Should I take a risk on this engine?

[chrisofna]

At a junkyard near my house, they have a Capri with an engine bolted to an automatic transmission. It has 67k miles on it. They want $180 for the engine, but they don't know the history of the engine; they don't know why the car is in the yard, what broke on it, etc. It could of been anything from they towed it and the guy never picked up the car to it blew up and they bought it from someone. Should I risk obtaining the engine? I want an NA motor right now for the higher compression so I can "NA-T" the Festiva (I have a B6T but something went wrong somewhere, it smokes like hell from the head and I think it's knocking). I would at least be able to possibly get a good head off the Capri engine and won't lose out on all the money. What do you guys think? No, I can't go in there and try to start it, lots of people ask me that; I have NEVER seen a junkyard do that.

[lanemeyer14]

Is the car wrecked at all?

[chrisofna]

Is the car wrecked at all?

No. That's another thing that bothered me about the car is it isn't wrecked at all; it was really clean.

[shadetree]

Okay !!! If its a small nose crank then it might have rounded out !! They are known for that . Also those cars with the auto trans are known for bad trans as well . I have two local low mile cars with the transmissions torn out of them . So if its a large nose then go for it !! That's my two cents .....

[chrisofna]

All capris were small nose cranks from what I recall.

[shadetree]

Nope ... got one of each .. they came in the first couple years then they changed not sure exact yrs ..

[M3NTAL]

Why not Just fix yours chris ?

[chrisofna]

It's easier and cheaper to swap a complete motor. Also faster when I have to daily drive my car. And if it's rod knocking that isn't exactly a "just throw new rod bearings in it" fix; you have to find a crank, new rod, get it rebalanced, etc.

[anomoly40]

Are there other b6d motors around for the same price?

[kartracer46]

Personally I would grab it if you can afford to, they are getting harder and harder to find. I would just like a B6D if you find one, or a 1st Gen B6 from a 323 for Twizted. Bring me up one of those to Madness and I will be your new best friend.

[chrisofna]

I haven't really found any others. Nothing with that low of mileage. I think I'm going to grab it along with a set of wheels I found. I have the money for it right now.

[anomoly40]

Then i'd get it and do a light rebuild. Check the oil color and the basic stuff first.

[chrisofna]

Then i'd get it and do a light rebuild. Check the oil color and the basic stuff first.

I don't know if the engine has oil in it since it's in the yard.

[htchbck]

Check the crank nose if you can, whether its BNC or SNC (the BNC rounded out in my Miata due to a botched timing belt job before I got it).

Jay, why not find a B8 and fab up an intake from a mid-80 carb'd escort intake like festy46 did. Thats what we're planning for Babystiva this winter. A little more power than a B6, plus a lot easier to find a B8 than it is an early B6. Still haven't found a price I like on an Escort intake though. Check out post #74 if you haven't already: http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...t=26219&page=8

[Grey Vw]

I don't know if the engine has oil in it since it's in the yard.

See if you can pop off the valve cover too.