Should I go for a used engine or Reconditioned? Need some opinions!

[arian23]

I have a 96 240 and I just blew my motor and I need another one ASAP. I can get a complete used one from a 96 for 250 bucks with 120k on it or a long block thats reconditioned with new piston rings, bearings and valve seals for 1000 bucks. the used one looks pretty good it just came out of the car last week or so for an SR swap. I know I am taking chances on the used one but is it a bad chance? Let me know what you guys think I should do.

[thundering02]

Unless the person with the complete engine is a personal friend I personally would shy away. The red one now looking for its 4th engine that I am aware of(two were junkyards for a similar price-paid by the prev owner.) I now fully intend on buying a newer one, Going SR sometime next week(hopefully).

[ladiesman8527]

if u plan on keeping the KA for a long time, i'd just go with the reconditioned. if you're just putting a KA in to get by for a little while, get the used one.

[irritatedmax]

when my ka blew i was in the same position. i ended up finding a matching model year ka/tranny/ecu for $100 that was removed for an sr swap. it had 150k and has been running for about a year now. it had sat for about a year out in the elements under a tarp before i came along (moral of the story: tough engines or i am an idiot). i kept my tranny since i knew it was in working order and put in the new motor and ecu. i say go for the used engine becuase if you can get years worth of transportation for $250 you can't beat that. the reconditioned engine is questionable becuase you don't know who did the work or if any work was actually done.

[arian23]

I wanna do a leak down test and a compression test and test it out. Anyone know where to get a low priced install in the Bay Area (San Mateo area)? I know I should put that in the Local section but I just thought I ask while im here.

[gotta240]

think of it this way.... 4 $250 engines = 1 $1000 engine.

[GSXRJJordan]

hahaha I actually agree with gotta240 here... If you're not opposed to spending a day swapping motors every year or so, you can get by with used ka's for a while. I've just swapped up whenever my s13s motors have died, though - if you have the cash for an SR (and the desire to do it), go with that... if you just want to putt around in the KA and are cheap, go used. If you want something "reliable" (seems like such a dirty word here) pay the cash for the refurb motor.

[arian23]

Well im broke right now and I was gonna install it myself. I was thinking of taking off the oil pan on the used motor and checking it out. What should I look for? Scratches in the cylinder wall etc... And if the leak down test goes good its should be ok right? The engine has like 120k on it and its out of an Auto.

[gotta240]

fuck looking for scratches.

Do a compression check(they should all be within 10 percent of each other and i believe 160-180 is normal, but double check)

Do a leakdown test.

then if you want, pull the pan and look for metal...thats about all you can do, but it should tell you a lot...

[arian23]

I found that the motor has like 158k on it. I dont know if imma get that one. Anyone in the Bay Area (san mateo area) have a good used motor? I thinik imma get the recon unless something good pops up.

[irritatedmax]

talk the seller down to $150 and swap it in. like i said mine had a 150k-ish and it has ran pretty strong after basic tune-up.

[domo dorigato]

Funny, I just talked to you earlier today man. Looks like your leaning towards the reconditioned one. I guess I might just take that engine home from the shop and keep it as spare when I get a chance. 150 is too low imo. I too am a broke college student. Anyways good luck!

[arian23]

^^^^^ Lol.............

[gotta240]

150 for a 150k. sounds right to me...unless it comes with a 5spd....then 300 or 350...