Building a high-performance car that runs hard and sounds cool takes knowledge, parts, and some money. But as any seasoned hot rodder can tell you, the real performance challenge is getting the most power for the least amount of money. Pre-owned power parts offer the opportunity to add that extra performance at fire-sale prices. But whether you get them from swap meets, classified ads, the Internet, or your buddy down the street, locating a deal on used speed equipment is not only about price, but also about determining if the parts you find are really what you need.
Knowledge Is Power
Shopping for used speed parts can be fun, but first you have to arm yourself with plenty of information. Remember, the goal is to know more than the seller, otherwise you’ll be at a disadvantage. Fortunately, information about performance parts is now easier to find than ever before. By simply consulting catalogs, visiting manufacturers’ Web sites, and reading hi-perf car magazines, you can find the part numbers and photos of the parts that interest you.
Look Here
The appearance of used parts offers clues to their past and may affect their future performance. Headers with heavily dented pipes or intake manifolds with severe corrosion are obvious clues. If you’re shopping for electrical items, like a cooling fan, then check the motor by connecting it to a 12-volt source. Remember, you must ground the motor back to the battery to complete the circuit. Some electronic parts, such as ignition boxes, alternators, and tachometers, can’t be tested until they’re installed, so you might want to avoid buying these items used unless you know their history.
Bargain Rebuilds
Used transmissions, carburetors, and posi-traction units at bargain prices are only good buys if they can be rebuilt and fit your application. Check inside for hard part damage, excessive metal debris, and fluid condition. Before buying a used automatic transmission, make certain it fits a Chevrolet. Over the years, GM has built thousands of automatics with bellhousing bolt patterns designed only for Oldsmobiles, Buicks, and Pontiacs.
Don’t Be Fuelish
If you’re looking at a used carburetor, ask the seller if you can partially disassemble it to check its condition and to make sure no one has drilled holes in the throttle blades. If a carburetor with this modification is installed on an engine with normal manifold vacuum, it will be difficult to adjust the idle speed below 1,000 rpm.
Engine Inspection
Shopping for a used engine (even as a core) requires special care. Bore condition and size, block soundness, machined surfaces, and displacement must all be verified. Although it may be easy to determine that a used engine is a small-block Chevy, determining engine size can sometimes be challenging. The first step is to read the casting numbers located at the rear of the block on the >> driver side. For example, a small-block with “3970010” cast into it may be a 302, 327, or 350, all of which had an original bore size of 4 inches. In this case, the engine code, stamped on the passenger-side front deck, can identify engine size if the year of the block is known and the deck has not been resurfaced. To learn more about this, consult an engine identification book, such as Chevrolet by the Numbers, by Alan Colvin, or Chevy Suffix Codes by MSA-1 books (see Sources).
Getting Ahead
Bargains on used cylinder heads are often easy to find, but be careful that the heads have not been resurfaced too many times and aren’t cracked. If your engine accessories mount to the cylinder heads, you’ll need heads manufactured with threaded accessory bolt holes.
Keep in mind that many brand-new cylinder heads can be purchased for about the same price you’d pay for used heads. For instance, Chevrolet’s Vortec cylinder heads (PN 12558060) flow much better than even ported stock cylinder heads and are available new for under $500. They already feature hardened valve seats for unleaded operation and come with a warranty. Just remember that these heads require a special intake manifold too.
The Buddy System
If you’re new to the parts-hunting game, or you just want someone to help you look, bring a friend who has knowledge about performance parts. If for no other reason, this makes the process fun. But the most important thing to remember when shopping for used parts is to think ahead and learn as much about what you’re looking for as possible. That way you’ll be well prepared to get the most performance for your dollar.