Hi guys, I was bidding on a gen 1 3sge on ebay, it started out at $0.99 with no reserve, and the description went "Used long motor Toyota 3SGE twin cam 16v from ST162 Celica. Includes exhaust manifold, some engine mounts, injectors and distributor. Intake plenum missing. Rocker Cover to Sump - No wiring or ECU. Engine has been stored in a shed for 8 years and has not been run. I expect the motor was removed from the original car because it needed an rebuild. Might just need oil rings." Smells like bullshit to me, I mean who does an engine swap because the rings are stuffed right, so I figured as long as it hasn't punched a rod through the block it might be useful for parts. I reckoned it can't be worth more than $80-100, but it ends up going for $260. You can buy a whole car with a bung engine for not much more than that! So anyways, back to the title of the post, what do you reckon a non-runner (especially one that the owner innocently claims to not know what is wrong with) is worth?
I've bought several for $50, over here people will swap out a motor if the seals are leaking. Auctions are a good indication of how many people are looking for a motor and how desperate they are, a running motor will sell for $300 plus. Motors in difficult locations will sell cheaper too, but you have to make an extra effort to get it home. I find a lot of the time peole buy motors to swap into other cars and it never happens, so you can find good ones lying in sheds covered in dust
same thing happens here stiggles, people dont like the thought of stripping down an engine so they just grab a second hand one.
not knowing the condition of the internals i think your right on the money. maybe less w/o the mani. if the head were off, it was complete, and you could make sure the bores, valves, combustion chamber weren't f'd i guess id pay $200....something re-buildable i guess. even still. after machine work ect. your really at a later gen jdm price. trust me ive done it. my whole car cost $300
I paid 200US for mine delivered. Complete with all accessories and harness minus AC pump. I've yet to take it apart, but the yard I got it from ran it and said it was a smoker with low compression. Easy build... I don't think I would have bought it if it was any other problem...
