how much is too much (miles)

[creamgorilla]

I'm looking at motors on eBay and I'm going to be purchasing a 5.3liter for my Monte Carlo. How many miles is too many miles? I know the 5.3 can take a beating but at some point, miles matter, or do they?

All opinions welcome

[astroracer]

It doesn't matter. Whether buying a motor off eBay or out of a junkyard, UNLESS you can verify the actual mileage you have no clue what you are getting. The only way I do this, if I need a runner, is to start it up and hear it run. Most yards will do this before pulling the piece out of the vehicle. I have never bought an engine off eBay just for this reason.
Mark

[srh3trinity]

Unless you can hear it run, it is a guessing game. Even still, you don't know until you crack them open. That being said, I bought a junkyard LQ4 that smelled and looked like the oil hadn't been changed in forever from the outside and when I opened it up, the bores looked brand new and the bearings were in great shape. I think the LS engines live for awhile. With the 5.3 being so common, you should be able to pick and choose.

[Schwartz Performance]

130k would be my max.. But it does depend on how well maintained it was. Seems like every used LS or LS part out there has 60-70k on it... Because if it had 90k it's too much and if it's 30k people won't believe you, so they lie and say 70k. ;)

-Dale

[Rod]

if you order one on eBay get it with a warranty! 6 months or year, those guys check them over and run them that's why they give that warranty, its a little more cost but better risk

[creamgorilla]

Thanks for the input guys.

[67rally]

I found my LQ9 on eBay, but picked it up in person since it was less than 2 hrs away. 100k was my limit and I found one with 80k on it.

They had pics if the Escalade it came out of, with pics of the odometer as well. I bought the car fox ahead if time and the mileage lined up.