Rebuild or Buy New?

[GlassAndMarrow]

I have a '92 Talon AWD TSI. I have posted before about an oil leak and now it has caused a major problem. Coming home on the interstate the car locked up and shut down. There was not a drop of oil in the car and the oil that was supposed to be in the car was all over the driver side. I took the top end apart and it is not seized in the top. I'm going to look into the bottom end next. But I was wondering if I should just rebuild the old motor, which ran fantastic, or to just buy a new motor? I don't treally have the cash for a new motor but I don't want to rebuild a motor that is just going to crap out on me in the near future. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[architechnik]

If the engine went so far as to lock up, there is likely significant damage. It truly is a gamble at this point, where it is uncertain whether you can use any of the parts in the engine. It certainly is disconcerting when you pay a machine shop to find that it's worthless.

At this point, I would suggest investigating all your options and what would be the most aligned with your goals. Are you just looking to get back on the road or are you looking for future upgrades?

You could dismantle the thing and have a machinist look at it to find if you can do a rebuild and what's needed or you could buy a new bottom end or buy a used one with everything in tact (just to get back on the road).

I bought a used one a year ago because it was my only transportation and now I'm looking to do a rebuild. It's nice to have the extra engine because I can work on it at my leisure instead of worrying about finishing it.

 

[92AWDHX40]

My block was from a car, for free, so i had no idea how it was, so i tore it apart and had a machine shop put it together. I did good because a guy there did work at his house too, still running strong after about 15 thousand miles.

 

[GlassAndMarrow]

Well I would like to do future upgrades in the future, but for right now I need to get it on the road.

 

[architechnik]

In that case, consider your local junkyard for one with a clean looking engine. If you're not sure how to check for a good engine (noticing oil leaks, bent valves, missing timing, etc) or if there is no yard or donor cars available then consider DSMGraveyard. They'll do the testing for good blocks and you can get either a long block (mostly complete) or short block (just the pistons and crank assembled). It's a relatively quick way to get back on the road and no waiting for additional parts or machine work.

 

[wannarace]

Sorry to hear that man! I had, roughly, the same thing happen to mine. My oil filter popped off. I don't know, it still confuses me to this day. I had a mechanic take a look at mine. Wasn't going to be cheap. Rebuilt head, chewed up pistons, and oil pump locked up. I actually found an engine for a good price with these guys. I'm pushing the crap out of it... say 21psi and runs fine. check em out...


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