To rebuild by ones self, or to get someone else to do it?
I am hesitant to post on this thread since the OP is probably already done with his rebuild, but here it goes:
I think it all depends on your goal. My goal is to have a budget sports car that I can drive in the summer time. I am aiming for a bone-stock good looking, fun to drive car. This is the route I took:
-$200 dollar junk yard motor with 30k on the clock. I cleaned it and saw that the internals appear to be in good shape. I am spec-ing out the parts for acceptable tolerance, but I am confident it is fine. The only tough part is that the coolant passages need a very good cleaning. I am not reusing any of the sensors/alternator/pumps. I will use the working ones from the engine currently in the car and keep these on standby if the ones I know for sure work, fail.
-$987 dollar rebuild kit. I am going to just reuse the main/rotor bearings, keep in mind I am doing this with basic hand tools in a small garage. The only special tools I have are my engine hoist, some dial calipers, feeler gauges, and a couple other things I will need to buy for the engine spec. Yes, I understand that these should be replaced by having them pressed in with a hydraulic press, but the engine was a low mileage motor and I will not be racing. Plus, I really want to do this all myself.
-$80 FSM. From what I hear it is essential. I did a complete tear down of the junkyard motor and an engine pull of the old motor with a Haynes manual. I wanted the FSM for details regarding engine assembly and wear specs.
I have never done anything more than service brakes and exhaust before this. It is all new to me, but I go slow and read as I go.
Also, don't forget the other things that may need replaced, like a catalytic converter or brakes, etc, etc. I think that if you are patient, you can do a good engine rebuild for $1500 yourself, but I am well into spending very close to that and will likely go over with the tools I buy and the mistakes I will probably make.
I think it all depends on your goal. My goal is to have a budget sports car that I can drive in the summer time. I am aiming for a bone-stock good looking, fun to drive car. This is the route I took:
-$200 dollar junk yard motor with 30k on the clock. I cleaned it and saw that the internals appear to be in good shape. I am spec-ing out the parts for acceptable tolerance, but I am confident it is fine. The only tough part is that the coolant passages need a very good cleaning. I am not reusing any of the sensors/alternator/pumps. I will use the working ones from the engine currently in the car and keep these on standby if the ones I know for sure work, fail.
-$987 dollar rebuild kit. I am going to just reuse the main/rotor bearings, keep in mind I am doing this with basic hand tools in a small garage. The only special tools I have are my engine hoist, some dial calipers, feeler gauges, and a couple other things I will need to buy for the engine spec. Yes, I understand that these should be replaced by having them pressed in with a hydraulic press, but the engine was a low mileage motor and I will not be racing. Plus, I really want to do this all myself.
-$80 FSM. From what I hear it is essential. I did a complete tear down of the junkyard motor and an engine pull of the old motor with a Haynes manual. I wanted the FSM for details regarding engine assembly and wear specs.
I have never done anything more than service brakes and exhaust before this. It is all new to me, but I go slow and read as I go.
Also, don't forget the other things that may need replaced, like a catalytic converter or brakes, etc, etc. I think that if you are patient, you can do a good engine rebuild for $1500 yourself, but I am well into spending very close to that and will likely go over with the tools I buy and the mistakes I will probably make.
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NickNac113
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Oct 1, 2015 09:25 PM