Refurb, rebuild, or used?

[pacstud]

So I've given up on truck shopping. Absolutely criminal, the market right now (I know it was worse a few years ago). So I'm going to, at some point, need a new engine as my little 2.5 lima won't last forever. Well, probably not.

So I want to start shopping and preparing, and I wanted your opinion. What's the better option? A full overhaul/rebuild with a machine shop getting after it, a low mileage used engine, a refurb (if so, who?).

I'm not eager to spend money for no reason, but no matter how much I spend it'll be cheaper that buying a truck that's going to need work anyway. And, well I want to keep this one. A lot of emotional value to it.

As always, any help appreciated.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I would get a low mile replacement if you can find one reasonably priced. Rebuilt engines are a gamble, some places take shortcuts that you don't know about until it's way too late (like the engine that was in my boat, oversized valve stems that weren't even stainless...). Having one rebuilt at a machine shop would be more expensive than a rebuilt replacement...

Swapping a like for like engine in that should be a pretty simple weekend job.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I’ve had my share of junkyard engines. Some last, some don’t. I’ve wanted to rebuild some motors so I can have a known good motor but I don’t have a space to do the work at the moment nor the money so it’s been a back-burner thing. If you can rebuild it yourself or find a known good engine builder, rebuilt may be the way to go.

 

[19Walt93]

That engine's been out of production for so long I wouldn't trust a low mileage used one- short trip driving wears things out, seals dry out if it hasn't been run, and maintenance history is likely not available. If you have a good machine shop that would be the route I'd take. A reman or used engine that fails is likely to end up costing you more than one good rebuild.

 

[pacstud]

Might end up just rebuilding a used block that's in better shape than mine. Find a 2.5 lima somewhere with a solid block and rebuild it. The local machine shop (pretty good reputation) gave a loose estimate of 2-3k for a complete rebuild with full machining. For that money around here you can't find a pos with 225k miles that's rusted out and needs a ton of work. So I figure it's a good investment.

I figure that would give me two engines, so I'd have a fair amount of spare parts lol.

 

[scotts90ranger]

That sounds fair enough although depending on the shape of the engine I might be tempted to just hone and rering the bottom end with new bearings and have a machine shop go through the head but that really depends on budget, expectations and what the cylinder walls looked like taper wise...

 

[bba952]

Full rebuild! its worth it

 

[pacstud]

That sounds fair enough although depending on the shape of the engine I might be tempted to just hone and rering the bottom end with new bearings and have a machine shop go through the head but that really depends on budget, expectations and what the cylinder walls looked like taper wise...

My goal is to get to a place where I can understand this.

 

[mikkelstuff]

I'm for a full rebuild BUT need to really know the builder.