Advise needed ASAP New or Recon engine

[Bus'n'Bug]

Hi there Chaps, I'm after some Advise on whether to buy a brand new or recon engine for our 1600cc dormobile.

Some of you may have read on my previous thread that we broke down on the way back from Vanwest, well the oil leak from the sump ended up being a much bigger problem and the engine is F****D.

So what to do is the question, we have only 11 days left till Plymfest and really wanna take the bus but am now in a hurry to sort out what to do, we've been told that if we are gunna get a recon then to get one of the cheaper one's cause if we're gunna spend big bucks on a recon we may as well get a new one instead.

I would really appreciate any feed back you can give me or where to go to get more help.

Cheers, Miche

 

[Mike F]

Last summer I took the plunge and installed a brand new Mexican engine. It's been 100% successful - I cannot recommend it highly enough. The extra life it gives the van made a run back down the M6/M1 more like driving my normal car than driving the van.

 

[froggy]

It all depends on your budget, a new engine might be the better bet but you might have to swap all your ancillaries onto it where as a cheaper re-con turn key engine will be fit and go.
As your on a time scale i would say go for a turn key re-con'ed engine

 

[strongy]

same as mike,i fitted a newen 2 years ago and have never looked back,cruses at 70 mph without getting hot and pulls well.well worth every penny,i get in my van and dont worry weather im going to get there at all :mrgreen: :mrgreen: just turn the key and go

 

[scott wilson]

tried to purchase two new engines for the hire busses and no stock anywhere in the world.
I did hear of a chap selling them again a while back and they were 1600 notes +vat + shipping+ and exchange unit...i don`t understand why you need to supply an exchange unit on a new engine..unless i`m thick and he`s obviously got the market cornered at those prices...hopefully for you they ahve become avaliable again as the last i heard they had stopped making them

 

[Bus'n'Bug]

It all depends on your budget, a new engine might be the better bet but you might have to swap all your ancillaries onto it where as a cheaper re-con turn key engine will be fit and go.
As your on a time scale i would say go for a turn key re-con'ed engine

There was no budget to begin with so a ANOTHER loan it will be, I do like the idea of a recon turn key engine but they seem to start at about £2200 + exchange, where as a new mexican can start at about £1400 but then theres the extra labour charges for changing all the parts which will be approx £400.

Oh were to begin that is the question??? :?

 

[froggy]

If your capable of changing the engine yourself (and to be honest its not that hard) then fitting the ancillaries isn't to much hassle.
If you can get a new engine then that would be top of the list, what is the lead time though?

 

[Bus'n'Bug]

Thanks for your advice chaps. We too have taken the plunge and have bought a new mexican engine, (I've sold my soul to the devil to pay for it!!) they appear to be becoming a bit of a hard find and prices are soaring but thanks to GSF we are having the new engine and a set of heat exchangers delivered on friday.

Cheers, Miche

 

[ice man]

iv the same problem any chance you cold let me know the cost thanks

 

[Mike F]

Good choice dude! Hope it works out and that our paths cross at a show sometime!

 

[pete nice]

There is no exchange on a new Mexican engine. GSF is probably the easiest & cheapest place to get one. I have fitted a few with good results. You won't go far wrong.

Beware that you will need to set the valve clearances & fill it with oil. You might have to do a cam burn if it has a new cam in it, 2000rpm for 20 mins. It might not have a distributor drive fitted either.

Another good option for a brand new hand built engine is Richard at Airspeed UK. A relativity new company, but he has been in & around VW's for years. http://www.airspeeduk.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All new parts, new case, crank, rods, pistons, heads, just like a Mexican, but comes ready to fit without the messing about with tappets & dizzy drives. It will be just a long block, unless you send your old unit to be built up. Will have 3 years warranty. You can have it built to your spec, if you want 1641cc & mild cam, then just add that in. £1,499.00 for either.

It's worth a call. I have fitted a few & they are nice engines. You also get customer service & advice. If you do get a problem with a Mexican, which is unlikely, you will be on your own. The Mexican with come with 1 years warranty.

To change the parts over shouldn't be £400. More like £250.

It's worth a phone call, mention Aircooled Technic when you do...

 

[Graham L]

Scott

GSF have new mexicans in stock at Birmingham when I rang them the other day, they are currently priced at something like £1395 + VAT although I'm sure a bit of haggling could take place :mrgreen:

 

[matt-me]

There's an article in Ultra VW this month about Airspeed, all sounds good, 3 year warranty is not to be sniffed at.

 

[Bus'n'Bug]

I did think £400 was a bit steep for the change over of the Ancillaries but the chap who's doing it has always been really good to us in the past with the bus & the bug so I don't want to kick up to much of a fuss.

Also I did try and haggle for a discount from GSF as I too paid £1,604 including the VAT and was told they dont do discounts on engines so I pushed a bit harder and 10% discount on the heat exchangers and was told that I might get a discount on the engine when the order goes through to Birmingham but i'm not holding my breath, I'm sure It's cause I'm a woman blokes in garages etc take the p**s with the money side of things.

Anyways the engine is being delivered to my man that can tomorrow and being fitted on Mon/tue, i've been told it will take 2 days is that the case? :?

Am even more hacked off now as i've called another company in the area and they said they would charge a little over £200 for the work, so know what do I do as the bus is already at the other garage??? :x

 

[pete nice]

Haggle a price or tow it home.

Ask what the £400 includes. It normally takes me a day to do a swap, 8 hours @ £35 = £280.
You will need oil & gaskets, another £20 but not much else.

Find out the hourly rate as if there is a problem the costs can rise sharply.