Engine Replacement

[vargatron]

"Newbie" here!  I've had my Eagle since 2013, but most of that time has been spent fiddling with it in one way or another... (let's just say the previous owner was less than honest)

Much to my chagrin, what I was hoping (and initially told) wasn't going to be a major issue has turned into me needing a new engine.  Now I have literally no experience in this department, which is why I've come to you guys for advice.  What is my best option?  As far as I can tell, the car has 82,000 miles on it and is in pretty solid shape.  A local shop quoted me $3300 for a rebuild, while my mechanic was able to locate a remanufactured engine with a 3 year warranty for about $1600 (with fluids, labor, etc. it would cost me around $2200-$2500).  We also found a couple of used engines for under $500, but I have no way of telling how well they run and fear ending up with another headache.  Somebody suggested going with a newer Jeep engine, and another suggested I just buy another Eagle wagon and keep mine around for parts.

While buying it in the first place probably wasn't the smartest thing I ever did, I'm not just going to give up on it.  It's my problem child, but I love it and it's stuck with me whether it likes it or not

[vangremlin]

Welcome to the Den!

I had good luck with buying a used engine off Craigslist for a great price, and had the ability to hear it run before I bought it.  And I was also able to able to do the install at my friend's house, who is a pretty good shadetree mechanic.  So I wouldn't necessarily be scared off by it.

However, in you case, I would go with the remanufactured engine with a warranty.  Doesn't sound like you can go wrong with that, as long as the rest of the car is pretty solid.

Good luck!

[Eagle Groupie]

I am even less of an expert than you are, but I know the 4 liter inline 6 used in Jeeps until 2006 is a popular swap. Dunno if that's what they meant by "newer engine."

[vargatron]

Unfortunately the engines I've found on craigslist were all already pulled, so while a $300 258 would save me money right now, I think in the long run it might make more sense to get the remanned.  That's how I'm leaning at the moment, anyway.

By "newer" they mean pretty much anything fuel injected, which I'm not entirely opposed to, but I did put on a brand new aluminum valve cover and Motocraft carb last summer.  However for the right price, it's something I'd consider.  I originally planned on keeping it stock, but after the valve cover swap that idea kind of went out the window.

Thanks guys, I'll keep you posted.

[vargatron]

Ol' money pit.  Paint's a bit dinged up and the headlights sag (among other things), but it's not bad for a Pennsylvania car.  Even with all of its problems it's been a trooper.

[Prafeston]

headlight sag is an easy 8 dollar fix. Can buy the adjustment screws for cheap on eBay.

[Amc1320]

I went with the remanuactured engine in mine, it was chaper than a rebuild and I liked the three year warranty. One year down and 10,000 miles and so far all is well

[vangremlin]

headlight sag is an easy 8 dollar fix. Can buy the adjustment screws for cheap on eBay.

You should be able to pick them up at your local auto parts store too.  Get the pink ones!

[captspillane]

Do you live in PA? I live about an hour north of Philadelphia. I have about twenty engines sitting around and I can do the swap at my shop for time and materials at a very low labor rate.

[vargatron]

I'm in Scranton. Car was driving until my mechanic pulled the head and went to flush the coolant... He was holding on to it until I decided what I wanted to do, but just asked if I could take it back temporarily as he needed the space. Barely made it the two miles home without overheating, and now the left half of the engine is covered in oil.

I might take you up on that, if I can find somebody to help with transport.

[vargatron]

http://allentown.craigslist.org/pts/4532472940.html

258 on Craigslist about an hour and a half from me. Supposedly a "fresh, complete rebuild" pulled from a totaled car for $150...

[Amc1320]

that's a pretty good deal on that engine, hard to say if it was really rebuilt but for that price you cant go too wrong

its worth that in scrap

[vangremlin]

That is a heck of a deal.  I would ask the guy how it has been stored since being pulled to make sure it wasn't just sitting in his back yard exposed to the elements.  Good luck!

[captspillane]

its worth that in scrap

$150 in scrap for a 258? Dang I wish.

I got $0.09 a pound last time. That adds up to $9 for 100 pounds. An engine weighs about 300 pounds. That's a whopping $27. The entire Eagle is worth less than $300 in scrap.

[Amc1320]

By scrap I mean parting out the pieces and then selling whats left