building bottom end cheapr than buying new engine?

[shavers55]

Ok threw a rod a couple of weeks ago. Im wondering if i should just buy a new engine completely or just build my bottom end over. which would be cheaper? some engines ive found in my area are priced around 600-800 on average. also a guy in my area is selling a 95 rs for 600 no title. i was thinking of just buying that car and using the engine along with associated parts and swapping onto my car. the car just has a smashed windshield and the body is a little messed up. i was thinking if i was to buy that car for 600 i could just swap my body parts onto the car i just bought. super super super confused. also being the fact that i have a full time job and im a full time college student with a wife, 2 kids, and a dog, i wont have that much time to do what i need to do maintenance wise. SUPER CONFUSED AND FRUSTRATED please help with advice

 

[dsmspick]

Question is if you threw a rod did it go through the block? Next ask your self, do I have the time to tear it all apart and rebuild it. Much faster to buy another motor and drop it in. But I don't know if you have another car to drive or the garage space to work on your car. I'm just saying there are more that factor into this. If it is a DD then I probably just try to find a lowish miles motor and put it in, and keep driving it.

 

[TSI_AWD_FTW]

honestly, my machine work alone was about $800 dollars, not including the rods pistons and crank. But you should be able to grind your crank down, and get a bigger sized rod bearings and be golden for around $100 without labor.

 

[shavers55]

i somewhat have another car drive..i say somewhat due to the fact that its my wife's truck and she uses it to get to work and take the kids to and from school. ive been bumming a ride to work with a co-worker). My car was/is a daily driver and yes im trying to get it back on the road ASAP. the rod did go thru the block i have a whole on the bottom end sitting right behind my starter. if my head was unaffected which i dont know as i havent taken the engine out my car yet how much on average would it cost to build my bottom end with stock parts? how long would it take also.

 

[Technoklipz]

Find the proper motor and replace the one that threw a rod. Don't bother with rebuilding a new motor unless you have the time and money. You should be able to find a motor for less than a grand. Good luck!

 

[shavers55]

ok so rebuilding the motor is out of the question..now my next one is should i just buy that car that is untitled for 600(possibly less when i talk him down). it has 170k miles on it. my engine had 175k..im going to try and test drive it friday as i dont have classes then

 

[Technoklipz]

Only if you can't buy a new motor. You are looking at more insurance and taxes. It will cost more in the future and who knows what is wrong with that car. You might be digging yourself a hole. I would say not to worry about buying the other car. Just focus on finding another motor.

 

[ed1380]

block-100
Crank- 100
rods- 30 each
bearings, seals, gaskets- 100
time-priceless


or just get a longblock from a pullapart for $150 and replace the bearings/seals/gaskets. i would never buy a used running motor with the intentions of just throwing it in the car. You don't know the condition of it. It could already have bearing damage and spin a rod in 2k miles

 

[shavers55]

so finding another motor it is..thanks guys..issue resolved...im still mad though..

 

[whiteclaw95]

I personally would start with checking the compression on that engine that is in that car. If its good you might be better off going that route cause you can turn around and part the rest out (if you have the room) or have some salvage yard take it. Plus another good thing about getting the whole car is you can replace parts that you might have needed to replace. Alot of parts you can interchange

If you would choose to buy a used engine alone you will probably not hear it run until it is in your car and that could result in even more money spent. Either way you will bee down for a day or two one you get started

 

[shavers55]

I personally would start with checking the compression on that engine that is in that car. If its good you might be better off going that route cause you can turn around and part the rest out (if you have the room) or have some salvage yard take it. Plus another good thing about getting the whole car is you can replace parts that you might have needed to replace. Alot of parts you can interchange

If you would choose to buy a used engine alone you will probably not hear it run until it is in your car and that could result in even more money spent. Either way you will bee down for a day or two one you get started

that is true...thats the route i was thinking about going

 

[92AWDHX40]

I built mine before it took time parts were cheap, to me, but to othes maybe not. Great learning experience.