Thoughts on the 10k mile 328 engine for sale on the BAT?

There is no way to know how many miles are on the engine. It has clearly had work done. If I were purchasing it, I would be prepared for a full overhaul. It has had the plenum and valve covers painted, probably to cover fire damage.

 

There were pictures of a 328, identified as being chassis # 74743 indeed, having been destroyed by fire about a year ago. Parts from it has been from sale here and there since.
Engine number #01765 seems, completly out of my memory, to be in the right range for such a chassis number, although this seems slightly low (I have to check my archives to try to bracket it between others known cars/engine numbers combination)
Rgds

 

Checked; it would be a low number for an "euro" engine, but it matches the bracket for a US engine: I have US GTS #73403 with engine #1623.

(This is before the "jump" in engine numbers, from to 3300 to 10000, at about chassis #75500 or so; there is a gap in the engine numbering between 3300 and 10000, i.e, no engine numbered between these brackets; after 10000, the numerotation system changes: all engines are numbered consecutively in one single serie, irrespective of model, V12, V8s, different markets, etc...)

Rgds

 

If the gearbox is part of the sale.. Then it's worth at least $10k. Later gearbox includes oil pump and filter, improved dropgear bearings and support.

 

Here you go: lifted from the IAA site, so copyright must be given; and be reminded that US variant of the 328 engine (F105-040) have a tag at the rear of the gearbox with the VIN of the car printed on it, so they are pretty easy to identify.

Rgds
Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

How long can a engine sit still like that before trying to turn it over finally could be a problem? Do rings "stick", I have no idea. Do you squirt something in the plug holes and carefully turn it over by hand at first or what?

 

It would be nice to have in my QV when the day comes

 

On the assembled engines we have sitting here, they get turned by hand once a month when being stored. The QV engine has nickasil liners so it doesn't need the same amount of oil coating the inside, enough to keep the rings from rusting in place. I like Marvel mystery oil. For the 2v engines that I know are going to sit a bit before running I liberally coat the liner and dunk the piston before install.

I don't like putting them together if they are going to sit for more then 6 months. Stuff will rust, had a long block assy for someone that backed out. After a yr of sitting it required a full strip down and redo. Water moisture, oils turn to acid..etc.. sitting engines for long periods is not good. Sure they'll run after sitting, but the risk of stuck rings, etched bearings etc.. not worth it on these.

Also an assy sitting engine only has so much assy lube... It'll creep out and go dry..

Much prefer to keep it all apart, stored in oil paper and wait to assy when needed or sold.

 

So really this is nothing as it is now other than an expensive conversation piece?

 

Could be, fire damage does funny things to castings. No idea what was done to it for rebuilding. Risky buy.. gearbox would be the only part that is worth it as a running assy.