Buying Rebuilt Engines As A Cost Effective Solution

By Angela Allen


When a car breaks down the problems can often be serious and having a mechanic simply carry out repairs will not solve the fault. If it is a major failure you may need to replace components of the engine and this can sometimes be costly. A more cost effective way is to locate rebuilt engines as opposed to a new factory made unit.

If the entire unit is not too badly damaged, replacing just the engine block, crank casings or the head can solve the problem. A factory made unit can run into many thousands of dollars, so replacing the broken components could save you a lot of money. Replacement spares will range in price and will depend on which components are required to fix your particular faults.

Local repair shops in your neighborhood may offer a rebuilding service and you can ask them how much they charge and look for the best deal. The internet now also offers a solution as there are companies trading that can ship a ready to go engine or block. You will not need to send them your damaged block and in some cases this may be a better way to get repairs done.

The companies who carry out these rebuilds will offer a time based or mileage guarantee with their reconditioned units. This will usually be 3 to 5 years often 10 to 100 thousand miles and you should select the one that best suits your car usage. When a warranty is offered any future repairs on the motor will need to be done by the original firm to keep the guarantees valid.

Using the option of a full rebuild is more friendly on your pocket but it may affect the future resale value of your car. It is also worth noting that if you intend to enter a car into a show it might be disqualified for not running with an original engine. Your car insurers will need to be told of any major changes if they keep your engine numbers on file.

For most popular cars, a rebuilt engine will vary in price from around 1500 dollars rising to 6000. A power plant for an older vehicle and rare cars will be significantly more as they are harder to source and specialist knowledge is required. A motoring club or vehicle organization will be happy to offer any advice on work you plan to do to a classic car.

If the old unit has to be sent away there are some things to consider such as who will remove it and how you are going to ship it. Some amateur mechanics will be qualified to take out an engine but a better option is to have a professional to do this. Specialist tools will be required and the correct lifting equipment should be used to avoid any injury.

When calculating the cost of shipping your engine, bear in mind that parcels are charged according to their gross weight. A large number of the reconditioning firms often offer free carriage and this can save a great deal of money. Always check that all of the parts you are sending are correctly packaged in a proper crate and that all the packages are covered by a goods in transit insurance policy.




About the Author: