Originally posted by MillerMan8603
thanks boomer any advice to see if engine is in good mechanical condition. and if engine was in bad condition i could always have engine rebuilt and it would be like new right?
depends on who rebuilds it
Originally posted by ludeboom
since the cams spin at 2x the crank rpm...
pop the valve cover and give the cams a good look, that is one easy tell tale spot of poor lubrication and oil maintenance.
also check the color of the bridges, if they are dark then again, dirty oil has been staining them.
pulling the valve cover also gives access to the timing belt to check for wear
dry rev the car to see if it smokes, while it is cold, and while its hot if possible, to check the rings and the stem seals separately
you can also check the rubber flywheel plug for buildup of clutch dust, should give you an idea of clutch age
open radiator cap and examine the inside rubber seal of the cap for sticking corrosion, it usually looks like alluminum colored goo, sometimes with small metal flakes
under the car:
check the very bottom of the timing cover near the crank pulley for oil or antifreeze coming out of the small drain hole. this can indicate a worn main seal or water pump bearing seal
bunch of other things too but those are probably already too involved for ya
~boomer