I have had excellent luck over the years going and pulling a transmission out of cars and trucks at the junk yard for less than $100

I've always made sure the mileage was decent the fluid was clean and didn't smell....as well as found rebuilt ones with rebuilt convertors ....trans painted...marked with paint pen diff color convertor...etc....

My question is what are you guys doing to check an engine before you yank it out where I go a motor top to bottom is less than $150 but all sales are final which is ok given the price...

The obvious is look for a oil change sticker to get a clue if it was kept in line some what......pull both valve covers ........yank oil filter if its not already gone and check oil inside .....


But other than that is the concensus that a motor from a u pull it yard is just for core or rebuilding


Any one have goood storys pertaining to pulled engines or horror story


A mechanic friend of mine says Joe there's a reason its at the junkyard and I agree but I sure come across some goood looking clean engines walking around and was just curious


I also reguarly pull parts off wrecked vehicles before whole ones because I know that vehicle was obviously driving or stopped when it was smashed

Please share as I'm a junkyard dog and was curious thanks guys

 

Good thread topic. Should be some very useful tips in a matter of days. I like the junkyard myself but haven't pulled a motor from one of the newer u pull it places.

 

just because it is in a junk yard does not mean the engine is no good.
many years ago i picked up a 69 4wheel drive with a junkyard engine in the bed to replace the 360 with a windowed block.
the guy went to a yard and told them he needed a 360. what he actually got was a 66 427 high rise side oiler out of a wrecked car.
i paid $400 for the truck, and after putting the 427 in it twisted a driveshaft into pretzel shapes at least once a month for 2 years before i finally pulled it and replaced it with a mild built 390.

wish i still had that engine!! i sold it for $5000 about 20 years ago.

 

I have a 351 windsor Jasper engine that I bought from u pull it. Called and was told it was 3 years old, bored 40 over, and it looks to have really never been used. The car was a 75 granada with hospital and aarp stickers all over the back bumper.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/love_ford_trucks/4508537283/" title="junkyard 011 by ford collection, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4001/4508537283_0fe95c608c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="junkyard 011"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/love_ford_trucks/4509177682/" title="junkyard 012 by ford collection, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4057/4509177682_1262e9cfd1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="junkyard 012"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/love_ford_trucks/4510875879/" title="junkyard 016 by ford collection, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4015/4510875879_ec88477450.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="junkyard 016"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/love_ford_trucks/4518801629/" title="junkyard 020 by ford collection, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4038/4518801629_b20f3f329c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="junkyard 020"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/love_ford_trucks/4508771090/" title="landscaping by ford collection, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2246/4508771090_b31e31ec4c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="landscaping"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/love_ford_trucks/4505372117/" title="junkyard 007 by ford collection, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4066/4505372117_c0bc5ae961.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="junkyard 007"></a>

 

nice engine find

 

Thanks. This is how it looks now.World Products Victor Senior heads, comp cam push rods, comp cam roller rockers, MSD distributor, 6al box, RV cam, holley carburator, holley fuel pump, edelbrock performer intake, performance starter, and long tube headers. All for free from a great friend.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/love_ford_trucks/5232717092/" title="SSPX0511 by ford collection, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5249/5232717092_75efa394a3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="SSPX0511"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/love_ford_trucks/4589544833/" title="junkyard 100 by ford collection, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4046/4589544833_f392a585ea.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="junkyard 100"></a>

 

I think that qualifies as a junkyard success story!