Replace the engine - best value

[wrcsixeight]

I bought my '89 dodge b250 van with 126k miles.<br /><br />At 131k miles the overdrive went, taking the a-500 transmission with it.<br /><br />That hurt to the tune of 2800$ while passing through Santa Barbara.<br /><br />At 172 k miles the 318/ 5.2l engine's power and economy took a dive and a compression test revealed 2 adjacent cylinders read equal, and low. &nbsp;One head was cracked and i chose to have the whole thing rebuilt at that time. &nbsp;$2550 with a new radiator &nbsp;and a junkyard head.<br /><br />At 186k miles I had learned a lot more about all things mechanical, and replaced the camshaft and lifters myself due to excessive valve train noise. &nbsp;The receipt said they installed a reconditioned camshaft(?), but it appeared to me as if they just put new roller lifters on the old roller camshaft.<br /><br />This of course has me questioning all the other cost cutting measures the rebuilders employed, such as steel freeze plugs instead of brass, and cheap exhaust manifold bolts instead of grade 5 or 8 studs. &nbsp;They also set the timing improperly, which is very simple to set correctly to the right specs listed on the sticker under the hood.<br /><br />I now have 26k miles on the rebuild, and have good power, oil pressure and as good economy as can be expected. &nbsp;It uses next to no oil between changes and runs so smooth at idle I always think it stalled. &nbsp;But I have replaced the water pump and 2 more radiators since, and my current one is seeping.<br /><br />I have no faith in the aftermarket parts available today since the great outsourcing boom. &nbsp;Even names with good reputations, like Moog suspension components are now highly suspect.<br /><br />If I had to do &nbsp;it over again, I would avoid aamco, and probably would have bought a reman'd engine from a known quality rebuilder and had it professionally installed. Though today if I had the facilities and tools I could install it myself.

 

[oldsoul]

Yeah i know what you mean. Alot of the stuff they make now is pure junk. The really good parts are super expensive if you can get them. I bought 3 brand new starter relays before i found one from a junkyard for 10 bucks (Original Motorcraft) that worked on my Ford.Sometimes your better off buying a new engine with a warranty. Machine work is so expensive now<br />and that with crazy prices for parts makes it worthwhile to consider a Reman engine with a warranty.

 

[offroad]

Third party quality of car parts is really suspect. I like original Toyota parts because there quality is outstanding. Talked to a Toyota factory engineer who told me that their measurement tolerences are ten times tighter than Ford or other manufacturers. This is required of all suppliers, who regularly get parts rejected for not meeting tolerance.&nbsp;

 

[highdesertranger]

i agree the quality of parts from parts stores has gone way down.&nbsp; i have had problems with all kinds of aftermarket parts starters, alternators, switches, light bulbs, water pumps, etc,etc.&nbsp; also those rebuilt engines from major part house's use low quality parts,&nbsp; even some rebuilder's use cheap parts.&nbsp; you really have to watch what you buy.&nbsp; it helps you, &nbsp;the buyer in the long run to let the person at the parts store know that you want the best quality part.&nbsp; tell them this to begin with before you buy.&nbsp; they know if they are having problems ie allot of returns etc.&nbsp; this will not work at the major chains because most of the people that work there don't care or don't know the differance between a spark plug or an o2 sensor.&nbsp; they just give you the part thats in stock that thier computor tells them to sell.&nbsp; thats why i deal with small independant part stores or napa at least most of the time the people that work there have a clue.&nbsp; btw it's not just car parts that the quality has gone way down it is almost everything and we only have us to blame by wanting everything cheaper in price the manafactures that make a quality product can not survive so they start selling the junk products too.&nbsp; its an ugly downward spirol we are in and most of this junk is made in china.&nbsp; ok i'll stop ranting.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[Ballenxj]

Third party quality of car parts is really suspect. I like original Toyota parts because there quality is outstanding.

<br />I agree! I had a Toyota Starlet (remember those?) that was in need of an engine, and I bought one from one of those guys that brought used Japanese engines over from Japan. I never had a bit of trouble with it, and it was pretty fast too. Never leaked a drop of oil either. Can't say that about any of the rebuilt engines I bought. <br />

btw it's not just car parts that the quality has gone way down it is almost everything and we only have us to blame by wanting everything cheaper in price the manafactures that make a quality product can not survive so they start selling the junk products too.&nbsp; its an ugly downward spirol we are in and most of this junk is made in china.&nbsp; ok i'll stop ranting.

&nbsp;<br />Why stop? You hit the nail right on the head here. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" /> <br />-Bruce