PcktRkt

#1
PcktRkt
Registered User

PcktRkt is Online:
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pasadena CA
Posts: 28


My "90 NA convertible hasn't run in about 7 months. I need a new engine, not to mention at least a partial paintjob, and my leather seats reapholstered. My vinyl top could also use a little work. Despite all that it still looks pretty good. So instead of diong the right thing and getting the engine rebuilt for an estimated $1800, I went the cheap route and decided to have someone transplant a used engine for about $1100. Big mistake. A good used engine is seemingly impossible to come by around here. So after letting that guy bang around in there for a couple months, I took it to a nearby shop that was pretty confident they could find a good used engine. I didn't know what the last guy had done to it but I was pretty sure that rebuilding it was no longer an option. So this shop found an engine and quoted me a total price of about $1500. I decided to go for it. But they couldn't find a good one either. They supposedly have one now but for an extra $400. Oh and it's time to get a smog test too. What do you think, Is it worth it or should I just give up on it and cut my losses. I really love that car.
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O.E. Deuce-deuce

FirstRotaryExp

iTrader: (3)

If its going to cost you 1900 now to get an engine, just go ahead and get yours rebuilt. Save yourself the headache of getting the used engine, only for it to not last as long as you had hoped.

Denholm

I can't really tell you what to do.. but if you truely do love the car, and you can get it operational for not too much more money, i'd probably keep her. Plus it's no good just sitting there anyway

+1 to getting it rebuilt if it's going to cost you that much anyhow

SayNoToPistons

if you really love it. you wouldnt give up.

Secondmessiah

i agree that you should get it rebuilt rather than a transplant

but as far as if you should give up the car, you have to consider how much longer you will be able to use it, if you plan on keepign the car for the next 5 years, go ahead and rebuild, if you think you might sell it in the next two years, part it out

really consider how much use you'll get out of the investment, and what you want

beamer242

i little support.... i bought my car, an 89 vert. in december of 04. to be exact it was december 1st and the reason i know this is because i blew the motor december 8th. a week later..... not to happy since i spent 3k on the car. well i had decided that if i ever had motor problems i would rebuild it and do other things to it. so a month later i had it rebuilt, street-ported, and a couple of other things. i ended up spending 3k for all that just to get it back running..... i was very happy at the time the motor to this day is awesome.. well worth the money. (thanks Chris at Banzai Racing).

well that happiness only lasted a few months then i realized the auto tranny i had in it cant take power. well i had decided earlier that when i had tranny problems i was going with a 5spd conversion. and when i did a 5spd i would put in a stage 1 clutch and 11lb flywheel, and i was going to do the 4.10 lsd also. so that whole conversion cost me about 2k.

ok now i drive alot... i normally average about 20k miles + a year. i have had my car for a year and a half. bought it with 98k on it and it now has 111k. it was down probably a total of about 8-9 months in the year and a half that i have had it. i will never give up on it and i will continue to throw money at it. its always worth it.

Brian

ps sorry about the long story if you didnt want to hear it.

cdaleracer669

iTrader: (1)

this is an "enthusiast" forum. everyone wants you to keep it LOL

prjct87rx7

iTrader: (7)

i blew my motor twice. i havent gave up

twistedriver

I am just going to come out and say this. But you are lucky enough to be around so many well know rotary shop. Why even bother going to shop that can't even find you a known good engine? Mazdatrixs is the first one that comes to my mind. Good luck and keep the car!

rerun100

Go to Mazdatrix or Rotary Reliability....but it will cost you close to $4K for a proper rebuild. I had my NA rebuilt at RRR last February and have put 14k miles on it so far. I cannot recommend one over the other, though. Just FYI.

Boostmaniac

Get it rebuilt, it will last longer. Or just go ahead and do it yourself.