Hi-K Engine: Replace or Rebuild???

[Sanxta]

Well, the time has come to do something about the state of my 20V - it just don't go like it used too

Should I rebuild the engine or install a completley new (2nd hand) long block on low kms?

I'm a student on a tight budget, but who really cares

[deaf_rattle]

id say get a second hand engine and swap it, should take only a few hours. (allow a whole day, maybe weekend if you arent that expeienced)

will be alot cheaper than rebuilding, and with a low performance engine like a 20v there really is no need to spend money on a rebuild as they seem to be very reliable.

[Sanxta]

yeah thats prolly what im gonna go with, especially with a 6 month unlimited km warrranty.

just want something that's less worn out to get that compression backup to where it should be.

seeing as i will be paying someone to do the install, do you reckon it's still economic?

[Snoozin]

Chuck a new motor in it.... I did it to my car, it came with a 6 month warranty from Italian Autospares, I made sure they gave it a compression test etc. before I got it, and it has performed brilliantly.

Will still be cheaper than rebuilding, either way you're gonna be facing say, ballpark 1k for an engine (correct me if I'm way off) vs. bills getting up to the 3k mark if you pay someone else to rebuild it and then use good quality bits etc etc.

[event2]

but when ya rebuild ya get a new engin perty much isnt that worth the extra cash? u no al its history then cos its new!

[Zak]

The only complaint I have about my rebuilt red top, is that I have to run it in... It just wants to be thrashed

[Adamal]

If you just want to motor to run like new(ish), then I'd say drop in a new one.

If you're wanting to do a bitta modding and what not, like chucking in higher comp pistons yadda yadda, then rebuild the engine I'd say.

[blackie]

yeah,
you should probably just go for the cheaper option of finding a motor thats only done 70kms and putting that in.

but if you were to rebuild it would be better for peace of mind, and u could really give it some beatings.

but nah since ur a poor student, get a replacement motor. pretty reliable motors so shouldnt be a worry

[Sanxta]

yeah, i know what you mean, but just realised i have fixed a few things on my current motor (mostly to do with cooling system = expensive) so if i put in a second hand one i would loose all that work and new parts done in the past. grr i dunno what to do.

The only complaint I have about my rebuilt red top, is that I have to run it in... It just wants to be thrashed

how long are you meant to run it in for man?

[Lloyd]

You wont know the history of a 2nd hand one and it could just as easily shit itself as your current one could. With a rebuild you'll know exactly where you stand as far as the state of the engine is concerned.

[Sanxta]

You wont know the history of a 2nd hand one and it could just as easily sh*t itself as your current one could. With a rebuild you'll know exactly where you stand as far as the state of the engine is concerned.

zactly mate. think i am leaning towards this option quite heavily now!

[Sanxta]

Yo.

Who has done this with standard parts (new: rings, pistons etc) and whatever else needed doing (head skim, p&p etc)?

I need to rebuild mine and want a rough idea before I go ringing around the reconditioners.

I'm not really interested in a full rebuild, I just want to get my compression back up. So does anyone know how much labour (in hours) the rings and pistons would take roughly?

Cheers,
Adam

[Zak]

I had to run it in for a few weeks, but she go's like a horse on crack now

But it would be easier and cheaper to get a new motor if you can't do the labour your self.

You should only need to skim the head if it's warped, and there shouldn't be any need for a p&p.

All up it took about a week to rebuild my redtop. By we did all the work and we work at a garage do getting the block honed was free. All so got a nice little discount on parts

If your going to rebuild it though, replace every thing you can. eg. water pump, leads and the dizzy and any thing else that is on it's way out

[Sanxta]

hey cheers yeah i will did the eater pump a while ago but will def do the dizzy, already got newish leads too . . .

cheers for the help!

[Bling]

I would look at how long u want to own the car, if less than a year i'd probably put a new one in, if you have LONG term plans for keeping it, i'd rebuild it.