CIS 2.7 motor - worth buying?
 

I have a friend who want to sell me a 7R cased 2.7 with no fueling system for a really cheap price IF...

The big if is that the motor failed on him at a track event and he has no idea what the problem is. He said it seemed like it could have spun a bearing, but he isn't sure. If it spun a bearing, what are the chances that the crank, case and a rod, etc. are toast? If the motor can be rebuilt, the price is great, if not then it is more trouble than it is worth.

It's hasn't been apart since the incident, so it is a crap shoot. As the motor is in Austin and I'm in Seatle, there would be some sunk cost in getting the motor here to open it up that I am not real confident I wasnt to assume the risk.

Opinions?

It depends what you want to use it for, daily driver, weekender, track car. If it's really cheap you could use all but the mag case and use an old alum case...

In addition to all the normal problems with these cases I've had other studs besides head studs pull. I have had head studs pull that had timecerts already installed. I had a leak at the oil thermostat and found the thermostat bore was egged. I worked it by hand to true up the bore and used an oversize o-ring and a year or so later it was egged and leaking again. I have an oil leak now I believe due to porosity in the casting...

My engine is now back to mostly stock and used as a back up for when I rebuild the 79 3.0L I replaced it with, which is now going to 3.4L...

If you don't have to rely on it go for it, if so pass...

truly what is dirt cheap.....line bore and o.s. bns will set you back min of 600.00 + all the other updates.......be 2000.00 b4 you start hookin pistons to rods.......and there is nothing wrong with that if thats what you want to do......but you want to know your options first....(there are a lot of updates that can be done to mag cases to make them better,but they all coast)

If it has a spun bearing then the crank is toast and will have to be repaired.

I wouldn't even take this motor if he gave it to me free considering the cost of shipping it.