Engine Rebuild?

lb1

Shopping around for a second hand car at the moment and Ive come across a few ads that mention things like "recent engine rebuild" or "new engine". Should I run a mile from these or can this actually be a good thing?

Henry Ford III

They can be a very good thing.

A properly rebuilt engine can be just as good as a new one (but the opposite is also true). Look for a copy of the receipt and check out the builders rep.

A replacement lump can also be a good thing if it's fresh. You need to know whence it came though, and it's mileage.

Proving these things can be tricky.

Max Headroom

Its all right buying a car with a new engine fitted..but chances are everything else on the car is still "old"..i.e brakes , shocks ,bushings etc....

Tea drinker

Some people tell lies
A new engine might be a few new parts, not a fully reconditioned unit.

johndaman66

Generally speaking it would be a good thing but having said that its usually a bad idea to generalize:p

A lot will be down to the competence of who rebuilt the engine and the budget which they may have being working to. For example as a general rule across the board head bolts need to be replaced on a modern engine anytime the head is taken of and replaced then the head bolts should be changed. If the job was low budget and this was overlooked then you may be looking at more engine repairs in the near future. Furthermore I would be looking at the reason for the rebuild. If for example it was due to a snapped or slipped timing belt I might be a wee bit weary. Considerable engine damage might be caused in this scenario. In a sixteen valve engine where everything is quite close together as opposed to an eight valve engine you could quite often end up with bent and broken valves. Was talking to a mechanic some time back who rebuilt a mondeo sixteen valve engine where the timing belt snapped. He had to replace all sixteen valves which were 60 quid a pop. You could see how the costs quickly mount up here considering other parts will invariably need to be replaced also. In such a case you could see how there might be an inclination to reuse some valves that were only slightly bent or perhaps try to straighten them out again. In particular if the intention is to sell on the car soon after.

Furthermore you would need to question what constitutes an engine rebuild as everybody's perception is somewhat different I'm sure. I know many would call a headgasket job an engine rebuilt when in reality it is only a top end rebuild.

An Ri rua

I had a timing belt go on a 2.0 16v Xantia. same engine as the 406 coupé. 14 out of 16 valves were bent. Sigh..........

Had the engine rebuilt by top guys in Offaly, serious reputation, and when I finally got the car to its NCT, the technicians were all gathered around the screens trying to figure out why the emissions were so low!!

I sold it about 4 months after, worse thing I ever did. Kept a diesel but should have kept the re-worked engine. Magic car. Like brand new. You could feel the increase in power over the previous engine status.

If you get solid paperwork, its a great buy, I would say. Unless the cause of the engine demise means that the owner/s generally didn't maintain the carwell. Then run a mile

johndaman66

An Ri rua wrote: »

I had a timing belt go on a 2.0 16v Xantia. same engine as the 406 coupé. 14 out of 16 valves were bent. Sigh..........

Had the engine rebuilt by top guys in Offaly, serious reputation, and when I finally got the car to its NCT, the technicians were all gathered around the screens trying to figure out why the emissions were so low!!

I sold it about 4 months after, worse thing I ever did. Kept a diesel but should have kept the re-worked engine. Magic car. Like brand new. You could feel the increase in power over the previous engine status.

How much was the job can you recall An Ri Rua? Not cheap I'm sure but then again if your going to go through with a job like that you would want to do it right or not do it at all. I suppose consideration should be given to the overall condition of the car, its age and how well it was maintained, and how much you would pick up a similar one for. It can be tough call though. The worst thing would be to do a job like that though and have a gearbox or clutch croak it a few months down the line. That would really wreck my head:)

Esel

If the car has a replacement engine, make sure it's details are officially entered on the reg cert/tax book.

lb1

What about cam belts and timing belts. Would they normally be replaced at an engine rebuild?

Bigus

lb1 wrote: »

What about cam belts and timing belts. Would they normally be replaced at an engine rebuild?

That's the whole question as regards a proper rebuild.
Don't forget a new engine doesn't mean a whole new car, in fact if it needed a new engine the rest of it could well be shot too.

Tea drinker

lb1 wrote: »

What about cam belts and timing belts. Would they normally be replaced at an engine rebuild?

Absolutely, and a new water pump and oil pump too. Probably new hydraulic lifters Valve guides as well as the obvious bottom end boring honing, bearing shells etc. And all the little seals and stuff that can wear out over time....... and are very hard to reach later.

L-M

You'll very rarely find a replacement engine that's new, even if it's "new" it's more than likely rebuilt, and if it's just a replacement engine I'd be more cautious than you would normally be because you do not know the mileage on the engine. It's nice for the car to have it's origional engine, it's no major problem for it to have a replacement, but I'd be cautious. I'd also be asking questions as to why it was changed. (Especially with the recent flooding)

ianobrien

lb1 wrote: »

What about cam belts and timing belts. Would they normally be replaced at an engine rebuild?

I had an engine rebuild on a vintage car, and the new items that were changed as a matter of course were

• Big end bearings
• Little end bearings
• Cam bearings
• Complete gasket sets (iirc, there were over 20 geskets in the engine)
• Pistons
• Cam
• Valve Guides
• Valve Followers
• Valves
• Valve Seats
• Rocker Posts
• Water Pump
• Oil Pump
• Head Bolts
• Conrod Bolts
• Flywheel Bolts
• Mains Caps Bolts
• Clutch
• Engine Mounts
• Head & Block crack check
• Timing Chain
• Timing chain tensioner
• Cam Pully
• Starter Motor
• Alternator (sp)
• Distributor
• Carb

The engine took a week to build, as it was "dry" built a few times to check for tolerances/chearances in certain items at different times. The person who built the engine builds a few race engines a year, and I knew it was in good hands

galwaytt

Limerick man wrote: »

You'll very rarely find a replacement engine that's new, even if it's "new" it's more than likely rebuilt, and if it's just a replacement engine I'd be more cautious than you would normally be because you do not know the mileage on the engine. It's nice for the car to have it's origional engine, it's no major problem for it to have a replacement, but I'd be cautious. I'd also be asking questions as to why it was changed. (Especially with the recent flooding)

Sometimes though, a new engine can cost less the sum of it's parts. Consider that well known boat-anchor, the Mazda RF2.0 TD, as fitted to 6's, MPV's etc etc. Bought as parts, and fitted, you'd be looking at 6-7k. Bought just as an engine, brand new, in a box, it's 4.5k iirc. I know which I'd go for, tbh..........

Esel

ianobrien wrote: »

I had an engine rebuild on a vintage car, and the new items that were changed as a matter of course were

• long list snipped

I hope they replaced the main bearings too?

ianobrien

esel wrote: »

I hope they replaced the main bearings too?

Ya, I knew that I forgot somethings - The mains cap bearings were imported for the job. Also to be added to the list are the ignition leads, ballast resistor, rocker shaft plus more I've surely forgotten.

I remember allright the engine builder rejecting some of the work carried out by machine shops, and also sending the head to the UK for work. Also, the crank, rods & flywheel were balanced as part of the build.

Esel

What did all that work cost? :eek:

ianobrien

I gave up counting. All I can say it that Burton Power became my new best friend.

My point is that, to rebuild an engine properly, you're looking at inspecting/replacing quite a few parts if you want it done properly. I got another quote of 800 euro all in to do the job, and when I asked about retaining my engine block (for matching numbers) I got a non-committal grunt. He didn't get the work.