Is there any way to know if an evo 8s block has been built or anything? previous owner Saud it's never been modded but I noticed arp exhaust studs and it looks like it had a different turbo at one point and exhaust. Im the third owner.

 

By opening your oil cap you can see some of the hardware used to tighten the head down, it wouldnt be too difficult to look for an ARP logo engraved on one of the head bolts/studs.

Also if you have any friends with a borescope you can take a look in one of your cylinders, factory evolution 8-9 pistons are distinct.

 

Thank you I will definitely do that tomorrow. It just seen really loud at idle for all stock internals. And the radiator fins are bent a little where the turbo is as if it's been off and on some times.

 

The other thing that's worth checking into is seeing where the car was registered previously and reaching out to some of the tuners in that area to see if they've seen the car at one point.

 

That's a great point it came from indiana and I can tell it had a tune at one point

 

So i checked today and my cams have the hollow hole but the bolts holding the cams down have tool marks as well as the head bolts. the head bolts have a raised dot on them. What do stock head bolts look like?

 

Here's a side view hopefully it helps you.

 

post some pictures. Hard tell just by reading...

 

Ya mine dont look like that. They are the normal 6 point bolt head. Next is to check to see if my pistons are stock. I hope it's built!

 

hope so

 

Pull the oil pan. You'll clearly see if there's pistons and rods that way.

Looking to see if there's arp headstuds does nothing to confirm if the bottom is built. 90% of these cars are studded without bottom end work.

 

Studs don't indicate a built motor, and even if you can see that it has aftermarket pistons, you still don't know if the rods were changed. Only way to know if you're safe to push past the accept safe torque limits of the stock block is to pull the oil pan and look at the rods..

 

Good info, and if the previous owner said it was never modified, an easy and inexpensive way to verify if it has been modified can start by looking inside of the head to see if in fact you have factory head bolts or studs. If you see factory bolts there's a very high probability the rest of your engine is stock and you don't have to progress any further. If you're going to change your oil, and you're already there you might as well just pull the pan to check.