The new engine also deserves a new air and oil filter, new spark plugs and plug wires (if equipped).ĭon’t reuse the serpentine belt if it is more than five years old or has more than 50,000 miles on it. A new thermostat is an absolute must, along with new coolant and a new water pump (if a water pump does not come with the engine). If the radiator and heater hoses are more than 10 years old, throw them in the trash and replace them with new ones. Flushing the radiator and the ATF oil cooler in the bottom or side of the radiator will help assure good cooling performance. The reliability of the engine you are installing will depend on the reliability of the cooling system. You’re also in business to sell parts, so during the disassembly, pay close attention to the condition of the motor mounts, belts, hoses, spark plug wires, radiator, cooling fan, exhaust manifolds and pipes, engine ground straps, starter, alternator, power steering pump and hoses, A/C compressor and hoses, and anything else that has to be unbolted, disconnected or removed to replace the engine. But that’s good, because labor is what you’re in business to sell. Replacing an engine obviously involves a lot of labor. Many crate engines are sold as performance upgrades for stock engines. It usually has a new block, cylinder heads, crankshaft, rods, pistons, camshaft, lifters, pushrods, valves, valve springs, rocker arms, oil pump and other parts. Best of all, most reman engines carry a warranty.Ī crate engine, by comparison, is essentially a brand new engine. Cylinder heads and the deck surfaces on the block are resurfaced to assure a good seal. The camshaft and lifters may also be replaced depending on their condition. If the cylinders are worn, they are bored to oversize and fitted with new pistons. Parts that usually suffer the most wear such as bearings, rings, valve springs, exhaust valves and the oil pump are often replaced. Same for a bad crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rods, pistons, lifters or other parts.Ī remanufactured engine is one that has been reconditioned to like-new conditions. Cracked cylinder heads may have to be replaced. Having a customer’s old engine overhauled or rebuilt is always an option, but the cost of machine work, parts, cleaning, disassembly and reassembly labor often exceed the cost of a remanufactured engine or even a brand new crate engine. Most salvage yards won’t guarantee the condition of the engine, nor will they pay for labor if the motor turns out to be a bad one. There’s no way to know what kind of use or abuse a used engine has suffered. Even if an engine has low miles on it, there’s no way if the previous owner changed the oil regularly. Why not just drop in a used engine? Because used engines are always a risk. The cost of major repairs is often as much or more than the cost to replace the engine. Problems that typically require engine replacement include engine wear and damage resulting from low oil pressure, no oil pressure or contaminated oil, severe overheating caused by loss of coolant or a failed head gasket, loss of compression due to worn or burned valves, or a burned piston, etc. But if the owner scrimps on regular fluid, oil and filter changes, neglects the coolant, never changes the spark plugs, or ignores little problems, it may lead to premature engine failure. Most engines will go quite a few miles with proper maintenance. That means there’s a growing opportunity to install a remanufactured engine in a customer’s vehicle if their original engine or transmission has reached the end of the road. With new car sales down, people are keeping their vehicles longer and racking up more miles on their engines.
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