the starter for said test

Post by **scot850** » 11 Mar 2017, 09:19

Both are good suggestions and I prefer the former method of at least being able to hear the engine run or drive the vehicle. Maybe consider buying a whole donor vehicle?

Neil.

Post by **rspi** » 11 Mar 2017, 11:56

Huh? What will an engine replacement do to give it more power?

Post by **98v70dad** » 11 Mar 2017, 13:18

rspi wrote:Huh? What will an engine replacement do to give it more power?

Ford 5.0L V-8 vs 3.0 L V-6. Both HP and torque are significantly higher in the 5.0L. The swap goes smoothly I'm told if you use the right donor 5.0L. Very little needs to be changed.

Post by **rspi** » 11 Mar 2017, 18:50

Into a V70?

Post by **98v70dad** » 12 Mar 2017, 09:02

rspi wrote:Into a V70?

No - old Ford ranger pickup that I got for free. I asked about generic tips for finding a good used engine (where to look and how to evaluate). What it is and what its going into shouldn't matter that much.

Post by **j-dawg** » 12 Mar 2017, 10:40

You can put a 302 into a Ranger with that little effort? I know what my next car is. I'm pretty hot-and-cold on Rangers, and right now I drive them infrequently enough that I love them.

Post by **98v70dad** » 12 Mar 2017, 11:00

j-dawg wrote:You can put a 302 into a Ranger with that little effort? I know what my next car is. I'm pretty hot-and-cold on Rangers, and right now I drive them infrequently enough that I love them.

That's what I read. If you're interested and want to read about it PM me and I'll send you a link to a dedicated website like this one with the topic of rangers and engine swaps. Jegs sells a kit for $400 that includes new engine mounts, a remote oil filter bracket and new exhaust manifolds that fit the engine bay. I've read that if you get the right donor car even the wire harnesses plug right up There is an interference problem with the valve covers, but its easily solvable with a sledgehammer to the fire wall on the drivers side and a little heat to the plastic heater box on the other side to reshape it. Also need to replace the radiator. Mine needs a new radiator anyhow. Of course, you'll need a custom driveshaft.

As an engineer its a little hard for me to believe that it would be that easy. I'm at the "thinking about it" and researching stage. It would require a very good engine and transmission for me to want to do it. That's why I posted this. So far I've gotten two suggestions:

a) buy a running vehicle so you can test drive it - good advise, but a running car comes at a premium price and I don't have a place to park it.

b) do a compression check - very good advise - eliminates an option of buying online, though.

Any other ideas would be great. I'll use the truck to haul around volvo parts when its done ... or maybe the other way around!