Next steps on Donor Car before dismantel!

#1

I’m looking for what the next steps should be on my new donor car before I strip the front end to repair my wreck. Not sure it will be drivable after the pulling off parts as I’ll need the radiator support, oil cooler, radiator.

the engine seems strong on driving but have no idea what if any maintenance has been done such as timing belt, water pump,etc. What’s the best way to determine if the engine is worth the effort, without spending a lot of money. If its strong, then I’ll either keep it incase mine ever goes boom or sell it.

I want to get started on the tear down pretty soon, so if anything needs to be done prior to …

Thanks.

Keith

#2

You can go thru a litany of goober test on the engine, compression,leak down, etc. But, were it my new core car, I’d postpone tear down until after you went to the dyno to see whether the engine is a core for rebuild or a drop-in for the next bo-bo that will occur. Then you can make a determination on the PM-type items.

Regards, Robert Patton

#3

Keith, Nice looking car. I’m going through the same thing. Mine seems to run fine, so I am putting on a new timing belt, cam shaft seal, plugs, etc. Then, to the dyno like Robert mentioned. Ed

#4

Ed., plugs…maybe. Don’t waste time or $ on anything else until it is tested. DO take other known good parts from cars (AFM, ECU, throttle body) to fine tune the tested vehicle if it comes in slightly lower than normal.

Hope this helps, Robert

#5

So it sounds like Robert you would recommend a dyno if anything as a base line and then go from there. Like you I don’t want to spend $200-$300 on test and parts for what would only bring $400-$500 if sold. Although I’m not sure what folks are paying for used engines that are OK?

Thoughts?

#6

smithk3933 wrote:

[quote]So it sounds like Robert you would recommend a dyno if anything as a base line and then go from there. Like you I don’t want to spend $200-$300 on test and parts for what would only bring $400-$500 if sold. Although I’m not sure what folks are paying for used engines that are OK?

Thoughts?[/quote]

Do a leakdown. If all leakage is below, say 10%, take the car to a dyno that has seen other SpecE30’s. Before going to dyno replace air filter and inspect sparkplugs for condition and gap. Take AFMs, ECUs, coils?, injectors? to dyno. Do a dyno run then replace ECU and do another. Keep the best one. Then consider swapping the other parts too.

If you decide that the motor is a keeper then replace the maint items.

#7

I agree with putting it on the dyno but in our neck of the woods dyno time is more expensive than a compression test in the driveway. Do a compression test and if it looks ok across the board take her to the dyno. You could also do a visual inspection of the timing belt. If the belt is cracking you might want to be careful taking it to redline on the dyno.

Good Luck