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In another thread I've cataloged the disassembly of the engine in my new-to-me 02 Aero. I figured I'd start another thread to talk about the pro/con of different engine scenarios for replacement:
option 1: the local pick-yourself
These guys charge $149 for a long block and an extra $50 for a 1-year warranty (the long block itself comes with a 30-day warranty)
Check it out, pull a couple of bearing caps, do a compression test and install it.
The downsides are:
option 2: rebuild the local pick-yourself
Option 1 but while it's out rebuild it... no need for the warranty since I'll replace a lot of the internal parts to bring it up to almost rebuilt status.
As I see it, if I can find a good salvageable block/head I can then throw in a new set of rings, main and rod bearings and a timing kit along with new gaskets, seals, etc. Essentially if I can find a good rotating assembly I end up with a pretty much rebuilt engine that should last a long, long time. I priced out all of the pieces at eeuroparts and that would add $650.
Total cost is probably about $850-$900
Downsides:
I've found a few B235R engines within an hour drive of here that I could go pick up for about $900-$1000. Some of them come from 04+ vehicles so I could have the benefit of the truly updated PCV system although I'm not sure that an old engine with PCV6 and regular synthetic changes isn't just as reliable. Here I'd not open it up and do any of the work, I'd try to get an engine at about 100K miles or less, but when they go lower than that the prices start to climb quite quickly. (is it really worth the extra $500 to get an engine with 80K instead of 108K, I'm not sure)
Most of the yards that do this have run compression tests on the engine and/or saw the engine running when it first came into their yard. i'm still going to have to buy a bunch of gaskets since many of these come without intake/exhaust manifolds, but those are nominal.
It' certainly easier for me to do this, just go pick it up. saves me a de-install out in the middle of a junkyard where if I forget a tool I'm somewhat screwed.
The downsides here are:
Option 4: Fix the one I have
i could easily take the engine I have to a machine shop, have the crank ground, put oversize bearings and pistons in it, get a couple of new valves to replace the bent ones, and get the head redone. Cost is probably $800 higher than option 2 or 3 since I have the extra machine time as well as a set of oversize pistons but a lower cost acquisition of the block/crank.
So thoughts? The car is sitting and I have my other cars to drive so it's not like I need this thing, although once I'm done with this I need to do the subframe bushings in the 03 Aero and it'll be nice to have this one as my daily while that one sits disassembled in the garage.
option 1: the local pick-yourself
These guys charge $149 for a long block and an extra $50 for a 1-year warranty (the long block itself comes with a 30-day warranty)
Check it out, pull a couple of bearing caps, do a compression test and install it.
The downsides are:
- I have to go get it myself. I figure a 4 hours to take it out of the junker, a 4 hours to take the engine out of mine and 4 hours to put it back.
- I'll probably have to pull the pan on the yard car just to make sure that I'm not pulling out a dead engine
- there's always the risk that I spend the time pulling the pan and find a sludged motor and have to start over on another one.
- I'm trusting an entirely unknown engine that was in a junkyard for a reason. (if I can find a car that is wrecked it may be more comforting than one that has a good body since the car is there for a reason!)
option 2: rebuild the local pick-yourself
Option 1 but while it's out rebuild it... no need for the warranty since I'll replace a lot of the internal parts to bring it up to almost rebuilt status.
As I see it, if I can find a good salvageable block/head I can then throw in a new set of rings, main and rod bearings and a timing kit along with new gaskets, seals, etc. Essentially if I can find a good rotating assembly I end up with a pretty much rebuilt engine that should last a long, long time. I priced out all of the pieces at eeuroparts and that would add $650.
Total cost is probably about $850-$900
Downsides:
- still have to go get it myself, same risks and downsides as option 1
- more time to do the rebuild (I do have an engine stand to do the work)
I've found a few B235R engines within an hour drive of here that I could go pick up for about $900-$1000. Some of them come from 04+ vehicles so I could have the benefit of the truly updated PCV system although I'm not sure that an old engine with PCV6 and regular synthetic changes isn't just as reliable. Here I'd not open it up and do any of the work, I'd try to get an engine at about 100K miles or less, but when they go lower than that the prices start to climb quite quickly. (is it really worth the extra $500 to get an engine with 80K instead of 108K, I'm not sure)
Most of the yards that do this have run compression tests on the engine and/or saw the engine running when it first came into their yard. i'm still going to have to buy a bunch of gaskets since many of these come without intake/exhaust manifolds, but those are nominal.
It' certainly easier for me to do this, just go pick it up. saves me a de-install out in the middle of a junkyard where if I forget a tool I'm somewhat screwed.
The downsides here are:
- the engine is really unknown, it could blow tomorrow (somewhat like option 1)
- probably less risk than option 1 because these cars were likely wrecked and the yards do witness them running and/or test the engines. But also a substantially higher cost than option 1.
Option 4: Fix the one I have
i could easily take the engine I have to a machine shop, have the crank ground, put oversize bearings and pistons in it, get a couple of new valves to replace the bent ones, and get the head redone. Cost is probably $800 higher than option 2 or 3 since I have the extra machine time as well as a set of oversize pistons but a lower cost acquisition of the block/crank.
So thoughts? The car is sitting and I have my other cars to drive so it's not like I need this thing, although once I'm done with this I need to do the subframe bushings in the 03 Aero and it'll be nice to have this one as my daily while that one sits disassembled in the garage.