Looking For Suitable Rebuilt Engines

By Douglas White


If your vehicle suffers a breakdown the problem can sometimes be very serious and having an auto technician carry out repairs will not rectify the fault. With major failures you may find you need to replace components or the complete motor and this is going to be costly. A cheaper alternative is to look for suitable rebuilt engines and it is useful to do some research on the available options.

When the problem is a minor one the solution may be to replace part of the motor such as the engine block or cylinder head. A manufacturers brand new unit will cost thousands of dollars and changing components is a much cheaper option. Some parts will cost from a couple of hundred dollars and will increase to thousands for complete rebuilds.

Most auto repair shops will offer a service where they are able strip down and rebuild an engine and you should do some shopping around to get the best possible deal. Another option is to check the internet where a lot of suppliers will have ready to fit motors in stock. This can often be a practical solution as it will avoid having to send away your damaged unit.

The specialist firms that carry out motor rebuilds will usually offer a time based or mileage warranty. This may be a three to five year guarantee or ten to one hundred thousand miles and you should select the one that best suits your vehicle usage. When guarantees are offered any future mechanical work should be done by the rebuilding company to keep them valid.

Having a motor rebuilt is a very cost effective way to get a vehicle up and running but it can also affect the future value. Many car clubs will disqualify a car that is not original and will not accept them into a classic car show. Your insurance company will also need to be informed of the mechanical changes.

A reconditioned power plant for most vehicles should be fairly simple to source and will cost between one and five thousand dollars. If your vehicle is rare or vintage then sourcing a reconditioned engine may be more difficult and costly. There are a large number of motoring clubs which are a good place to get information and advice on mechanical work you plan to do.

If your old power unit has to be sent away to be rebuilt there are some important things to consider such as who will remove it and how it will be shipped. Some amateur auto mechanics will be able to extract an engine but the better option is to use the services of a trained auto technician. Some specialist tools and lifting tackle will be required and health and safety procedures need to be followed.

Couriers will price their carriage according to the gross weight of your package to be sent and shipping an engine by road can be expensive. Some companies will include the shipping in the final cost of the rebuild and this is a good money saving option. When sending a motor by road make sure that everything is well protected with the correct type of shipping crate.




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