[SalParadise]

138K? And you're saying it's good to go? I know something needs doing. You're not digging deep enough.

I can tell you that a Porsche 911 engine that is indeed in very bad health can still run well.

My 2.7 that had a complete rebuild top-to-bottom ran fine. The previous owner split the case, added a Carrera pump, did Time-Serts, new head studs, rebuilt the heads, added everything - except he cheesed it big-time with re-ringing the KS Alusils.

Two cylinders were pretty scored. It ran fine. Blow-by and oil everywhere, but it ran.

I say that if the engine has no paperwork then it's a core. I would not spend $10K on an engine without paperwork. No way. If it were a very rare engine that someone obviously needed for their car, but an ordinary 2.2, 2.4 or 2.7 or even a 3.0 without papers I would pass.

Just because it runs it means nothing. These cars will run on rusty gas, old gas, plugged injectors, blown airboxes, broken head studs, bad rings (my case), worn cams, stretched chains (you get the picture). They are like Panzer tanks. But all of these things I would like not to have happen. I would like a nice engine. And the only way you are going to know this is 1) It has paperwork from a reputable builder or 2) done yourself with paperwork.