Could someone help me identify what engine this is?

The seller called it a "high compression" engine.

I have searched and all I can find is "red top" engines, but it does not look like this. The red tops I see have grey valve covers with red lettering. This is a all-red cover with silver lettering.

Is this from a FWD car? Any assistance would be great. Thanks.


http://imgur.com/a/ZMthW

best answer it MIGHT be. It does not look like a smallport (high compression 4AGE), but in that cars 30+ years it is possible the engine was rebuilt with high compression parts.... but BUYER BEWARE!

Cam covers have been painted red, so colour cannot be used for identification.
Intake manifold is original RWD TVIS type found on factory installed bigport
engines, so I would be looking for some evidence to show that the engine was
anything other that a standard "bluetop" with painted cam covers.

As said above... Caveat Emptor !!!

Cheers... jondee86

Oh man thanks a lot guys, what a bummer.

If I crawl under it and look if its 3-rib vs a 7-rib, what else do I need to look for to know what engine this is?

You could tell if it's a Smallport or bigport head by looking at the TVIS plate where the mani meets the head. If it does have the stock TVIS plate and actuator it's definitely a LP. If it has an aftermarket adapter plate it's probably a smallport head.
The only real way of identifying the pistons without taking it apart would be to use a borescope and see if it has aftermarket pistons or if they are stock if they are SP or LP pistons. If the motor has been apart though there could be any number of things that make it "high comp" Could be LP pistons and a shaved head, or could be high comp pistons or who knows.

Thanks guys, thats very helpful

BTW, 3 or 7 ribs also is not a good way to identify, there are a number of late year "low comp" "Blue Top" engines that have 7 rib blocks. I have one that I finally blew.