Looking at a used small block tomorrow...

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Dodge72

Dodge72

Odd one out
Joined
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Location
Olympia, WA
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!
 
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!
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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.
 
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!
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Is there a reason you can't go to a Pick-n-Pull and just get a magnum motor? They're like $200 and come with a six-month warranty. You need a $200 manifold and a $50 fuel pump.
Do you have a motor now?
 
Are you putting it in a truck? It will have a truck oil pan and a Truck oil pickup tube on the pump. So you better plan on buying an oil pump pickup tube and car oil pan if it's going in a car..
 
Also if it's an original motor that hasn't been opened up it will absolutely without question need a timing set. (Gears and chain)
 
also I noticed you were here in the Northwest you shouldn't pay over $200 for what we would consider a core motor and that's one you don't hear running. For some perspective last week I just sold a 318 out of a 1972 Dodge truck for $350 but the person seen and heard it running with no funny noises or bad noises...
 
Thanks for the additional help tips, I'll be sure to check for those.

j par said:
Is there a reason you can't go to a Pick-n-Pull and just get a magnum motor? They're like $200 and come with a six-month warranty. You need a $200 manifold and a $50 fuel pump.
Do you have a motor now?
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I had a 360 already with a block that needs machine work to be ran, so I have all those spare parts with an intake, including a car oil pan and dipstick. I've also got new gaskets and a timing chain from it. My budget is tight so if I can use what I have already on hand I can save myself a few hundred bucks for the remaining parts I need. If this thing doesn't pan out I'll check a local yard and see if they offer any warranties and what they want for a Magnum out of curiosity.
 
Dodge72 said:
Thanks for the additional help tips, I'll be sure to check for those.



I had a 360 already with a block that needs machine work to be ran, so I have all those spare parts with an intake, including a car oil pan and dipstick. I've also got new gaskets and a timing chain from it. My budget is tight so if I can use what I have already on hand I can save myself a few hundred bucks for the remaining parts I need. If this thing doesn't pan out I'll check a local yard and see if they offer any warranties and what they want for a Magnum out of curiosity.
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you do know all your stuff will fit on a magnum block except for the intake manifold correct? Also out of curiosity what is he asking for this core motor?
 
j par said:
also I noticed you were here in the Northwest you shouldn't pay over $200 for what we would consider a core motor and that's one you don't hear running. For some perspective last week I just sold a 318 out of a 1972 Dodge truck for $350 but the person seen and heard it running with no funny noises or bad noises...
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Thank you for the perspective! Sometimes prices up here can be different than other parts of the nation. I was going to look at a teener for $250 bucks still running but no response from that guy, oh well.
 
j par said:
you do know all your stuff will fit on a magnum block except for the intake manifold correct? Also out of curiosity what is he asking for this core motor?
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He's asking for an offer which is why I'm asking what I should maybe ask for a motor such as this. I had a ballpark but I didn't want to insult the guy either. Do you know if the accessory brackets off a Mag work in an A Body such as the alternator and power steering
 
Dodge72 said:
He's asking for an offer which is why I'm asking what I should maybe ask for a motor such as this. I had a ballpark but I didn't want to insult the guy either. Do you know if the accessory brackets off a Mag work in an A Body such as the alternator and power steering
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Offer 200 if you like what you see. See what he says. Very well could be a drop in and go lay rubber :)
 
Dodge72 said:
Thank you for the perspective! Sometimes prices up here can be different than other parts of the nation. I was going to look at a teener for $250 bucks still running but no response from that guy, oh well.
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There's a gal here a few blocks away that wrecked her or I should say got in a wreck but it wasn't her fault with her Warlock. She kind of wants a bit of money for it as she just put
Dodge72 said:
He's asking for an offer which is why I'm asking what I should maybe ask for a motor such as this. I had a ballpark but I didn't want to insult the guy either. Do you know if the accessory brackets off a Mag work in an A Body such as the alternator and power steering
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As I gather it everything just volts right on from your La motor. You just put your timing cover and your belts and your water pump your exhaust manifolds and bolt right up to your transmission. The only problem becomes an intake manifold which I believe is around $200 and of course you need a $50 electric fuel pump because there's no provision for that on a magnum they are fuel injected..
 
j par said:
There's a gal here a few blocks away that wrecked her or I should say got in a wreck but it wasn't her fault with her Warlock. She kind of wants a bit of money for it as she just put

As I gather it everything just volts right on from your La motor. You just put your timing cover and your belts and your water pump your exhaust manifolds and bolt right up to your transmission. The only problem becomes an intake manifold which I believe is around $200 and of course you need a $50 electric fuel pump because there's no provision for that on a magnum they are fuel injected..
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Why don't you go up there and help her out? You're a damn site closer than any of us. You could go look at the motor and make sure she doesn't get taken advantage of. dork.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Why don't you go up there and help her out? You're a damn site closer than any of us. You could go look at the motor and make sure she doesn't get taken advantage of. dork.
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Me to take advantage of her LOL she was asking $2, 500 for the total truck because she put $1, 500 into the motor. I mean the frame is bent it's gone it's got a totaled title. actually I thought I had erased all that part anyways and wasn't even going to talk about it.. I was thinking of the motor for him but still she should get at least $500 for it. I showed her how to get it running again and that I would help her anyways YOU BIG DUMMY!!
 
Make sure the pin the locates the bellhousing isn't broken off (don't ask me how I know to check :-( )
 
j par said:
Me to take advantage of her LOL she was asking $2, 500 for the total truck because she put $1, 500 into the motor. I mean the frame is bent it's gone it's got a totaled title. actually I thought I had erased all that part anyways and wasn't even going to talk about it.. I was thinking of the motor for him but still she should get at least $500 for it. I showed her how to get it running again and that I would help her anyways YOU BIG DUMMY!!
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No stupid. I mean go up and help the OP. You are thick aren't you? lol
 
RustyRatRod said:
Why don't you go up there and help her out? You're a damn site closer than any of us. You could go look at the motor and make sure she doesn't get taken advantage of. dork.
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RustyRatRod said:
No stupid. I mean go up and help the OP. You are thick aren't you? lol
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There's this little thing that gets in the way it's called work.. actually someone just posted a part of near him that I might want but I can't just run up there tomorrow that's for sure..
 
j par said:
There's this little thing that gets in the way it's called work.. actually someone just posted a part of near him that I might want but I can't just run up there tomorrow that's for sure..
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Work schmork. Call in drunk or somethin.
 
j par said:
There's this little thing that gets in the way it's called work.. actually someone just posted a part of near him that I might want but I can't just run up there tomorrow that's for sure..
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that hood? isn't yours light enough with 70% missing with that massive hole???
 
318willrun said:
that hood? isn't yours light enough with 70% missing with that massive hole???
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actually I already have the trunk lid and would like the other parts as well I need to get back on there and put my feet on the bumpers to likely even though I have fiberglass ones. I can probably sell those to you..
 
j par said:
actually I already have the trunk lid and would like the other parts as well I need to get back on there and put my feet on the bumpers to likely even though I have fiberglass ones. I can probably sell those to you..
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Hmmmmmm…... :realcrazy:
 
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