Swaping engine and trans from top ( first timer)

**steelholder** · 03-09-2016

Update- engine and transmission purchased attempt begins and a few pics start on pg 5

An auto dismantler has a 3.8 06 engine with 1000 miles on it that would fit my 07. Im very skeptical he does have 5 others to choose from but i obviously want the one with lowest miles. It has a compression rating of 190-200 I have the vin and am wondering if a carfax report would tell me more but they say it came out of a rear end wreck. Could this be a success? Has anyone or can anyone reccomend this option, what would you look out for?

**Scottydoggs** · 03-09-2016

id buy it, it comes with a warranty. when they have pulled engines waiting to be sold, they run.

**REDCRAPGP** · 03-09-2016

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

id buy it, it comes with a warranty. when they have pulled engines waiting to be sold, they run.

This! If the compression is good and you can pull the valve covers and make sure it's not sludged up.

**steelholder** · 03-09-2016

Im ashamed to say i dont know exactly how to do this, can it be done easily if the engine is already pulled out, can i ask the person at the yard to do this for me? Im honestly just scare itll make a knocking noise afer i pay to have it installed.

**Scottydoggs** · 03-09-2016

if you ask them to see under the valve covers im sure they would work with ya on that. buying a used engine is always a risk, but at least you got the warranty on the engine, most for about 6 months. labor you eat sadly.

what are they asking for this super low miles engine?

**steelholder** · 03-09-2016

500 bucks, I know its suspicously low but they offer a six month or twelve month 12000 warranty for 25% of the total cost so ill def be getting that. They were also very nice and answered most of my questions, although there wasnt much to ask other than how does it look etc.

**Scottydoggs** · 03-09-2016

a supercharged engine?? or NA? if its l32 its super cheap for the miles. if na its still a good deal.

**ItHurtz** · 03-09-2016

If the rockers are black send it back!

I have 30k on my junkyard motor.

**steelholder** · 03-09-2016

Its non super charged base 3.8 i agree its a great deal regardless. Is there by any chance a picture of what a clean valve vs a sludged valve looks like i have seen both but i want to be sure of what and where im looking for any signs of wear and damage, thanks for the advice.

**Scottydoggs** · 03-09-2016

your not gonna see any damage, like i said, they only sell tested running engines. its not pot luck engine sales lol

if it had high miles and was neglected the rockers turn black the top of the head gets black and sludgy.

if its truly a 1000 mile old engine, thats not even its first oil change, it should look like this, but with a golden hue of oil.

**steelholder** · 03-09-2016

Sweet greatly appreciate the images, worst case scenario ill bring a bright light and check under the oil cap in case they cant remove the whole thing. Any other things to look out for other than leaks around gasketts etc thanks for wveryones input

**Scottydoggs** · 03-09-2016

if its only a 1000 miles it had best look like a new engine, clean.

**steelholder** · 03-09-2016

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

if its only a 1000 miles it had best look like a new engine, clean.

Yes true im def expecting something that looks close to new, i really feel like its too good to be true but come saturday ill know at least visually how it is..

**Scottydoggs** · 03-09-2016

you can see in the oil filler hole of the valve cover pretty good, with a flash light of course.

**HighOctaneRacing** · 03-09-2016

I got an engine from junkyard before. I looked at it and it only had 77,00 miles on it. They pulled it because customers aren't allowed to touch the cars so I felt a little safer with that. Had that motor for about 30,000 miles and it ran strong. Better than my original one too. Totaled the car but the engine was safe and it now sits in ScottyDoggs' car.

**Scottydoggs** · 03-09-2016

it sure is.

came like this. being it was a 96 it leaked oil out the rear cover and the pan. did a top swap and al new gaskets. cleaned it all up, painted.

and back in, fired right the f up too. was never so happy lol

**steelholder** · 03-09-2016

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

you can see in the oil filler hole of the valve cover pretty good, with a flash light of course.

def taking my strongest led flashlight hopefully they'll pull the cover though ill ask them tmrw

Originally Posted by HighOctaneRacing

I got an engine from junkyard before. I looked at it and it only had 77,00 miles on it. They pulled it because customers aren't allowed to touch the cars so I felt a little safer with that. Had that motor for about 30,000 miles and it ran strong. Better than my original one too. Totaled the car but the engine was safe and it now sits in ScottyDoggs' car.

Im praying i get a good one. Does anyone tink its worth carfaxing the vin to verify mileage or getinfo about the wreck? Would carfax show this?

**Scottydoggs** · 03-09-2016

car fax should show the car totaled.

theres some links with free to use carfax tricks. iirc theres another one thats free, but dont always do as good a search.

**steelholder** · 03-09-2016

Wow beautiful job there, if anyone knows the link for this cheaper alternative to carfax id greatly appreciate it, i feel weird about paying 40 bux for a car report.