When it comes to import, JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) engines, the list of variety goes on and on. With all the options out there, it can be a scary time if you’re new to the JDM world. To a get a better understanding, we stopped by Ichiban JDM in Pico Rivera, California for a hands-on lesson. Rather than going in blind when buying a JDM engine, use our checklist to help make this purchasing process easier for you.
Just remember these 5 things when engine shopping!
1. Know What You Want
As we mentioned, the list of JDM engines is endless. If you walk in blind, you’ll most likely walk out with the wrong product. It is essential to know what you want out of your engine—and if you’re not sure, talk to numerous people and do your research!
2. Buy An Engine As Complete As Possible
This may seem obvious, but what does it mean exactly? Here are a few things to check for:
- Wire Harness
- ECU
- Transmission
- And even better… A full front clip!
3. Check the oil cap
This is your first chance to actually take a look inside the engine. So pop off that oil cap and look for signs of trouble such as sludge or milkshake.
4. Look for physical damage
You can always hope for the best when walking into a shop, assuming they’ll only give you the best product. However, better safe than sorry!
5. Check compression and rotation
If you don’t have the capability to do this yourself, just ask your shop to do it for you. They should be more than willing to help out. It’s the only way to guage the true output of the engine you’ll be buying.