Autozone has a remanufactured engine call Series Two Engine.It says in the pamplet that the engine is bored to no more than .040" over. It comes fully assembled and ready for instlation. All internal parts are new. Also it comes with mobil 1 oil and a set of Bosch Platinum sparkplugs. For a 302 it will cost me $1500. Is this a good deal? Any thoughts on these (autozone, pepboys, western auto...) types of reemanufactured engines.
thank you.........

 

I bought a 351W remanufactured long block from Advanced (Recon Engines) for $1000, then I had to add the intake carb, egr, valve covers, plugs, wires, distributor, front cover, harmonic balancer, flexplate, exhaust (headers), all the brackets for the front, oil pan, motor mounts, vacuum system; Let's see that's another $2000 (but it's a beauty, I bought nothing but topline and looked for a little HP to boot). Conservatively, you might be able to put the extra parts together (new) for around $1200 for a total of $2200. Yeah, I think $1500 is a great deal. Even though I learned a lot and my truck is now my hobby, I'd be REAL tempted to take it and run!!!!!!

Slik

 

I just bought a 302 longblock for a 70 F-100 from Pepboys about five months ago. Upfront cost was $1,000. After I brought in my old one, I got $250 back. Got a year unlimited-mileage warranty. I just put everything off the old 302 onto the new one. It's given me no trouble for the last 4 months it's been in the truck. So, $750 was final cost. Not too bad if you're operating on a budget, like I am. Hope that helps some. Joe Osborn

 

I have a reman 390 in my 73 F100 from Western Auto. It has about 50-60k miles and is loosing oil pressure, starting to smoke a little and developing a knock. I have always been good to it, most are highway miles. I am not satisfied with the power or the short life of the motor.

I previously worked at a mechanic shop for a number of years and have had many experiences that make me leary of reman motors. A customer got a 300-I6 Marshall motor from Western Auto and we ended up putting in three before he got one to last more than a month. It took two 302s from Napa to get a good one. Several identical problems with Chevys and Fords (knocking, smoking and low oil pressure) We started insisting on the work being done by a local machinist and had no more troubles (and it didn't cost anymore either).
These engine remanufacturers are known for cutting corners, especially in the heads (not replacing valves, guides, seats).

I would advise you to at least check into having a reputable engine rebuilder quote you a price. Then you can get the cam and compression that you want. And I think you will be surprised at how reasonable the price is. Most places have a comparable or better warranty.

It's up to you, but it wouldn't hurt to check it out. But that's just my opinion. I know others have had good luck with remans.

 

The motor sounds good, but spend a few extra bucks and get the best warranty they offer. You might be thankfull later!

 

Before I got my 351W, I talked to a local machine/speed shop about rebuilding my 302.. with some extra goodies in it for power (flat tops, head work to include screw in studs and guideplates, mild cam, etc) the quote was 1400-1500 bucks.. I have had heard too many horror stories about reman's from the "fast food" parts houses... IMHO, stick with a reputable local shop if possible...

 

I've put rebuilt motors into three vehicles within the past 7 years.

The first was a 289 for my '68 Mustang GT/CS. I bought an engine through the local classifieds for $125. I then took it to a local machine shop and had them tank, magna flux, bore & hone the block and rebuild the heads, including new valves, springs, etc. The block is .040" over. They provided me with a rebuild kit and I took it all home and spent one weekend carefully assembling it. It took another weekend to install it. This was in '92 and I've put 50,000 miles on it since and the motor is still strong and fresh. Total cost was about $1,500. Half of that cost was head work. If I was doing it today I would buy aftermarket aluminum heads.

Four years ago I bought a '77 Ranchero with a 400M, C6 and a broken cam. I pulled the motor & trans & sent the C6 out to be rebuilt. I tore down the 400M and checked it out. It had very little taper in the cylinders so I reamed the ridges off the tops of the cylinders, honed the bores and then installed a rebuild kit with a high-volume oil pump. I was able to reuse the old pistons. The valves & valve guides were still within specs so I just hand-lapped the valves and used the heads as they were. I knew the 400M is designed to generate its torque and horsepower at low RPM levels so I wasn't too concerned about the rebuild. Total cost was about $400.

