Used Auto Parts Florida

Q.I was quoted $3500 to rebuild my engine on my Sable. Is that too much? It has 72,000 miles on it. In great shape, otherwise. I might be able to line up a mechanic who'll put a new or reconditioned engine in at a bargain rate. Should I go that route? If so, where can I buy the engine? Here's a little history: There was an anti-freeze leak. It was coming out the tailpipe. The mechanic replaced a cracked head, motor mount, some hoses, timing cover gasket set, water pump and wires for $1500. He later said it needed a crank kit, but had already put the thing together. For $1900 he'd do the kit. But I thought I might be better off to just have the "long block" done, since I doubt I'd be able to replace that calibre of a car (not that it's that high of a calibre) within the next 10 years.

A.Well it was probably back in 97 or 98 that the head gaskets in the replacement engine for my car blew- since then no more of that trouble so far... I like the engine myself. Could use a little more low end torque but blows my 4-cyl LeBaron away.... not that that's hard to do. Supposedly (from imperfect memory) the dealer couldn't understand why the original engine went kablooey after the head gaskets were replaced. Me I think after reading other stories here in the NG that it had something to do with the head gaskets blowing, but the fact remains that even though the ones on the replacement engine blew, so far it's doing nicely, but then again it's a low mileage car. A survey was done here last month I think, where everyone wrote in with their 3.8 story, good or bad. There were certainly quite a few bad stories but some good ones too. I kept mental track and I think mine was pretty much the worst out of the bunch, head gasket-engine replacement-head gasket all under 50,000 miles. So mine represents the worst end of the spectrum. Some folks had 170k+ and not one bit of problems yet. All depends on how bad you want to keep that car I guess and if the money spent on it could get you another car that you'd be as happy with. You sound like you're pretty fond of it, if it were me and I felt the same way I'd probably go for it if I had the money for a full rebuild. Me, I feel fine with my Sable and I am not worried that it's going to go bad again (well, the engine anyway). Since things will be checked out while the engine is apart (if you get a full rebuild), that would stave off any potential problems. As far as this business about 'only' a year guarantee.... I think if this is an independent shop that a one year warranty sounds reasonable, be hard I'd think for a small buisness owner to stick his neck out too far, that's a heck of a lot of work imo to gurantee for much longer than that. There's no guarantee about how the customer is going to treat that engine! By the way AutoZone lists a 3.8L for 1576.99 (I don't know that it was available, but it was listed) and it was a one year warranty just as I expected. I tried a Yahoo search and most all the hits I got back for rebuilt engines mentioned a one year warranty. Now I will admit one place, rebuilt engines.com, had a three year warranty for a $1800 rebuild 3.8. engine-transmission.com offered 6 months on used engines and one to three year options on rebuilt ones. I once bought a used 318 Mopar V8 engine from an big and well known local used auto parts place when I lived in Florida and IIRC it was guaranteed for maybe 90 days, which is what most sites I hit that had used engines stated. So I think your options sound reasonable, although a bit pricey, 'course these prices I quoted are for an engine in a crate, not in a car *s*. (Whatever I paid in 1982 for that RWD engine installed is totally irrelevant obviously so there's no point in trying to remember what I paid- things were simpler and cheaper in those days but IIRC it was only $800 or so- I wonder what that translates to in today's federal diplomas).

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