Looking at a used small block tomorrow...

Dodge72 said
Going to be looking at a used engine and I want to make sure I'll be checking it all important things before I make a decision. Also, what should I offer the guy? I know it'll depend on condition.

The guy says it is a 360 that came out of a 76 Dodge pickup, possibly a Power Wagon model. Says it ran when pulled (yeah yeah sure) and it's been sitting in his garage for 4 years. The truck was in a roll over (???). I'm mostly into it for being a functional engine that can get new gaskets and things like a water pump and carb and run it. I'm thinking of pulling spark plugs to check condition, and renting a video scope from work to peek inside to see cylinder walls and piston tops. I'm going to maybe pull a valve cover to check for any sludge. Breaker bar to make sure the engine is still free to move. Am I missing anything? Thanks for the input!

Well yeah......make SURE it's a 360. Look for the casting number on the driver's side of the block above the starter. Will have some numbers and "360" will be among them. Unless it's something different. Look for an external harmonic balancer. That will have a weight on it if it's an early one or the later ones will have a groove cut out. Pull the dipstick and make sure it's oil and not oil and water. Stick your nose in the thermostat housing and smell it. If it's ever been overheated badly, you'll know. It will smell like cooked anti freeze. That smell is gross and it never goes away unless you have the parts professionally cleaned. Bout all I can think of. Down here, I can get a good 360 core for tween 100-200 bucks.