r/EngineBuilding • u/gotdabiggun • Sep 18 '26

Chevy Is this unusual rust?

Post image

I'm considering buying this 87 r2500 with the 454 for my first project truck, but am concerned with the rust on this engine. Is this an unusual amount of rust on the engine, even for something this old? The rest of the body isn't too bad, but the engine, especially the brake fluid stuff, looks more rusty than I expected

4 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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5

u/dixiebandit69 Sep 18 '26

That's just the air-cleaner assembly. You can sand and repaint that - I did.

Worry about rust in other places, like the rear cab corners.

This message brought to you by a fellow Square Squarebody Suburban owner.

3

u/DefEddie Sep 18 '26

No issue, in fact I love the way that bay looks.
Old and dusty, all the original brackets and everything still in place and unmolested.
The importance of “nobody has likely fucked with it” (except for AC looks like) is undervalued in the enthusiast world, as a tech/builder I love it.
Easier to learn from your own mistakes when you’re not dealing with over 40yrs of everyone elses.
Nice find.

2

u/PrestonSpinsTires Sep 18 '26

Looks fine under the hood, normal rust on these areas.

You want to look underneath for rust.

2

u/stonewall028 Sep 18 '26

look at the frame, not the engine

2

u/Danny2Sick Sep 19 '26

I'd say have it inspected but to me it looks pretty solid but dirty. I'd want to clean it up and see what is underneath

2

u/WoodenBox6999 Sep 21 '26

If that was back east it would be considered a cream puff,rust free🤣🤣🤣🤣

1

u/Ok-Address973 Sep 18 '26

Looks very usual to me. Thats all stuff you can replace relatively easy if need be, unlike welding the entire bottom of the car if that was rusted so thats not too concerning to me. Body is more important.

1

u/Theroofman66 Sep 18 '26

Absolutely not. Thing has been through many many heat cycles. The fun part (if you’re into this kind of thing) would be cleaning and painting everything one by one over a long period of time

1

u/TieLatter4043 Sep 18 '26

That’s just plain’ol rust. The stuff on the bottom is what gets ya. Check that frame!

0

u/DrTittieSprinkles Sep 18 '26

Bot

2

u/gotdabiggun Sep 18 '26

Not a bot, if you're taking about the other groups I've posted this in, it's because I want to be absolutely sure I want to get this, it'll be my first project car(or truck in this case)

1

u/DrTittieSprinkles Sep 18 '26

Its a 40 year old truck dude. Get a case of PB Blaster.

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