When to rebuild?

[pyrokilla]

How many KMs usually? My car is at about 165000kms...

[Camaro_SLP]

It doesn't necessarily depend on how many miles the engine has,,you rebuild when problems start to occur in the internals of the engine.

[cassie]

Cars aren't meant to be "REBUILT" when they age... they're meant to be replaced.

Unless of course, you have a classic

[Shay]

There's not really any specified miliage, so to speak. I've talked with folks with over 200K on their engines and not any sign of a problem. However these are people who are exacting with maintainence. Most people do rebuilds when symptoms of problems arise. For example: White smoke being evacuted through the exhaust system. Typically from burning oil because of worn Piston rings. Also seen it from coolant making into the combustion chamber via either crack or headgasket. I have had smoke from old Valve seals. Rebuilds because of gaskets worn out and leak oil. Noises such as knocking and so on. And some of these might be minor problems that might not require a major rebuild, but my point of view is this: If going to to go to all the trouble of pulling the motor and work on one part, I might aswell check the bearings and Cylinder walls and do a rebuild unless of course I have already done one in recent history. Engines becomes less effeicent at making power the more they get used. Even on a tiny scale your engine is making less power from the day before because of constant wear and heat. Take 2 same year 3800's one with no miles and one with 150K mile on it. Dyno both and as expected the more use motor will make less.
In my case My '96 3800 has a rear main seal leak. And while I admit not a serious concern it does annoy me because it just so happens to drip on to the exhaust and tends to smell. But when I pull the motor to fix it I plan to do a complete rebuild before I button her back up. SHE has been pain-free for over 122K miles and this is just good measure to make the next 122K just as enjoyable. Nothing wrong with rebuilding. Don't feel intimidated I learned on the fly with just a Haynes manual and a couple of buddies on a Junkyard LT1. And Remember one day these cars will be classics in their own right.

[Ian]

you do a compression check.

if the comp is off in certain cyl., rebuild if you want.

[navyblue2000]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by cassie:
Cars aren't meant to be "REBUILT" when they age... they're meant to be replaced.

Unless of course, you have a classic<hr></blockquote>

you're right.

why rebuild an old, tired, worn out 350 with some new rods/pistons, maybe crank, heads/cam...or bore it some...have a nice 383 engine that puts out some real power?

nah...let's just replace it.


[img]redface.gif[/img] :D