Since the last thread was so successful, I decided to see if I could find another pot of gold with this thread. Mike, if you have any more article links, I would love to have them.

The plane I am going to pre-buy this week has a relatively high time engine. I realize that the answer to this question varies somewhat with engine type/make/model, but in general terms, what are some of the major checkpoints one should hit when trying to determine the state of the engine, and if it stands a chance of hitting TBO vs falling apart the day after you purchase? I want to be there and to make sure my IA does what I need and want, and while I do trust him as an IA, I don't truly trust anyone, so I want my own list to compare against.

For the sake of argument, lets narrow this topic to typical 100LL burners, typically found on single-engine aircraft. Nothing trubine or exotic.