Engine Re-Fresh

[MojaveMadMan]

Plastigauge is a backyard, shadetree method of measuring clearance. Any Professional engine builder that can do justice to that Title, will measure everything with high quality (not harbor freight) Micrometers.

So, based on that I'd keep looking.

I don't see the plastic calipers in any pictures? So the guy said he is an engine builder for Performance MotorCar Investments: more power for your Porsche..... They do high end Porshe stuff and I am meeting him at the shop on Saturday. I had a long conversation with him and he seemed very knowledgable and was very straight forward... I didn't get a bad vibe from the guy, just seems like a guy who's project went a different direction (like me who has my bumpers for sale). I will ask about if they will offer a warranty on the work done. Per my conversation with him he said that for $1200 he would build it into a long block minus timing belt and water pump which are no biggie for me. From what I understand everything is new or been tested. Polished crank, new pistons, rings, rod bearings, etc. what am I missing here? Besides looking at the pictures and making guesses how can I actually test things to see if they are correct?

I like the idea of this one. I like the idea of putting it on a stand and working on it as I find time... Sure it would be great to buy a used motor and drop it by a shop myself, but that's a lot to buy a used motor then a whole lot more to have it rebuilt...

 

[02SE]

I don't see the plastic calipers in any pictures? So the guy said he is an engine builder

Plastigauge, is not plastic calipers.

You asked for thoughts, I gave you mine.

FWIW, I've built and rebuilt too many engines to count, over the years. At first, as an ASE Master Tech working on consumer cars, then just for myself and the occasional friend. The last 12 years in Professional Racing. As many as 8 engines during a race weekend.

The fact that this guy is proud enough of using Plastigauge, that he puts that fact in his ad, tells me all I need to know about him.

My opinion is an opinion you can choose to ignore if you like.

Good luck.

 

[MojaveMadMan]

No offense meant. Just trying to make fact based decisions and educate myself. Thank you for the explanation!

 

[02SE]

I'm not offended. I'm just busy going over data for the race weekend, and I don't have the time for long replies.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[MattJakobs]

Even with all the horror stories about JDM, there's also been a few success stories which is why I pulled the trigger on one yesterday. I saw you said you were afraid to buy one because they may not take care of it well but that can happen just as easily here. I have two dead cylinders (hence the JDM) and I recently saw a 4Runner locally on craigslist with a compression problem that needed a new engine with 135k miles. Not everyone cares about their engine like they should, the previous owner of my 4Runner certainly didn't.
Some things to consider is that although you may get a carfax off a locally wrecked engine, you may not get a warranty like most JDM Dealers offer.

 

[REVELC]

Buy a junkyard engine and build it. Run yours for as long as you can then swap the refreshed one out. Then you can rebuild the current one and have a spare or sell it and offset your costs.

 

[cashmoney]

This is the route I'll be going when the time comes. 3.4L Toyota 5VZFE Dressed Long Block - 5VZFE 34L-DB-9504 - TEAMYOTA

Then I'll have mine rebuilt and sell it. Minimize down time as much as possible.

 

[Monkeybutt2000]

I didn't read all the replies,but if it were MY $ I would get a leakdown test as already posted. This will tell you EXACTLY where the problem is,if there is one.