This Ranchero was a backup vehicle and we've only put 1,000 miles on it since the rebuild. It runs smooth and well. I''m currently installing that 400M and C6 into a '71 F350.

Last year I bought an '84 Bronco with a broken 302. I got a rebuilt long block from Kragens and installed it. We have 3,000 miles on it and it runs great. The long block cost $699 plus $250 for the core charge. I kept the old engine because it had a broken crank and Kragens would only give me $100 for it. I have a '67 Mustang fastback I will install the old motor into.

All things being equal, I prefer to rebuild my engines myself, using a local machine shop to do the machining. This way I can check all the specs and be satisified that I have good, tight motor. I can also specify the cam profile and I like to use high-volume oil pumps.

Keep in mind that I'm a CPA, so how hard can it be to rebuild a motor and have it perform and last?

Good Luck,

Bruce

 

I would say that the price from Autozone is resonable, but at the same time if it were me I would invest a little more money and have a machine shop check the torque specs on the motor from Azone before installing. They are for the most part reliable engines but they also do cut corners putting them togeather so it is a good idea to have one checked out.

Good Luck

 

Have you considered Jasper Engines-they might be slightly more pricey but they have a 3 year - 50k warranty and you can probably find a local shop that is a certified installer for jasper. You can get a price quote direct from Jasper on the web at www.jasperengines.com I've never heard any negative feedback about a correctly installed jasper

 

You might check your local junkyards for low-mile conversion van wrecks. In '96 I bought a 302 with 200 miles from a junkyard that bought the inventory of a conversion shop that burnt. Paid $1200 and got all pulleys and brackets, starter, and flexplate. This one had all wiring, etc and had not gotten hot enough to melt anything. Put the carb on it and sold the Fuel-injection complete for $200. I saw a 350 chevy with 25,000 miles sell for $800 the other day. If you like rebuilt, pay special attention to how much attention to headwork is done. I've had several that needed valve guides after about 20,000.

 

I have recently purchased a 92 F-150 4x4. Only after @1500 miles I started to get oil in my air box...bad deal for me. Anyway I have been surfing and checking prices on a remanufactured long block 302. I have a company that for $1849.00 will ship me (overnight w/return shipping for core included) a fully remanufactured engine that comes with a 5 year / 100,000 mile warranty. The address is www.engineexchange.com . Keep in mind that yes with these types of engines there is always a risk of getting one that they cut corners on. But in my case there is not any descent machine shops in my area. As far as the AutoZone engines go, well they want $1,300.00 the same engine and a 1 year 12,000 mile warranty. Myself I wouldn't by from them or PepBoys. I was management at Autozone a couple of years ago and never saw a single engine that was sold not come back with some kind of problem.
Good luck
Mark

 

Why not get the PAW catalog, and rebuild it yourself? Probably get it rght the first time, and can be sure there are no cut corners. I bought an 81 351W, from checkers, and had to exchange it twice, before I insisted on my money back, they gave me the money back, but I had to keep one of their bad motors as a core. It only cost $799 and a $250 core, but I anly got back $650. I rebuilt it myself for $750, and it has had no trouble yet, with 87000 Happy Highway miles on it. I have kinda abused it, and no trouble. No mysterious sounds, good oil pressure, and absolutly no fresh oil on my shop floor. Just an option, not saying all reman. engines are junk, just saying CKS autos are. Eric








Try,Try,Try again, someday I'll get it right!

 

Be careful boss ,I know you dont want to hear this but this is one of those times when you get what you pay for

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 07-Feb-01 AT 06:30 PM (EST)[/font][p]These reman motors are produced in a production facility anyone who works in a production facility knows that they are tightwads and would rather send something with a little less quality and less money invested in it than pour money into something and make less money, Doesnt ford motorsport sell a brand new long block for like $1700 ????

 

Hey guys, yall recond ol Lew is still looking for an engine since July 99. Somebody is digging deep in the old post pile.


John
jowilker
Club FTE since 01 01

NC Chapter


66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night,
you can hear chevys rusting away.