Re: 1983 85 rude still in crate
You might not like my thoughts but I'm going to offer them anyway. First that is quite a find no matter what happens. Sort of makes my mind dream of a long lost relative calling me and asking if I were interested in a 57 Thunderbird that had been stored out in the barn since the day it was purchased.<br /><br />To reality - If I were looking for such an engine I would have to assume that every rubber hose (fuel, water, air) was dried up and would have to be replaced. I would also be concerned that the internal machined metal surfaces like cylinder walls and bearing surfaces that I can't readily inspect would be rusted due to condensation and lack of lubricant over the years. I would plan on removing the heads and looking at the cyl walls. And on, and on - - In otherwords I would be interested but very cautious.<br /><br />A few words of advice for you - First I would not try to start the motor without doing a couple of things. I would pull the plugs and spray WD-40 or other lub into the cyl. Then rotate the crankshaft by hand turning the flywheel. That may give you a sense of rust in the cyl plus getting some lubricant to the rings. I would suggest strongly that you do not try to start the motor until you have replaced the impeller in the water pump. That impeller has been there almost 20 years and is quite brittle. The last thing you want is to the motor to start, the impeller disintegrate due to age and bits and pieces of it getting lodged (and stuck) in coolant water passages. When you do try to start it use 25:1 premix.<br /><br />As to price - Were I in the market for an engine like that I probably wouldn't offer much more (and maybr less) than a like moter that had been well cared for due to the above. Your motor is an unknown vs. another with an operating history. The price is whatever a willing buyer would pay. <br /><br />P.S. If I get the call on the T-Bird, I can tell you that I would jump on it in a heart beat and wouldn't tell a sole until I had it in my garage with the title in my name.