help me decide if this is a worthy engine

guy at a bus garage where my friend works says


1981 350 block, 12,000 miles on it
torker intake
202 heads? 66 caprice (he wasnt clear)
alternator, water pump, fuel pump

i dont know if this guy was playing dumb or if he really diddnt remember
its almost a mystery engine

he said he ran ~13.1 in 79 nova (3.75 gear) he also had the engine in a 66 caprice before that

doesnt know/remember if its cast or forged but said prob cast
doesnt know/remember if its a 2 or a 4 bolt but said prob 2

doesnt know what cam is in it

said it pulled hard all the way to 6500 rpm, with a 650 carb (not included)

has a set of nova headers on it that he said just take em with the engine

said he wanted like 600 (pulled outta his ***, he diddtn seem to really care that much, could offer him less)

so to recap
-81 mystery engine, i asked him what it was bored to and he said he thinks its stock bore, which is also weird but he wasnt really sure about anything)
-torker intake (could sell with the cam and put in more streetable stuff, im guessing they were high end feeders)
-all the tin (oil pan, valve covers...)
-accesories (water, oil, fuel pump, alternator)
-nova headers (could sell)
-said its been sitting for about 4 years and he turns it over once in a while
he wants around 600 do you guys think its worth it so far, i havent gotten to look at it yet

 

Mystery engines are like mystery meat its best to stay away from them. Unless you know what you are getting dirt cheap.

 

600 bucks hey, stay away from that one....sounds like the guy doesn't know his ****, and if I were you, I would find a different one..not worht it

 

Nah dont do it. I bought a car with a 350 Crate but wasnt even sure it was a 350. The original size was a 305 .Didnt know the cam size, or anything. I was almost sure the cam that was in there wasnt computer compatible and the eprom was probably the same as the 305. I wound up doing a full rebuild of the engine because I dont like not knowing whats in my car. Spent alot of money just to feel comfortable.

 

give him 100 bucks for it, could be a 283 for all you know! Or don't buy it at all.. I got screwed like that once before, never again..