I came across a merc 525 needs rebuild. bore, crank all standard. They guy calmed it will clean up around .03 has cam timing cover and timing chain, gen 6 block. No droped valves rebuild seems to buy needed due to water ingestion likely a leaky header from what I've noticed here on the site unknow hours. My question is how much should I be in to this just to have the short block complete not including labor for assymbly ? . What would you guys be willing to pay. Also why does there seem to be so many used 525 h beam rods forsAle with sellers claiming low run time? Is there any issue with reusing stock 525 rods. What's y'all's take on using quality used pistons lots of things in swap shop.

The rods in the swap shop need $250 or so worth of work to be useable. For less money you can get brand new eagle or scat rods.

lil red what about the pistons and lifters listed by the same seller? Should I expect the same amount of work \ money to be needed for the rods in the engine I'm looking at buying?

So a shortblock is a rotating assembly, cam, and timing components. Add in a needed rebuild, I wouldn't value it over what a worn block and crank would cost.....

This.

And if it needs bored, add in new pistons/rings, new bearings for the rebuild, may as well throw in a set of lifters while its apart and not knowing the hours. You're still out a set of heads (unless you have a set already)....see where im going with this. Its basically a 502 with a nice cam in it (maybe?) that needs rebuilt.

Are you close enough to it to yank the oil pan off the make sure theres no bearings hanging out of it? Or connecting rods? lol

Yes a "short block" is just that.+ Has cover, chain and cam. Nothing more nothing less. No pan no lifters no heads. Since 502 blocks are hard to come by aroun here around here and new on would cost 1,800 from the prices I've seen. I think I'll answer my question as I usually do. I can get the short block just a few hundred. I'll have a good used crank to turn rods to reuse. New pistons rings and bearings and I'm on my way. I'm close enough to look it over before hand. I clearly stated the block was in need of a rebuild so obviously it will need to bored, bearings rings, crank turned ext..... So just how much does a worn 502 block coast? To get shiped my way around 1000 - 1200 not even seeing it first. Then couple hundred on a forged crank + rods.

Typo * I can get the short block for a few hundred more than the cost of a new block. Damn beers.....

also keep in mind that if you buy a new block it may still need to be final honed,align bored or at least checked and square decked and final washed.now that used block starts looking better.almost forgot,cam bearings and freeze plugs.