The Dodge Challenger Message Board

I have possibility to buy used engine that is 400 block stroked 500. It is one season old.
This engine was built by Six-packspeed shop in Belgium. Originally it had Edelbrock performer RPM heads, MSD billet distributor, edelbrock performer intake and 750 Edelbrock carb, and some non radical camshaft from. After one season engine started to use a lot of oil it was like 1 liter for 100 km. They have suspected valve seals so they disassembled the engine and done some changes by the way :

Torquer intake
Speed demon 850 carb,
Adjustable rocker arms.,
New valve seals
more agresive camshaft, lifters, etc

Aftre that engine became much stronger, but oil conumption is still there.
This changes were done like one month before engine removal, As the owner became upset with this issue, he order new Arruza 518 Hemi that is putting 750 Hp, and wants to get rid of this old engine.

Now what do you guys think about it, how much it is worth ? Together with ceramic coated TTi and 727 trans ( that is broken) he asked 6000 EUR. In my opinion that problem with this engine was that he was using synthetic oil from the beggining, so i think now I could probably replace rings and do honing to the engine, i the worst case change pistons and bushings. Any suggestions ? Will consider all advices.

I think you are probably right. It is probably the rings.

But I would want to be sure before spending money.

Then again. That is a lot of good parts for 6000 euros ($4600 USD).

Yes the purchase has some good parts but I would assume the engine will need a total rebuild soon. Not just rings, why tear down a motor to fix what you think may be wrong. I would do everything which would cost some money. That should be factored in.

Times are tough right now, I would bet you could get it for half the price posted here. Just my opinion though.

Good luck.

dave-r wrote:Then again. That is a lot of good parts for 6000 euros ($4600 USD).

You got the conversion wrong... 6000 EUR is around 8.2 kUSD!


Either the rings are alright, but they were cut for big gaps (maybe the builder was thinking about using NO2 later), or they were not properly broken in...

Either way, I agree a total teardown and blueprint is necessary.

My engine used 10 liters of oil for 3500km (3.5 times less than the one you're considering), and I know most of it goes through the rear seal. Some of it goes through the rings (gapped at .023/.025).

What I can tell you is that, if the rings are the problem, blowby and oil seepage through all gaskets will be a problem.
The engine will need long breather tubes and a big oil-air separator (I had to install one - my engine really blows A LOT through the breathers above 3000 RPM)

If the build is consistent though, I would buy it, but only if you can include a good part of the cost of the rebuild.

For comparison, I built my engine two years ago for 5500 EUR, (440 stroked to 493, with 440 Source kit (with every heavy duty option), CRE engine block girdle, block work included. I already had the heads but I replaced all the springs and retainers. I did all the assembly myself.

fbernard wrote:You got the conversion wrong... 6000 EUR is around 8.2 kUSD!

Doh!
Maybe I should have gone to school all those years ago after all?

dave-r wrote:Doh!
Maybe I should have gone to school all those years ago after all?

Nah, too late to bother!

Let's wait for a few more months, and your conversion rate will be just about right!