what to look for in a used SR

[mdn180sx]

i am looking at buying a used SR from someone in my area and need to know what common things to look for in an SR. i know that it was drifted
the engine was apparently rebuilt with all new internals except for pistons 15000 miles ago. it comes with a greddy fmic, turbo, ect. It is being sold for $1200. this same guy was selling it for 4500 earlier this year after he upgraded to an RB. he now needs the space in his garage and apparently needs to get rid of it.

so, my dilema is, the engine is not in a car and has been sitting in a garage for a little under a year. is there any way to tell what kind of mechanical/ running condition the car is in without it being in a car. if not,

what key things should i look for to tell if it is blown, spun bearings, ect?
what questions should i ask to poke around at the engines quality?

any help is greatly appreciated. i really dont want to drop money on a bad engine.

[240sxScores]

Have him do a compression check for you. Pop the valve cover maybe to check the cams and all that. Check the oil pan for dents because thats not good on an SR at all. All i can think of right now.

[Markovich]

pop valve cover check dented pan and it comes with uncut harness and ecu?
Ask him for a start up garrenty, if he stands by and doesnt beat around the bush then you know its in good working order.

peace

[Sileighty_85]

yeah check for all the sensors, Ignitor Chip<---Very important, O2 sensor, MAF, ECU, and a small white connector plug (about 12 wires I think) that you wire in the the KA's inetrior wire harness and it connects to the ECU, check the turbo (shaft play) check the oil for coolant or other debrie, take the plugs out and spin the crank it should spin fairly easy(Little resistance cuz of cams) , maybe a radiator?
If it comes with a tranny there should be a small wire harness for it.
When I bought my SR mine sat for over 6 months and started up pretty easily but take a flashlight pull out the plugs and shine down in the cylinders and look for anything out of the ordinary (oil on top of the pistons) the tops gonna be black but thats normal.

[gotta240]

jeeesh!!! no one even mentioned a leakdown test? wtf.

Do a compression check and leakdown test first... After, go to the other's ideas...JMO

[smelly240]

if theres puddles of random shit under it - its not a good thing

if you're doin it right - you're gonna want to replace seals and bearings once you get it home - so i wouldnt worry about the block bein a lil gooey. but be sure there arent cracks.

def listen to them about the leakdown test... (its easier to do leakdown with the motor out - comp test isnt hard - but pop a LD tester in - shove some air its way and poof u know if it needs rings or hg or if its got holes in stuff :( ) if it leakdowns a LOT - drip some oil in the cyl and retest - if it dramatically gets better - it needs rings

if its comin with a trans make sure its not locked up - and if hes cool - see if he'll let u pop the oil pans off right there - if hes really hesitant... its bc hes hiding something. its not like the super nice gaskets are expensive or hard to get (its friggin RTV - LOL) offer him a free tube -