engine and drivetrain lost the engine options of replacing?

[Guest Anonymous]

I pulled the head and found a crack at #3 exhaust vavle leading to the coolant port. Had bad oil pressure probably from coolant in the oil ruining the oil and subsequently the mains. The engine is the original and has about 400,000 miles on it after several rebuilds. I think it is either time to get a real 2L engine used or rebuilt, or get a Metric mechanic 150HP unit and drop about $5k into it.

Car is about a 40foot car (looks OK from 40FT) has a good 5 speed limited slip dif big brakes MSD ignition new bilstein shocks fully rebuilt front suspension. Was a daily driver so everything works even a high end sound system with CD changer.

What are my options and maybe even cost estimates?

Thanks

[us4736]

john i have one with 100k on it. it runs fine 140# compression in each cylinder .i removed because i'am putting in a s14 m3 engine .it all yours for 500$ where do you live i'am in CT

[Guest Anonymous]

I should have thought about mentioning I am 3051 miles from Conticut in San Diego. Price seem fine but my goodness you are on the wrong coast.

John

[ryanOC]

that sounds like a deal

[RustyRocker]

Why don't you call Carl at La Jolla Independent? He has used (and I'm sure fairly cheap) '02 motors lying about. That way you can spend your real money building a proper motor or they can do it. Either way you have a working motor to get you around.

[TBBMW]

I could use an engine for my '75 project. What year model did this come from?

[TBBMW]

Hey! I could use an engine for my 75 project. What year model sis this engine come from? 140psi on all four cylinders sounds real good to me.

[TBBMW]

Hey! I could use an engine for my 75 project. What year model sis this engine come from? 140psi on all four cylinders sounds real good to me.

[Guest Anonymous]

Very good idea, Carl is about 20 minutes from here. He has seen my car more than one time. He just won't work on my electricals, he thinks all red 12 gage wires for everything is slightly confussing. Thanks

[SteveJ]

HOW do you loose and engine????

They are pretty dang big and hard to move.

Are you sure you didn't just ~misplace~ it?

Seriously,

You are in a position to think about what it is you want your car to be and what your budget is.

All-out racecar? Totally stock concours queen? Daily beater driver? Weekend toy?

Make a plan and stick with it.

As you have seen, there are complete, running motors out there for cheap. A straight swap is the fastest and cheapest route. $500 for a known good motor and budget in another $250 or so for incidentals that you will want to change while you have the motor out of the car.

The other extreme is to have a shop rebuild it. It is really easy to spend $1500 to $3000 on a shop built motor and install. Every little thing that must be taken off and cleaned or replaced will take time, and time IS money. Also, you will be at the mercy of their schedule. You will know what you are getting, and you will have something to fall back on if there should be a problem. Good engine builders each have their own followers. Meet with a couple or three builders and discuss your needs and see if you two agree on what the finished product should be. Carl Nelson at LaJolla, Rob Torres at 2002Haus, Jack Fahuna at JFPro, Bill Holmes out in Ramona...all good.

If you have the time and the desire(not a whole gob of skill needed, just follow the steps. Even I did one.), you can get a rebuilt head and then rebuild the rest of the motor yourself. While it may not be as cheap or fast as the $500 swap, for a fraction of what you spend at the shop you will know what you have and get the satisfaction of building it yourself.