High Mileage M60 Motors

[LavaSurfer]

I'm tossing around the idea of an M60 swap vs. a turbo M20 build and I'm trying to find out some costs. I'm looking at getting an engine from a wrecked/parts car but I've been running across some pretty high mileage cars in my initial searches the past couple days. If I freshen it up with gaskets and timing chains would I be good with a 150-200k motor without having to worry about it flying apart on me too quick? I've seen some wrecked but driveable cars well over 200k for CHEAP but I figure I might be buying a time bomb/money pit.....

[Jean]

If you replace all the gaskets/seals/guides, you'll want to check the bottom end at that mileage as well/oil pump/ and check the cyl. walls and clean everything up. Get heads done as well. It can all add up quick, because you are dealing with way more parts than m20.

But, they can go over 300k , not unusual but they do have their own specific areas you need to be aware of.

[LavaSurfer]

SHould I be afraid of a motor that might have been over heated like I hear about with the M50's? I think I found a car close to me that has a blown head gasket from the Craigslist description that could be scored for under 500. I figure it had a radiator or water pump failure. They said its still starts and moves.....just white smoke from the exhaust.

[Jean]

Well, you won't know without digging into it....

[alco]

SHould I be afraid of a motor that might have been over heated like I hear about with the M50's? I think I found a car close to me that has a blown head gasket from the Craigslist description that could be scored for under 500. I figure it had a radiator or water pump failure. They said its still starts and moves.....just white smoke from the exhaust.

I have an M62B44 that was pulled from a running 740il. I will be doing a leak down test tonight if I can get away from work for a bit.

[Kozworth]

Lavasurfer,

Just letting you know I was in the same boat as you 6 months ago. I pulled the trigger on the m20 turbo. I really wished I did the v8 because even with a "budget" build I probabyl could have had a s50 swap in my e30 for a few months and a lot of cash left over.. Now I am sitting with a non running turbo build and out a couple g.

As for the head gasket issue, I think that 500 is a bit steep. Ive seen some definite nice m60s on here for 4-500 (not too often they are on here). I am waiting for a pick n pull around me to pull in an m60, because they charge 200 an engine or 300 if they pull it. If you do the head gasket, you would have to resurf the heads, which usually is gutting the heads, and then the cost of any gaskets and such, youd probably be pretty deep just getting to a decent running m60.

[Jean]

With any engine out of junk yard you have no idea about its condition .

m60b40 top end gasket set is about 220...bottom end gasket ser is about 130. head gaskets are about 50 each and 20 for bolt set per head. Valley pan is another 80, then you add water pump / tstat another 100. sensors (crank / cam + knock sensors add another 50 - 250..)

Timing guides about 250, oil separator valve is another 50, and rear manifold egr plate and pipe another 100

[Vtec?lol]

^ Jean is right on the money.
Don't forget about the knock sensors. You'll need 4 of those ad they're about $50 a pop.

I have a 180k mile m60 in my car and it runs good. Bought it with a blown oil seporator valve so it smoked pretty bad.