eBay engine rebuild services

[sierraman]

Has anyone any experiences if EBay based engine rebuild services? Are you likely to get your old engine back repainted with 4 cans of STP chucked in?

[Squire_Dawson]

I wouldn't do it; I'd find a good machine shop near you, preferably a member of the FER, or alternatively do it yourself (but you'll still have to send the crankshaft and block etc away for inspection and possibly machining).

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I think you're more likely to get someone else's engine back. Possibly before they've even noticed it's missing .

I once phoned one of these dodgy looking ads on ebay for a 2.2 DCi (I know ,I really fucking know) the comedy accented ,stereotype Eastern gangster promised me 'very good,low miles,guaranteed,from Germany engine £1,000 pick up in one week' this was complete with turbo,clutch everything. I declined his kind offer, I suppose it would have done someone a favour,at least if the insurance believed someone would actually steal an Espace.

The small print on these recon* operations always mentions that you might get a different engine.

[sierraman]

I only ask as a pal had his timing belt go, sent it to have engine rebuilt at this place advertised on eBay, arrived back it runs again but is leaking oil profusely out from between the block and head, as it was before despite the ad saying they were putting new rings, oil pump etc in...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Flipping heck, that is defo one service I would NOT buy off eBay!

[sierraman]

Can of Wynns Stop Leak then...

[cort16]

Even buying engines off eBay is ropey. My local garage did an engine swap on a corsa and the customer bought the recon engine from eBay. They swapped it out and when they started it up it was rattling like a bastard. Called the place up and they said, oh we'll exchange it but that doesn't cover the labour of swapping the engine . They sent another one, put it in and it was hosing oil out the crank seal. The lad got so pissed off he ended up weighing it in after forking out to have 2 engines fitted.

[Bren]

I would never, ever have a secondhand motor unless i had seen / heard it running first.

 

I have been bitten - a good while ago i bought a 2300 SD1 - good body with knackered motor - smoke, knocking - somebody had hammered it.

 

A local SD1 "specialist" swapped the six pot for a V8 that smoked even worse than the six. I pulled the heads, one cylinder had a large gouge down the wall, but bizarrely, a new head gasket. So they knew it was fooked but fitted it anyway.

 

A secondhand V8 short motor with new bearings etc that had started to rust on its working surfaces - it smelled of anti freeze - somebody had more than likely pulled it apart while it still held coolant.

[dome]

I would never, ever have a secondhand motor unless i had seen / heard it running first.

 

 

Exactly the way to do it.

 

After a slight electrical problem in a Saab 9000 I had (conrod through the alternator...) I had to source a new engine. Various specialists promised a low mileage engine with a guarantee* for ridiculous amounts-I'd have been cheaper buying a car.

Ended up finding a car breaking near Aberdeen. Drove up from Glasgow (in a £50 106 with MOT and Tax measurable on a stopwatch), heard the engine running in the still complete car, ripped it out and fitted it easily* in the back of the 106 for an exciting drive back to Glasgow. 

 

Too old for that kind of shit now though. Maybe.

[Spiny Norman]

Apart from the obvious risk of buying an expensive door stop, I'd far rather get it done locally and A) Help keep a local engineering works in business, and B )  Have somewhere to go back to in case it goes a bit Pete Tong and you have to get shouty.

[mercrocker]

Plus one to all of the above....I have never had ANY luck EVER with "recon" engines, the more you spend and the more they say they do* to it the harder the disappointment and Tourette display that ensues.  My own trail of  disappointment up till now has included A Series, straight six and DOHC Fords and small block Chevy - all from so-called reputable experts.   Strangely enough, my Bedford CF, VW T25 and Cowley have all come to me with previously fitted recons and have  been sound as a pound (well, not sure about the Growley, yet...) so maybe its just  my bad.   Whatever, hear the bastard run (for a long time, if possible) would be my watchword.

[Inspector Morose]

On the subject of recon engines, any commercial types on here know where I can get my hands on a recon cummins C series for the bus I blew up earlier this month?

 

As you were.

[Bobthebeard]

Ahh, the murky pond that is 'engine reconditioners'. On t'internet.

One of those types of businesses that oily chancers in rigger boots can set up easily and quickly when they have totally failed at everything else! By the time the complaints reach unmanageable levels they will go bankrupt and do it all again.

Possibly.