M28/03 motor for sale

[Opelotus]

I am thinking of buying a 4.5L motor that is for sale locally. The bottom end is siezed but the cams turn (no timing belt or cam/oil pump gears present).
Seller is asking $200 OBO for the motor. Does not include an intake.
Sound like a decent price? I do not plan on rebuilding it, at least not any time soon, I am just looking for something to tinker with so the siezed crank/pistons doesn't bother me.

[Landseer]

Sounds like junk, frankly.

[Opelotus]

In terms of a motor for "practicing" on, does it sound ok? Since I have bought my car I have wanted to tear into a 928 motor for the fun of it, but don't want to sacrifice my running car to do so Just figured I could get familiar with a junk engine so I am less likely to screw something up if I ever get a worthy rebuild project.

[Landseer]

$50 max.
But a few hundred more gets you a more complete car for experiments.
And you don't want to go inside one of these, anyway.
I've got 5, all but one being rescues, and knock on wood, haven't needed to do anything but minor gaskets.
When one fails to the extent that it needs pistons or rings or something, I'll pitch it.

[Danglerb]

$50 tops and I would immediately pull the heads, pan, and few other "bits" and haul the rest to scrap while I had the rental truck. A seized bottom end has zero value in a 4.5L.

[Opelotus]

Thanks for all the input, I guess I will offer $50 for it, otherwise I won't get it.

[JK McDonald]

Hey Opelotus - Good Call .... A locked up bottom end can make a 4.5 marginally worth the trouble of disassembly except to get some show and tell experience. The problem is what to do with the resulting pile of junk parts - although on second thought - I think aluminum is bringing in about 40 - 50 cents/lb at some scrap yards.

Michael

[Danglerb]

To get the premium price on aluminum scrap all the iron and steel must be removed, and those head studs don't come out easy.

Could be the bottom end is seized for sitting with the intake off and water etc going in the motor for years. Even if clean upable, not a good option.

[Mrmerlin]

I would consider getting this ,
the cams can be resold,
then oil pan is worth something to a racer as its different than the later styles,
and you can have a nice bucket of bolts left over

[Opelotus]

The block will make a nice coffee table if nothing else, I couldn't bring myself so scrap something like that.

[Mrmerlin]

oops forgot about the coffee table,
thats a great idea

[Opelotus]

Found this online. Definitely worth $200 if it matches the decor.

[Danglerb]

Originally Posted by Mrmerlin

I would consider getting this ,
the cams can be resold,
then oil pan is worth something to a racer as its different than the later styles,
and you can have a nice bucket of bolts left over

So would I if it was close, I just wouldn't pay more than $50.

Its really a good thing that I own no vehicle suitable for hauling much of anything.

[riber.bentsen]

If I owned anything capable of hauling something larger than the average shopping basket, my house, basement and garage - probably garden, too, would be full of "928-valuables".. (junk)

[Landseer]

I went to pick up a 5 spd transmission a couple months ago.
Made the mistake of taking a suburban.
Came back with free doors, fenders, phone dials, interior quarters, rear bumper covers, lights, gt exhaust, basically a whole truckload of stuff.
I'm running 5 of these with the same exact body. Its only a matter of time before somebody knocks the corner off one, so am stocking up body parts.

That table was made by a guy on rennlist that suffered thrust bearing failure.

[Pete R]

aww, I just scrapped a 4.5 last week I would have given you. They are 100% worthless. I literly couldn't give it away. I'm fairly sure they don't even make bearings for them anymore so you can't even rebuild them. I MAY still have the heads and cams and I have intake runners if you want those.

[pcar928fan]

4.5L cams are not worth anything I don't think...other than as scrap metal.

Love the table...always wanted one of those! If I could build my REAL dream garage I'd have one in the small living area w/in the garage (couch, recliner, 55" flat panel TV, 5.1 surround, fridge, etc of course)!

[Roy928tt]

I dunno about 100% worthless, with a couple of turbos the low comp. 4.5 is as good as any engine!

[Danglerb]

Originally Posted by pcar928fan

4.5L cams are not worth anything I don't think...other than as scrap metal.

The 78/79 4.5L cams are a modest step up from the 80/84 cams, not close to a Euro S cam, but they have a combination of nice lift and low overlap that works very well for a boosted application even better than a Euro S cam.

[Opelotus]

I know I will be criticized by most people here, but I bought the motor today for the full $200. The man I bought it from runs his own machine shop and had about 30 other engines (not porsche) for cores which I think he parts out or rebuilds and sells. He purchased the motor 1-2 years ago from another local dismantler as a core, but never got around to doing anything to it. Luckily this guy knows his stuff and had filled the cylinders with ATF/marvel mystery oil when he got it. He would not go lower than $200 as he bought it for more than that and was originally asking $300. I may have overpaid, unfortunately I buy on impulse (may bite me in the backside some day), but if it wasn't for that I would not be the proud owner of an '84 right now. My friend is dropping off the motor tomorrow, hopefully I can start some teardown. The exhaust manifolds look pretty good, not sure what they are worth though.