Buying an engine long distance

[Christien]

What's the best way to do this? Looking at a good deal (but not "too good to be true") and so far communication has been fine, absolutely no red flags at all, and no reason at all to think the seller is shady/dishonest/scammer/etc, but there are indeed plenty of scammers out there. It'd be an expensive transaction, but there's nothing involved like a DMV-issued vehicle title that makes buying a complete car a bit more secure.

Any advice?

[1990C4S]

How far away is it?

[Christien]

Across the continent About 4000km. Too far to pick up in person.

[1990C4S]

I guess if you have leak-down and compression numbers and you're willing to take a chance then go for it.

Why not find a willing Pelican in the area?

[azasadny]

I bought a 2.7L CIS engine from a fellow Pelican about 5 years ago (Gib Bosworth) and the transaction was effortless and very easy. Gib shipped the engine, strapped to a pallet via Yellow Freight, to a warehouse near me (Detroit) and I picked it up in the bed of my truck at the time. The engine was shipped from AZ to MI for less than $500, I believe...

I was leery of spending that kind of $ on an engine that I couldn't see, but I trusted Gib and I'm glad I did!

[Zeke]

It would be best if someone knew the seller and could vouch for whatever the backstory is.

[1990C4S]

Christien: PM me if you need a place to deliver it to with dock level loading and a fork lift. I can do it for you.

[widebody911]

I bought a 'rebuilt' 3.6L from across the country, from a well-known Rennlister, and it was the biggest POS ever to grace a shipping crate. Pix didn't mean squat.

[9dreizig]

I bought a great engine from Harald (speeder94) in Germany as did jack Olsen
Id get pics leak down and history

[VaSteve]

Hoo hoo, Widebody...I bet I can guess.

[dipso]

I'd be careful. I sent a complete CIS system to a guy named Philec71 in Newfoundland.
Seemed like an OK guy, family noise in the background when I called.

Sent the CIS, CIS received, no check, no return phone calls, no longer posts on Pelican.
I have his home address but big deal. The FN guy is in Newfoundland.

I would check and double check again before I sent enough cash to cover an engine.
Maybe there is a way to involve a neutral third party.

[Christien]

I'll get compression, leakdown and headstud check - that's all obvious. I suppose the question is, how do you ensure the engine actually gets shipped after cash is sent? Like I said, I have no reason not to trust the seller at all. He's a Pelican, though not overly active, mostly buying and selling in classifieds, but I'm 99.99% sure it's completely legit. I just suppose the skeptic in me just had to raise the question.

BTW, seller, if you're reading this, I hope you're not taking offense. I'd expect the same questions asked of me, even having been around these parts for several years.

[1990C4S]

Get a waybill number from him. Unless you have fellow Pelican deliver the cash when the engine gets to the shipper, then you really just have to trust the guy.

Once you get a waybill number you can follow up and make sure it did ship, but he's got your money at that point.

[Henry Schmidt]

80% of all of the transactions we do is done at long distance. The distance can offer some challenges for both parties but the participants in the transaction are more important than the distance.
Document everything so both parties understand there obligations.

[LakeCleElum]

Recently bought a 3.2 advertised here on Pelican from a seller in Laguna Beach and had shipped to Seattle. Couldn't be happier.......He was able to back up his claims with receipts....

He didn't know this, but from his email addresses, I was able to determine the following:
1) He was the CEO of a mining company
2) I was able to determine his name, age and physical address
3) I was able to get a Satelite Pic of his house, see how much he paid for it and if he was behind in taxes/payments.
4) We had many phone conversations, to the point, I was comfortable in knowing he was who he said he was....

In the end, if he didn't respond when my shipper showed at his door, I could have bought an airline ticket and he'd deal with me on his door step...........Worked great in the end.

[dtw]

I bought a "rebuilt, zero mile" 2.7. Yeah, right. Reassembled, maybe, although even the assembly was a hack job. Whoever assembled it had to leave half the cam tower nuts barely torqued, or the cams wouldn't turn. Got a couple hundred miles out of it before it cost me another $7K. Purchased from a pelican, and it sure looked pretty in the pictures.

[Tom '74 911]

I've bought 2 engines long distance. The first was a complete scam. I emailed and had phone conversations w/the seller for 2 weeks before sending money. He was nice, knowledgable, accommodating etc... After sending the money, he proceeded to disappear. After a few days, I discovered that he had sold the engine to another fellow and was scamming him too. I ended up getting my money back, but lost a couple of years off my life due to stress.

The second experience has been much better. I bought a low hour, rebuilt motor from a shop (Knightrace). As I am a few thousand miles away from the shop and had never met William etc... it still took a leap of faith to send that much $$. I spent a lot of time on the phone w/him, over maybe a month, before getting comfortable. I also talked to a few people that had done business with him. It's gone about as smoothly as it could've.

The only way I would buy an engine from a 'regular guy' (like me!) would be to have it verified by a third party that I trusted. Even then, as has been said earlier, don't be surprised if it's not as represented.

[1990C4S]

The obvious answer is for you to buy me a ticket and pre-pay my (minimal) hotel/food expenses. Plan B would just be cash for my gas and 'living' expenses on my drive out there.

Still, I can't take any responsibility. But I will have a look see for you.....