I've been trying to find a <$10k t5 c30 with the 6 spd manual in my area for around a year with no luck. Finally this week one popped up on my local craigslist. The only problem is, it doesn't have the original engine. The owner says a coolant hose popped off and before he realized, the engine overheated and warped. He has receipts of the used engine he bought from LKQ (from a wrecked c70 with 73,000 mi). He also has receipts from the shop who did the engine swap, which is the best volvo specialist in our area. The receipt is dated as august of 2022. This could be fine, and I know coolant leaks from near the thermostat and coolant tank are common. However, according to carfax, the owner bought the c30 in May of this year. So that means he bought it in May, replaced the engine in August and is already trying to sell it in Mid decemeber. Is this a red flag that he's selling it right after the engine swap was done? Is there anything I should do/ask from here? Should I get a pre purchase inspection and rely off that opinion?

 

If the work was done correctly, there's no difference in the risk of having a replacement engine vs the original - but either or both could have remaining issues. That said, I think for a 10K investment, spending 100-150 for a professional inspection is a good move. The carfax suggests the owner may have bought the car with the blown engine for cheap then got the swap done to flip the car. Dealers flip cars all the time given trade in values are way less than resale so I suspect the PO was looking to make some coin.