My car has over 160K on the odometer with the original engine and tranny. While it drives fine with no issues (eats some oil but nothing bad), Im thinking about tearing out the beta and putting in one with much less mileage. While beta 1's are getting harder to find in low mileage form, I think I should hop on the opportunity soon as they become more and more difficult to scavenge.



A local yard has a beta engine thats already pulled and it has 42,000 original miles on it for only $400. Im sure my car will perform alot better and I would like to keep it around for another 160 if I can.



My question is, when you shop for an engine you cant really see or hear it run. Plus you cant really tear it apart at the junk yard to see how the internals and block are. So is there anything I can do immediately that will show me what kind of condition it is in? The yard doesnt offer any type of warranty and I would hate to blow $400 on an engine thats useless or has alot of problems with it. Chances are with that low of miles, its probably ok, but you just never know really. So what kind of things can I look for to make sure I'm not buying a lemon engine or throwing my money out the window?

 

I'll say keep your engine til it stops running

 

I am a firm believer in not "fixing" things that are not broke. Usually leads to things getting broke, or making things break faster in the future... Some how some way, this has happened to me and now.. I just dont do it....

 

Ask them to do a compression test on spot, most junkyards are equipped to do so. They can hotwire the starter with an ign switch and battery that's lying around. That will tell you everything you need to know and that's all your need to care about. Manifolds/sensors etc can be swapped from your previous motor.



Edit* i also agree with them^^ buy the motor if its in good shape, but don't swap it in till the other one goes.

 

. . . which might be in another 160k miles, at which point $200 worth of replacement bearings and gaskets gets it back up to speed.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, don't replace your engine as preventative maintenance.

 

Yeah I agree. burn the original to the ground. I replaced my perfectly fine alpha in my accent with a beta 2. Im gonna swap back to the alpha this summer to test my megasquirt then run it till it dies only cuz I can't seem to sell it here in winnipeg. Anyone want an 1.6 dirt cheap...hijack...



but yeah.... If the engine runs and your not upgrading...just leave it...