OK,
I have been shopping for an LT1 engine for my newly purchased '93 Z and came across one that I really like.
The engine is at a local shop and it looks VERY and I mean VERY good. Very clean, looks like a truly under 30K mile engine. Opti looks like brand new, stock wires look like brand new, everything looks like brand new. (sorry, no pictures)

Now, how I came across this engine.... I called a shop that was advertising it and they said it was supposedly out of a '96 Camaro BUT it was located at a different shop and they were selling it for this other shop. They are willing to give me a 2 month warranty on it too.
So I went to this other shop and took the block numbers of it, figured out the VIN and ran a carfax on the VIN. (BOTH shops told me it was out of a '96 with 26K miles on it)
The engine turned out to be a '94 (I must've not paid good enough attention to the opti I guess) and back in 96 it had 40K miles when it passed emissions.

Here's the ONLY other records in that report:

----------------------------------
04/20/1996 40,000 Illinois
Inspection Station
Downers Grove, IL
Passed emissions inspection
----------------------------------

05/08/1997 Illinois
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Westmont, IL
Title #XXXXXXX
SALVAGE TITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED
NOT ACTUAL MILEAGE TITLE ISSUED
REBUILT TITLE ISSUED

07/20/2002 Licensed Auto Dealer
Automotive Recycler
Blue Island, IL
Vehicle purchased at auction


Now, I realize this engine might have anywhere from 40K miles to 100K+ miles, and this isn't what troubles me the most. It's the way it looks that makes me wonder. Do you think that there's some possibility this engine might be an almost new one, bought some time from a dealer and replaced in this car?

The guy told me he heard it running and the car "was wrapped around a tree" with no insurance. I know most of you will tell me to stay away from this engine, but I have a good feeling about it. I've seen many engines and this may be one of the best looking I've ever seen, plus the 2 month warranty sounds tempting as well.... What do you think I should do?

They don't know yet that I'm aware of its history and these new details....

 

check to see if the crosshatches are still in the bores, or any trace of them. thats a good start,

Look at pistons/valves/spark plugs for signs of it running lean as well if possible

edit:
see if they are OEM freeze plugs. that will tell you if it is rebuilt. aftermarket have these things on there that turn black when they overheat. that way your engine builder doesn't warantee it

 

Dude, this is a complete engine, they won't let me take off the intake/heads or even the oilpan...

 

the freeze plug trick sounds pretty good...

 

TTT

 

I doubt a new engine will have the codes for the for teh original vin... get what I am saying? It probably is the orginal engine and it has over 40K miles....

 

id say that motor has around 60k on it... granted it wasnt replaced at some point like you are thinking. but if it was me i would buy a rebuilt shortblock unless that motor is a killer deal.. say around $500.