Help me pick out my engine!

[89s132b]

My SR may be comming in the next couple of days. The importer is just 3 hrs away in Dallas so I am going to go down there and pick out my front clip. There will probably be a dozen or so front clips to choose from. Any suggestions on how to pick one out? I thought I would be able to do a leak down or compression test but I just started reading about the process and the first step always involves running the engine to bring it up to operating temp. - Thats obviously not an option for me, so I'm thinking I will grab the one with...

newest manufacture year
fewest miles
best sheetmetal
most JDM goodies (strut bars and such)
cleanest overall


Anything I should add to the list?

[FRpilot]

sorrie. i dont have any useful tips for you. but when you say with best sheet metal, are you trying to swap fenders and other parts too? or are you looking for best sheet metal to avoid the chances of getting a car that has been hit? it might be hard to find since many clips have crushed sheet metal during shipment. that's why most of the time, silvia body parts are crushed to the point of unsalvagable.

[Dousan_PG]

eanie meanie minie mo, catch a tiger.........


or

draw straws

[FRpilot]

surely there is a better way.. like.. one potatoe, two potatoe, three potatoe.. four.. or put one of your hands over your eyes, spin yourself around with your other hand pointing a finger out, and pick the engine that you land on after you spin around several times.. hahaha..

[89s132b]

nah, I was more thinking of rolling dice.

Thanks anyway guys, I'll just get the newest one with the lowest miles.

[Dousan_PG]

either way, you are takinga HUGE risk because you cant check the engine's compression! you have no idea how well it is. if you can, maybe pull the valve cover :p that would help

also inspect the oil pan, a damaged one might have a damage oil pickup-not cool



good luck to you!

[deviousKA]

bring a wrench to take out the plugs. see what they look like and see if all are evenly burning. if you dont know what they should look like you can find proper plug burn diagrams everywhere

[kalieaire]

Originally posted by devious
bring a wrench to take out the plugs. see what they look like and see if all are evenly burning. if you dont know what they should look like you can find proper plug burn diagrams everywhere

That's a terrific idea. Because if you break a plug inside the block, you can decide not to buy the engine! :D