What PSI should the cylinder be for valve stem seal replacement?

[Skyline]

Also, most junkyards offer some sort of limited guarantee on their engines. You can certainly do a leakdown test before installing the motor once you have it. You could possibly do a compression test if you could rig the starter. If the junkyard still has it in a car, all the better; you can hear it run. I doubt most yards would let you do any tests on the motor, but you could ask. If I had access to an engine in a car, I'd be happy with a good compression test, and one of those coolant tests that can determine if combustion gasses are in the coolant.

I wouldn't swap heads if you get a motor with 60k miles. You could drive it for several years before having to do the valve seals, and you may have parted ways with the car before that point.

[byM5]

Originally Posted by Skyline

Also, most junkyards offer some sort of limited guarantee on their engines. You can certainly do a leakdown test before installing the motor once you have it. You could possibly do a compression test if you could rig the starter. If the junkyard still has it in a car, all the better; you can hear it run. I doubt most yards would let you do any tests on the motor, but you could ask. If I had access to an engine in a car, I'd be happy with a good compression test, and one of those coolant tests that can determine if combustion gasses are in the coolant.

I wouldn't swap heads if you get a motor with 60k miles. You could drive it for several years before having to do the valve seals, and you may have parted ways with the car before that point.

I'll probably do oil seals, coolant pipe, oil transfer gasket, valve covers, rms, and rear coolant cover because it's out of car.

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[LightlyToasted]

Originally Posted by byM5

I'll probably do oil seals, coolant pipe, oil transfer gasket, valve covers, rms, and rear coolant cover because it's out of car.

Secondary air system cleaning would also be much easier to perform with the engine out. BTW, impressive persistence - good on you. Keep us in the loop with your progress!

[byM5]

Originally Posted by LightlyToasted

Secondary air system cleaning would also be much easier to perform with the engine out. BTW, impressive persistence - good on you. Keep us in the loop with your progress!

Thank you for the suggestion. I will do that one too. Although I'm not sure these cars have it. I was looking for it with my heads off and couldn't find it.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks everyone for the positive comments and suggestions!!!

[Skyline]

Originally Posted by byM5

I'll probably do oil seals, coolant pipe, oil transfer gasket, valve covers, rms, and rear coolant cover because it's out of car.

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I'd take a good look at the motor mounts while the engine is out as well.

[wsmeyer]

Originally Posted by Skyline

Also, most junkyards offer some sort of limited guarantee on their engines. You can certainly do a leakdown test before installing the motor once you have it. You could possibly do a compression test if you could rig the starter. If the junkyard still has it in a car, all the better; you can hear it run. I doubt most yards would let you do any tests on the motor, but you could ask. If I had access to an engine in a car, I'd be happy with a good compression test, and one of those coolant tests that can determine if combustion gasses are in the coolant.

I wouldn't swap heads if you get a motor with 60k miles. You could drive it for several years before having to do the valve seals, and you may have parted ways with the car before that point.

I was suggesting swapping heads as from what I understand he just had a valve job and decarbonizing done on his heads.

All junkyards warranty the engine as replacement only and for a short period of time. Not selling you a bad engine is part reputation, and part the reality that there's a lot of labor involved for them to remove an engine. There is no shortage of X5's in junkyards so they will sell you one from a car that came in totalled in a wreck where it's fair to assume it was running, the mileage is known, and had passed smog at most 2 years ago. Cars that are sold to them with expired registration or from the impound lot they just assume something is wrong with the engine and might pull the heads off to sell but with engines as popular as ours most likely straight to the crusher.

[Skyline]

Originally Posted by wsmeyer

I was suggesting swapping heads as from what I understand he just had a valve job and decarbonizing done on his heads.

All junkyards warranty the engine as replacement only and for a short period of time. Not selling you a bad engine is part reputation, and part the reality that there's a lot of labor involved for them to remove an engine. There is no shortage of X5's in junkyards so they will sell you one from a car that came in totalled in a wreck where it's fair to assume it was running, the mileage is known, and had passed smog at most 2 years ago. Cars that are sold to them with expired registration or from the impound lot they just assume something is wrong with the engine and might pull the heads off to sell but with engines as popular as ours most likely straight to the crusher.

I've heard some yards will pay for labor for the second go-around if the engine is no good.

[wsmeyer]

Originally Posted by Skyline

I've heard some yards will pay for labor for the second go-around if the engine is no good.

That would be awesome but I haven't run across it.