stock engine longevity

[lloyd smale]

Im looking to buy. I actually had a we4 t type brand new in 87 but family problems made me sell it after two years. Im going to soon be shopping for another. What im looking for is a dead reliable stock or close to stock car. My question is i see alot of low milage cars that have allready had to have the motors freshened. I got rid of mine with 18000 so i never had a chance to find out myself. Are these motors really that fragile or will one that isnt beat to hard last a while? Im looking at cars with under 50000 miles but want one im not going to have to tear apart in a year

[mikestertwo]

It's not the engine that causes failures, it's the driver. I had a 86' GN that went 240,000 miles before a rebuild. If you take care of the car it will last a long time. If you beat on it every chance you get then you have to expect failures.

[Project TNX]

I put 213,000 miles on mine running mid 13's the entire time and driving it like a complete goon. These engine are tough. Mine leaked oil like crazy past 180,000 miles but it was just a minor nuissance in the big picture.

[A2000RICH]

i've got several TR's with over 200K and they run great--------the car i drive daily has over 250K (original unopened engine) and i would not hesitate to take a drive across country in it with no more than filling up with gas--------the tranny has been redone about 60K ago----------if you find one of these cars that is reasonably well cared for and not abused you can count on it for reliable transportation--------and if you want to know for sure look for a cat and stock air box--------if they are still there that almost guarantees it is close to stock since those are the first things that usually go......RC

[TurboDave]

As can be seen in this thread, miles mean nothing. It's the care or abuse that the car gets that will dictate when it's ready for work.

My 87 has over 130,000 on the clock and still runs like the day I bought it over 19 years ago. And looks just as good. (all original stocker)
Even with all those miles, when I get ready to sell it, it's not going cheap.

My 86 had 130,000 on it's original numbers matching motor when I took it out. It was still perfect, but got a geat deal on a low miles wreck and put that engine in it. That replacement engine now has over 50,000 mostly race/street miles and is not ready for any work.

[Grumpy]

"IF" I found a car to buy with under 50K and it had the motor done over I'd avoid it like the plague

[BASS]

A stock unopened motor is pretty much bulletproof if you dont detonate it and if you change the oil frequently.

[A2000RICH]

Originally Posted by A2000RICH

i've got several TR's with over 200K and they run great--------the car i drive daily has over 250K (original unopened engine) and i would not hesitate to take a drive across country in it with no more than filling up with gas--------the tranny has been redone about 60K ago----------if you find one of these cars that is reasonably well cared for and not abused you can count on it for reliable transportation--------and if you want to know for sure look for a cat and stock air box--------if they are still there that almost guarantees it is close to stock since those are the first things that usually go......RC

i drove that 250K car to lunch today--------forgot all about its history------engine was removed from a car i bought ten years ago from dennis Kirban at a bargain since it was a "good running" rust bucket------didn't pay much for it and it had 160K on it when i got it (its listed on Kirbans website as sold in 1998 for 3,795 to North Carolina) --------took it out of the rust bucket and put it in a theft recovery that had a bad engine-------it how has 274K and runs great except for leaking headers that have been rewelded numerous times--------simply put GREAT ENGINES--------thats why they can endure what everyone puts them through so well.................RC

[lloyd smale]

thanks guys youve put my nerves to rest.