BP shopping

[Jovian2k]

I miss my MX-3 so bad, its been sitting in my garage since mid September and I need it back. Im shopping for BP engines, looking on car-part.com and trying to find one close that is low miles and good price. Today I went to look at two EGT BP's one with supposively 83k at this JY and guy said "I've had these so long", looked dirty pulled the oil cap but couldnt discern if it looked clean inside... pretty dry. He wants $150 + $75 for pickup truck delivery which is great has 90 day warranty, he says it ran good but IDK about the engine...

How can you ensure you get a good reliable engine? I know some places compression test... should I stick with one that does and pay more? I have requested pics of them but you can't tell much from them some look rusted and dirty but I guess most 15-20 year old engines would. Any recommendations? How do most people find and settle on their engines? I'm gonna call more places tomorrow and try to take a look at other close yards.

[Jovian2k]

Heres another engine supposedly 53k miles from EGT looks pretty rusted wants $300 + $260 freight shipping

[Ryan]

It'd be a good price without the shipping... I'd call him on the 56k miles. I'd double that.

[Jovian2k]

Here are the choices, found all on car-part.com which has been my main resource. By no means and I limited to just these but these are ones I have looked into.

-91 EGT pictured above supposedly 53k for $300/260 freight shipped
-91 EGT with 83k has been sitting for a while $150/75 shipping via pickup (local)
-92 ProLX with 88k has been sitting 2 years $400/25 shipped locally
-94 EGT with 36k VIN checked and 130k odometer reading on it $300/125 shipping

The second and third choices I have seen and look old/dusty like they have been sitting a while, peeked in oil cap and looked pretty clean but expectedly dry. The second is a steal and I am considering because it doesn't look like I can find much better, these engines are old and I wont find one with low mileage easily (like the last one I looked into with wrong mileage). Any recommendations?

[wheelhop]

Simply, if the cheapest one spins over by hand then I would buy it. If the rings are worn so bad that the compression is down, then a ring job and new bearings arn't expensive. And that's an if. Likely it's fine. So that one is the best deal I would think.

[Jovian2k]

Yeah I ended up getting a 93 ProLX motor w/ 77k for $250, not bad.

[Ryan]

its probably fine, BP's are next to invincible.

[Josh]

Your looking at EGT motors but are you looking for Kia motors? The BP's from Kia tend to be a little cheaper (100 bucks at the pick a part, 75 for the trans).

you can pull the dip stick, oil cap, the drain plug look for light gold in color. Black is no good anything caked on is no good. also look at the timing belt to see how new it is and the distributor look for oil seepage or pull the cap off and look at the rotor. all good but compression is the best. you could pull the plugs and look at the tops of the cylinders for carbon deposits.

[Daninski]

Pull valve cover and oil pan and have a look. The longer an engine been sitting more chance valve seals are dried out. Remove exhaust manifold and see if the valves all look the same (burned valve). Finally warranties are fine if the place will honor them. Every warranty I've seen says 'when installed by a licensed mechanic'.

[crazchino]

got mine 100 bucks clean juss had to pick it up.