I'm using an AC forklift motor for one of my builds.
As to this particular motor, I have no advice.
Generally, I would think that AC motors would be even more bulletproof that DC motors, since you don't have to worry about the whole brush and commutator end of things, which is not only exposed to the elements, but relatively fragile with lots of things that could corrode or go wrong.
AC induction motors are about as simple and robust as it comes, so, picking a motor blindly is probably a safe bet. Depends on how active the scrapper culture is in your country. In most modern developed countries, we throw all kinds of things away that work perfectly fine, just because no one wants to put the effort into salvaging them, or, because they don't want the liability. In Canada I would say, blindly, a random AC motor has a 98% chance of being perfectly fine. In Cuba, I'd say if no one else wanted it, it's certainly trashed beyond repair and that's the reason you had the opportunity to salvage it.
The encoder might be damaged. The bearings might be rusted (cheap and easy to repair). I guess the shaft might be bent? Not likely.
As to how big it is, depends on what you're trying to move and how fast. I think my motor weighs 255 lbs, and I'd say it's inappropriately too big for my vehicle (the original 1.9L engine with all the stuff on it only weighed 200lbs)
