going to the junk yard?

Question

Im going to be going to the wrecking yard to find a ford 5.0. I just need the short block no heads or intake. Since the motor's are in the junk yard still installed in the cars or trucks. How can I test or tell if the short block is in good condition or has good compression? I cant run the engine or turn the motor over for a compresion test. They have no battery's or fuel

Answer 1

Honestly, most likely you won't find a junkyard that will let you strip the heads off of an engine out of a car. If the engine is good, they will usually have pulled it themselves, and will only sell it whole. Most of the larger junkyards have a short block scrap pile, but these engines have usually been sitting outside and have rusted bores. If they have been sitting with the deck up, they usually have had rain water get in them and freeze, cracking the block (depends on what part of the country you are in). Chances are, these short blocks weren't any good in the first place, and are there for people looking for parts, such as blocks, etc. My suggestion would be to find a good overhauled short block from an auto parts store, or comb the classifieds looking for someone selling a short block. These are very common motors, and you can probably find a short block or long block really cheap if you just look for a couple weeks. If you have the capabilities and the block is good, you can rebuild these very cheap. If you go to look and find a used short block, turn it over from the crank hub to check for problems. Even without the heads, it should take some force, but not alot. Check the rods for looseness on the crankshaft, and check the bores for obvious cracks and score marks. If everything looks good you can buy it, but you're always still taking a chance. If you are putting it together with your heads, etc. then I would suggest buying an overhaul kit without the pistons (you will need a gasket set anyway, and the entire kit is usually only about $100) and put it together with fresh rings and bearings (a good bottle brush hone won't hurt either). This way you know it's as fresh as it can be for the money, and you get to check it while apart. If this is an '86 or newer HO motor with a roller cam, you should find an equal HO short block with flat-top pistons. If you find a hydaulic flat tappet short block, you will have to use the flat tappet cam and lifters (maybe not as healthy as an HO) and will have to buy new pushrods. These engines with pedestal style rockers don't have adjustable valve train, and the roller cam and lifters are taller requiring different length pushrods. The factory hydraulic roller cams CANNOT be put into a non-roller block. The retro kits they sell are for aftermarket cams with a different base circle diameter.

Answer 2

If you are going to a junkyard and you will be looking for a decent short block,chances are your NOT going to be able to tell.Most junkyards are NOT gonna let you strip the engine down to see whats good or whats bad.You buy the whole thing and take your chances.Your just gonna have to trust the junkyard salesman.If you want quality,make sure you go to the bigger yards.They can give you warranties and are more well aware of what they are selling you than the smaller guys out there.All the bigger yards have each car gone through before they even enter the yard so they can tell what is good and what isnt and then put it on file in their computers.You will pay a higher price tag at a bigger yard but you can trust them a little better than the smaller yards in where you pay less.It is really gonna be tough to know what your getting,unless you can actually find a yard that will let you go through the motor and see whats bad and what isnt.A junkyard cant sell a motor if its been stripped of all its parts.Also smaller junkyards will sell you a junk motor and not know it! They just want you to take it home and check it out for yourself so they dont have to bother with it because they are gonna charge you a restocking fee when you bring it back to them.Good luck finding one but your best bet is to buy one out of a magazine or directly from a local parts shop.At least you know what your getting then without all the guessing.Since you do own a 5.0,you do know that most of them have had the crap ran outta them and the ones you do find in a junkyard are usually worn out or just totally crapped out!Its a hard motor to kill but it does happen.Good luck!

Answer 3

Did you take a look at Ford Racing. They have short and long blocks with all the power you need and a warranty. The junkyard is pretty much just luck. Let the buyer beware. I would think it will make a difference what you are putting the engine in. If it's a toy or you're using it for everyday transportation. Ask if the junkyard will give you any written guarantee with the motor. Good luck

Answer 4

2 potential problems with the junk backyard engine. First, you don't comprehend whilst it final ran, the way it grow to be cared for, or extremely what the present condition of the engine fairly is. All you have is the recognize the keep. 2nd, what sort of warrenty will you have when you spend the $1200 for the engine substitute? in case you bypass out and get a rebuilt engine, you will a minimum of get a 12 month/12,000 mile warrenty on the engine. have you ever explored the expenditures linked with a rebuilt engine? on the different part of the equation, you will probable finally end up paying greater for the rebuilt engine. Which way you desire to roll the cube?

Answer 5

A good place to start finding Used Ford Parts is at the link below.

Answer 6

Autozone has some good prices on short blocks and they are rebuilt and come with a warranty. I have seen some of my friends years ago end up wishing they had went either this route or had their own rebuilt or what we did was ask around about to see if anyone had a friend or relative with a totaled car or engine for sale

Answer 7

since your not going to use the head or anything check for water on top of the pistons, if they have the heads on them take them off. take off the oilpan and check the mains and the crank. there no really one way to check untill you strap on your equipment.

Answer 8

jump start box ,or 2-3 of them.
check your local machine shops might have a good core you can buy !!!