old motor

[graham7773]

I have been offered a motor out of a VT with only a few thousand Ks on it. The car was smashed (apparently a major rollover) in the first few months of its life, motor taken out and stored in a garage. been in storage for about 12 years. What is your opinion as to whether it will be good? any advice apart from changing oil and flushing the block would be good

[vr1uz-fe]

turn it over by hand and put you fingers in the spark plug holes then judge your self

[Chilly]

turn it over by hand and put you fingers in the spark plug holes then judge your self

Yes....do this.

[graham7773]

vr1uz-fe, do you mean that I should check compression or is there something else you are indicating by suggesting that I put my finger in the spark plug holes?
By the way, would $400 be a fair price for this motor if it turns out to be as good as claimed?

[88GreenVN]

Has the motor been sealed over the 12 years? If the motor is only a few thousand K's old - turning it over looking for compression is a little over kill. It will have compression for sure. Turning it over to see that it has not locked up is a good idea tho.

Biggest issue is if the water jackets are corroded or not or if any crap has found it's way inside the motor.

[pablo]

As long as there is no evidence of damage on the out side, EG, harmonic balancer with a bruise on it, or the sump dented, and as long as the spark plugs have not been removed, and it's been kept dry, go for it!...$400 would be a bargain. .....

[88GreenVN]

vr1uz-fe, do you mean that I should check compression or is there something else you are indicating by suggesting that I put my finger in the spark plug holes?
By the way, would $400 be a fair price for this motor if it turns out to be as good as claimed?

$400 would be a great price if in fact the story is true. I know the wreckers I visit sell VT motors for $695 with 130,000 to 180,000 kms on them. And that is stripped af any extra bits.

[graham7773]

Thanks for all the replies. This motor is sounding more and more like a very good thing if what I have been told is true. I was also just told that it is out of a 2002 VX so not 13 years old, just 8 and only 8 years or so in storage.
Another question I have, is there anything to change to put it in a 12/97 VT wagon?
This is obviously a private sale and everything is still attached to the motor except original injectors which have been replaced with used ones as the owners mate took the originals

[Langas]

It will drop straight in mate

Sounds like a good engine! Just because of the age I'd be inclined to replace the rocker cover gaskets, inlet manifold gasket and sump gasket while you have the engine out of the car. Cheap insurance in my books...Plus it gives you a chance to get any sludge out of the sump from the engine sitting.

[graham7773]

Langas, thanks for the input. The sump was modified to fit in a Hilux project, new sump gasket would have been fitted at the time... Project was changed for turbo diesel and VX motor has not been started since. I will be changing the other gaskets...Just makes sense to do it. One other thing, I was told knock sensor electrical connectors were different, though I can't see why they would be. They are just a squeeze and pull to get off on my VT

[Mick1988]

As far as I'm aware the plugs are all exactly the same. Otherwise worst case scenario just use your existing knock sensors.

[graham7773]

Mick1988 thanks, that's what I was thinking, just was told different and the knock sensors in mine are ok, at worst I will be using them. Bitch of a job once the motor is in

[Langas]

Graham, I put a VX motor into a VS and didn't change the knock sensors - they plugged straight in...So the VT *should* in theory be the same.

[graham7773]

Bewdy Langas!