[Sparta]

Hey guys! I have a 289 and was wondering if there are anyways I can look at my engine and tell if things like the heads have ever been off or if Pistons have been replaced? I going to have the oil pan off soon so I could look into there.

Thanks !

 

[atitagain]

Not completely technical but good for a starting hunch.

Pull cable covers and see if valve seals/shims under the springs look new. If you have a friend or future use for one you borescope and see condition of pics.

Besides visual, you can tell the current condition with compression and bleed down test. Vacuum gage test

I believe the later is more important! If not rebuilt right it doesn't really matter if it was rebuilt...does it?

 

[atitagain]

Valve not cable covers

 

[Varilux]

If you pull a head, I believe there is a stamp placed on top of the piston if the engine has been bored (mine have 030 on top of the pistons).

 

[Fastback97]

Factory head gaskets are an indication.

You could pull a single rod w/piston from the bottom to inspect and re-install, however I would not recommend it.

 

[cougar70]

Some engine shops use freeze plugs that have a solder disk that will melt if overheated. These look like a washer attached to the plug and say something like void if removed. If they are melted your warranty is null and void. They are usually mounted in a hard to access place.

Engine Heat Tabs - Products

 

[Fuelish]

There are several visual clues to look for and you don't have to take anything apart. Look at the gaskets for the water pump/timing cover and between the cylinder head and block. In many places they extend out and away from the sealing points. If the gaskets appear new, then you know someone has at least been in there for some reason. To look inside the engine, get an inspection camera or Borescope. You can get a decent one for just under $150. I've seen them at Harbor Freight for $89. Pull a plug and look down in the cylinder. Look for good crosshatch on cylinder walls. Also, look at the top of the piston, like Varilux said, you may see a number stamped on top such as .30 or .40 - if there isn't too much carbon build up. If you see these numbers, then the engine has definitely been rebuilt at some point. Next you can remove a valve cover, loosen a rocker arm and remove a push rod. First be sure the camera is small enough to fit thru the push-rod hole to view the lifter valley. To look at the bottom end, you will obviously need to drain the oil, then feed the camera up through the drain plug hole.

 

[Huskinhano]

Valve not cable covers

LOL, I know that feeling all to well. Autocorrect rears it's ugly head.

 

[Huskinhano]

Check date codes on the block and heads. Original engine will all be about somewhere around 2 weeks of one another. A mass produced reman will be all over the place. Also check the 4 digit code stamped on the LH deck be the distributor for the date. If the deck has been machined, the numbers will be gone.

 

[Fastback97]

I going to have the oil pan off soon so I could look into there.

To look at the bottom end, you will obviously need to drain the oil, then feed the camera up through the drain plug hole.

Have you ever tried this before Fuelish? That is ridiculous :lol:

:cheers:

 

[Fuelish]

Have you ever tried this before Fuelish? That is ridiculous :lol:

:cheers:

Yeah, you can at see the piston skirts - if very clean and smooth then probably recently rebuilt. People will say "rebuilt less than 5k miles ago" then you look up in there and see badly varnished or scuffed piston skirts, probably not recently rebuilt or was done poorly. I've learned never to take the "SELLERS" word as fact. Getting a good look around the inside of the oil pan for sludge/junk is beneficial too. Should of been more detailed in explaining.

 

[kenash]

Hey guys! I have a 289 and was wondering if there are anyways I can look at my engine and tell if things like the heads have ever been off or if Pistons have been replaced? I going to have the oil pan off soon so I could look into there.

Thanks !

Why do you ask? Has someone (PO) mentioned the engine as being newly rebuilt or never been apart?
Otherwise, pulling a cap and main may give an experienced person an indication of engine wear. As others have suggested, compression, leak-down, exposed gasket materials and engine vac readings maybe revealing.

 

[Woodchuck]

If you're pulling the pan you can check the rod caps. I don't know about others, but I always mark my big ends and caps on disassembly. Otherwise you could mike a journal, although that might not be indicative of a rebuild if the crank was in spec at the time. Production rebuilders would frequently stamp numbers or attach a tag to the block.

 

[66kcar]

Its a lot of work, but pull a cap off the main or rod and check the bearing. Last one I pulled down had bearings marked Ford - 1968.....kind of a clue!