500 for a 4.0L JY engine supposedly "good" price? It's going to be rebuilt anyway as my "project engine". Mine is okay, but LOTS of miles on it.

 

Great price.

 

The one I just put in my cousin's today actually was 250 but I guess it depends on where you are. I can buy a early 90s XJ for 500 bucks around here.

 

Cool, so in the "ballpark". Thanks.

 

Around here, $500 gets you a nice running motor that does NOT need rebuilding. $500 for a core sounds extreme - core's are usually priced at scrap value ($100 a ton? Maybe $25-35 for a 4.0).

 

LOL, no, it's supposed to be a good engine from the JY, not a core. Bad typing in the original post.

 

Cool. I would do the following:

Stick your finger in teh valve cover hole and dig around for sludge. If you find any...reconsider the $500.

And if no sludge - which is an excellent indicator of condition - do a wet compression test. Pour a bit of oil in each cylinder and crank it. It should be able to crank - it should have the starter attached. These two tests are pretty reliable, IMO.

Even if you have a warranty, before you go to all the trouble of mounting up the engine in your bay, compression test it. It takes an hour or so...but could save you a couple DAYS of work.