What to look for when picking an engine?

Website · Post by **the_invisible** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 pm

Okay, there is a local person selling a s14 engine. I am going to take a look at it and see if it is in decent shape. It claims to have all the parts completed and have been compression and leak down tested. So I can take his word for it.

Also, he gave me his cell number, so I guess its not too bad. It is at a hop right now.

Is there anything to look for? How do I know if the ECU is for the manual s14 engine? How do I check if the harness is uncut and whatnot?

What is there to look for? How do I check for shaft play or see if the turbo is seized?

So generally, what is there to look for? Oil in turbo? These kind of things??

Help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Website · Post by **the_invisible** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 pm

where is the ignitor chip located?

What is a power transistor and where is it?

Post by **Silviagirl79** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 pm

WC is the ECU code for the S14 ECU..if you see like 62 or something that's a redtop, wrong ECU. I would check to see if the wheel spins freely on your turbo, also stick your finger in the intake side and if there's A LOT of oil, the turbo is on it's way out. Iginotr chip is usually taken apart separtly from the engine. Make sure the wire harness was cut at the right place. (Usually right before the ecu). A properly cut wire harness is also still attached to the engine usually. Also, buy a 25.00 compression tester from like Advance Auto and do a compression test yourself.

Post by **martin** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 pm

the_invisible wrote:Is there anything to look for? How do I know if the ECU is for the manual s14 engine? How do I check if the harness is uncut and whatnot?

What is there to look for? How do I check for shaft play or see if the turbo is seized?

So generally, what is there to look for? Oil in turbo? These kind of things??

Help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Best advice is take someone who knows what they are looking for with you if at all possible. If not. To check the turbo you'll need to take off the intake elbow and hose. This will expose the compressor wheel. If it's seized you won't be able to spin it. Try to move it up and down. A small ammount of play is OK, by small I mean in the order of .002 - .004" - remember that these turbos have bushings and the shaft is basically suspended on a cushion of oil, so when it's dry there will be some play. Check for obvious visual signs of wear to the blades - running without an air cleaner will screw up the blades easily.

A wiring harness should only be cut on the other side of any plugs that plug into it. If the harness is cut the way many are it will be cut near the back of teh valve cover and will be really obvious - there will be a bunch of 57 wires that have had a hacksaw run through them!

Igniter is about 3" square black thing with a couple of plugs going into it. ECU code I don't know for S14.

Other stuff...

- general appearance will often give you an idea of how godo teh motor is, but don't rely on it.- clutch - no way to tell without splitting the engine trans. No real way to tell you even if they are split.

- PS pump, AC, starter, clutch fan ete. should all be there.If teh cluthc fan is missing, or broken then the motor probably came out o fan accident damaged S14, or had a rough ride across the pond. Check for broken mounts to PS pump and things like that. CAS could also be missing, or broken.s*** there's hundreds of thinsg to check!

If in doubt take pictures and post them.

-Martin.

Post by **cardinal** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 pm

Just a quick question...Did he do the compression test or was it done elsewhere? Often the "tester" will mark each cylinder's compression by its respective spark plug. This is a good indication that it was done and note brushed off. Also, if he did it and it is marked, ask him to test it with you there and see how accurate the figure marked on the engine is.(this is easy if it is still in the clip, which I think is the best way to buy one) If he does the test and the number are way off, run!!

Website · Post by **the_invisible** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 pm

Well I had an idea of how to test the play on the turbo.According to the guy, CAS, starter, and MAF, everything is all there for a trouble free swap. Also, the harness is uncut, according to the seller.

There are some pictures. The picture shows that the engine has a piece of note attatched to it. I also thought that it could be the compression test by the supplier. Also, According to the picture, the harness is uncut. overall, it is a clean engine, but a little dusty on the valve cover. The transmission area is very clean. No clutch fan on the engine, but it has the stock intercooling and intake piping. So I doubt the engine was from a nose crashed s14.

I also comes with the s14 MAF. However, it looks pretty good in the picture.

Looking at that motor in the picture reminds me of looking ath HT's picture. It has all these pink writing on it, all over the valve cover and ECU.

Here are some pics:

Website · Post by **the_invisible** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 pm

Well, these guys are willing to do the compression test in front of me, on site.

Post by **SpeedRacer1** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 pm

Are you buying this engine off of EBAY? Because this auction is using the same pictures... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...43607

Website · Post by **the_invisible** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 pm

yes I am, but I am not going to deal within the auction.

I will look at it before buying, though. Actually, going tomorrow.

It is in a local shop. A guy on NWN forums had bought a motor from the same seller two years ago and he has no problem for two years, so this doesn't seem too bad.

He is willing to compression test the engine on site and verify each part and answer all my questions. I will check the oil pan for dents, shaft play on the turbo and if it moves freely. I will also check and see if the camshaft has rust on it. Also, I am going to make sure that there is no oil leak and that all the parts are included.

Basically, I will do a very thourough check prior to the purchase, plus the compression test while it is there.

Though, there is one problem with this engine. It has a s15 5 speed transmission from the Naturally aspirated car. As we know, the s15 SR20DET has its speed sensor on the differential. Though, we don't know if this is the case with the SR20DE N/A S15. I need to have this clarified before the purchase.

For the price he is offering and the fact that he is willing to let me do a thourough look at it and do compression test in front of me, I thought it was well worth checking it out.

Post by **SpeedRacer1** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 pm

You should have posted this on NWN so that you could have had an educated person about SR's go with you. There are a few up there in Canada.

Website · Post by **the_invisible** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 pm

yes, this was posted and yes, someone is coming with me.

Post by **SpeedRacer1** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 pm

Whats your NWN screen name?

Post by **ZERO** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 pm

yeah, I was going to say that it didn't look like the S15 6spd. transmission...

Post by **martin** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:46 pm

the_invisible wrote:Though, there is one problem with this engine. It has a s15 5 speed transmission from the Naturally aspirated car. As we know, the s15 SR20DET has its speed sensor on the differential. Though, we don't know if this is the case with the SR20DE N/A S15. I need to have this clarified before the purchase.

I think there's every chance that the transmission will be the same as S13/S14. Worst case you just use teh bell housing and your KA transmission.

-Martin.

What to look for when picking an engine?

What to look for when picking an engine?

Re: What to look for when picking an engine?

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