Brand new 306 short block for $650. Should I get it?

[DLo]

Here's the info:

306 shortblock, still in plastic bag on wood pallet in my garage. Never used, zero miles. I've decided on a bigger block, so it has to go:

Fully machined production block (.030 over), Federal Mogul main bearings(#4125M), production crank, Keith Black Silvolite pistons(10.1 comp w/58cc), Hastings rings, Federal Mogul rod bearings(#8-2600CP) and Federal Mogul cam bearings(#1204M).

The seller says he does not have the receipt, but the block is from Keith Craft. I'm still a little new to all of this, but would it work if I built the rest of this to go in my 94 5.0? Do the harmonic balancers and flywheels vary in any of the years? I have until Friday or Saturday to make the decision. Half of me says not to get it, because everytime I try and cut corners or score on a deal, something goes bad. But on the other hand, I can save a ton if I pick it up and it works out!

 

[ProKiller]

for 650 bucks that doesn't sound too bad. i would go look at it and see if he's full of it.

 

[Pokageek]

Let's see..I have around 5k miles on my 306. It has arp rod bolts, decked and honed, and nice .510 lift cam. I bought mine with the cam and some rebuilt heads new for .. I think it was $1850 shipped... It had the cam and the timing chain and oil pump ($25) and heads so subtract the extras and they would have charged me..around $1500? subtract the shipping and .. $1250.

#1 He is coming in low.
#2 I'd rather buy one that has been running in the car and proven.
#3 Let's face it, you are buying from a stranger..who knows?
#4 You could go to the trouble and a lot of work and find out it has a problem and have to tear it all down and pull the engine.

I paid $1000, plus $100 hd gaskets, plus a whole bunch of other little $$ stuff to get my engine in - not to mention time.

It is a 50/50 shot. I bought my engine with a 3 month warranty so that if something happened they took care of me. Well it did! A rocker arm bolt broke and they shipped out a new head! No questions asked. The only problem now is that I did not tighten the oil pan bolts properly and it leaks a little but not much. I don't think I would take it unless it was damn near free because it could end up costing me a lot more than the savings. But yu could take a chance.

 

[SQUEEZE&STROKE]

Maybe all it is is the block and rotating assembly.