Kevin.FILLIP@domain.elided

["Tony Lupton" <T.Lupton@domain.elided>]

Hi Kevin,

> I'd appreciate any thoughts on the wisdom of trying to buy a used 2.5 
> motor versus having the current motor rebuilt. My mechanic is quoting 
> me about $2K to rebuild the current 2.5 in my '85 GTV-6 (head gaskets, 
> valve and stem seals, guides, valve cover gaskets etc.). I have to 
> believe I could find a used 2.5 which even after you swap it out for 
> the old motor, would cost a lot less than this. Any thoughts ? 

As somebody has already said, you may well find that a 2nd hand engine
is in worse state than your current engine. Difficult to tell, since you
didn't say why you wanted the existing one rebuilt. If it's blown a head
gasket or something similarly serious, it's probably an easy call. If
yours is just tired, then it's more of a gamble.

One course you may want to consider, if you are prepared to do some work
yourself, is get a known good one, and get your mechanic to drop it in,
which gets you back on the road relatively quickly. Then you could
rebuild your engine youself. Without knowing your situation (skills,
time/space to  do own work, existing problem) it's a little difficult to
say, but this is the way that I would do it. My 90 did a head gasket
last Christmas, and the car was off the road for 4weeks - partly due to
inability to find good engineering shops that were open over Christmas,
and partly due to only being able to work on the car at night/weekends.
I don't particularly want to be without the car for that long again.

Bear in mind that if you DIY it, and it's your first time, you may spend
as much in tools, manuals etc, as you might pay your mechanic in labour.
I don't know how true this is for your side of the Pacific, but it was
close enough over here. You'll do a lot of head scratching and swearing
along the way, but if you're even halfway mechanically inclined and you
follow the manual to the letter, you'll get a lot of enjoyment and
satisfaction out of it, especially when you turn the key for the first
time afterwards.
 
Tony

1979 Alfetta 2000 (parting out)
1985 Alfa 90 2.5i
The Alfa 90 page http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/7709
- -- 
Tony Lupton                         *    Astracon (Australia) Pty Ltd
Learning Products Team Leader    *    *  Level 10, 303 Coronation Drive
Email: t.lupton@domain.elided      *   PO Box 1656
Phone: +61 7 3368 6926                   Milton Qld 4064
Fax:   +61 7 3368 6999             *     Australia

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