Hey Gang,
A number of you were helping me with the 1958 392 Hemi purchase. Here is the original thread and advice I was given.
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/...d.php?t=293834
I went to the sellers place today to check out the engine. Based on the visit and closer inspection I am pleasantly but cautiously pleased to report that it seems to be legit as much as I could do while I was there.
So I will go through all the comments and questions from the first thread.
The casting number under the manifold was 1673729 which is correct for this engine. The serial number begins with 58N. You can see the serial number on the center front of the block in this picture.
What we all thought was overspray on the coil turned out to be a change of tint on the coil or a reflection. I took a better picture. If it was over sprayed the base of the coil would have paint too but it does not. Here is pic. The orange tint is reflection from paint.
The bell housing was a correct year bolt on not integrated into the block. There is no flywheel.
There was no thick paint or paint peeling to indicate a paint over. No over spray. I found newer gaskets and areas of silicon that would indicate work been done. Removed the valve covers, and everything, including the outside block, is well lubricated.
More pics...
The fuel pump that looked to be spray canned painted was not painted at all. Again perhaps angle of photo. Here it is
Here are some more random pics. He keeps the engine covered and sealed but removed everything to take the pics.
So the story I am told is the seller's close friend worked at this engine shop. The owner was a hot rodder and built this engine for one of his cars and died before he could install it. With the help of his friend who knows the engine and worked at the shop the seller purchased this from the estate for $3800 four years ago. He was going to put it in a 32 Ford hotrod ( more info on that in a sec).
I told him all the block codes and work looked good but I would like to take off the pan and also maybe get a scope or flashlight into plug section to see shiny cylinders. He wasn't comfortable with me removing the pan as everything is nicely sealed. So he told me he is so confident in the engine being a rebuilt 392 because of his friend and that relationship - He told me " You can buy it and then open up YOUR engine, if is not what I said it is I will refund your money".
He is an old hot rod guy who is unfortunately very very ill. He had no idea what a rebuilt 392 engine was worth........so I told him. He whistled and said he should probably re-list it. I told him he should too as it looks exactly what he says it is but I don't have that kind of money. Finally he said he would honour the $3800 price with me and I can check it out when I get it in my shop. I told him I would be posting on the forum tonight and if no one sees any show stoppers I would purchase the engine.
So I have 24 hours.
So.....any show stoppers based on these pics?
In the next post I am going to show you what I saw when I walked into his garage...
A number of you were helping me with the 1958 392 Hemi purchase. Here is the original thread and advice I was given.
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/...d.php?t=293834
I went to the sellers place today to check out the engine. Based on the visit and closer inspection I am pleasantly but cautiously pleased to report that it seems to be legit as much as I could do while I was there.
So I will go through all the comments and questions from the first thread.
The casting number under the manifold was 1673729 which is correct for this engine. The serial number begins with 58N. You can see the serial number on the center front of the block in this picture.
What we all thought was overspray on the coil turned out to be a change of tint on the coil or a reflection. I took a better picture. If it was over sprayed the base of the coil would have paint too but it does not. Here is pic. The orange tint is reflection from paint.
The bell housing was a correct year bolt on not integrated into the block. There is no flywheel.
There was no thick paint or paint peeling to indicate a paint over. No over spray. I found newer gaskets and areas of silicon that would indicate work been done. Removed the valve covers, and everything, including the outside block, is well lubricated.
More pics...
The fuel pump that looked to be spray canned painted was not painted at all. Again perhaps angle of photo. Here it is
Here are some more random pics. He keeps the engine covered and sealed but removed everything to take the pics.
So the story I am told is the seller's close friend worked at this engine shop. The owner was a hot rodder and built this engine for one of his cars and died before he could install it. With the help of his friend who knows the engine and worked at the shop the seller purchased this from the estate for $3800 four years ago. He was going to put it in a 32 Ford hotrod ( more info on that in a sec).
I told him all the block codes and work looked good but I would like to take off the pan and also maybe get a scope or flashlight into plug section to see shiny cylinders. He wasn't comfortable with me removing the pan as everything is nicely sealed. So he told me he is so confident in the engine being a rebuilt 392 because of his friend and that relationship - He told me " You can buy it and then open up YOUR engine, if is not what I said it is I will refund your money".
He is an old hot rod guy who is unfortunately very very ill. He had no idea what a rebuilt 392 engine was worth........so I told him. He whistled and said he should probably re-list it. I told him he should too as it looks exactly what he says it is but I don't have that kind of money. Finally he said he would honour the $3800 price with me and I can check it out when I get it in my shop. I told him I would be posting on the forum tonight and if no one sees any show stoppers I would purchase the engine.
So I have 24 hours.
So.....any show stoppers based on these pics?
In the next post I am going to show you what I saw when I walked into his garage...
