I bought a "good" shortblock from a local guy here today... The motor had been sitting a while in his garage and after I put some mmo in it today i got the thing to rotate (not very easily but it went) so i could check the seals, the Apex seals are all intact..BUT, there appears to be a little thin layer of surface rust on the chamber walls. I can stick my finger in the exhaust ports and rub it off.... Do you think this block is useable and if so what should i do prior to installing it. I really don't want to rebuild one right now and i got this block for $25 he was going to junk it, he bought it from a local J-yard and was going to put it in a FC with a blown motor, a tree fell on the fc, it got towed away and this block has been sitting ever since, it has 89k on it according to the paperwork from the j-yard...Is it toast or can i revive it?

 

For $25!!!! Dayum!

I would just MMO that baby a whole bunch and see if you can get some rust off. Then just clean up the outside and replace any obvious seals while the engine is out and then give it a whirl.

BTW, you could piece that thing out for over $200 easy, if it is not junk inside.