Repair And Fix it

Defining Rebuild

Having your engine rebuilt will cost between $1,100 and $3,000, depending on the size and type of engine. A rebuild restores every part to original manufacturers specifications, and may include parts of your current engine. This is different from an overhaul in that an overhaul only fixes things that are worn out. A rebuild essentially starts over and includes used parts.

Other Options

The engine is the most expensive piece of your automobile, so whatever you do, you will be spending a lot. "Crate" engines also are available, which are brand new engines. The cost usually is a little more, but you are getting all new parts and usually a longer warranty. The ultimate option of course, is to trade in your car for a new or different car.

Bottom Line

A lot depends on how attached you are to your automobile, and its overall condition. If there are other major issues, such as transmission or suspension problems, or body damage, you might be better off getting a new or different car.

Engines without excessive wear and serious damage can be rebuilt. This is cheaper than purchasing a new one. Do-it-yourself mechanics maintain quality control over parts and work invested in their engine rebuilding project by using an engine rebuild kit. Rebuild kits reduce the probability of mismatched parts. Engine rebuild kits are available for different vehicles.

Summit Racing

Summit Racing has an engine rebuild kit for the Chevrolet 350 V8 engine manufactured between 1967 and 1986. Part number SUM-SBCKIT1-000 is a complete engine rebuild kit containing piston rings, camshaft bearings and hypereutectic pistons. Suggested pricing for the Summit Racing engine rebuild kit is $221.80.

Enginetech

Enginetech makes a custom engine rebuild kit compatible with all Chrysler models that meets original manufacturing standards. The kit contains pistons, rod bearings and freeze plugs. The pistons come in standard, 0.030, 0.040 and 0.060 inch sizes. Main and rod bearings come in standard, 0.010, 0.020 and 0.030 inch sizes. Suggested retail pricing for the Enginetech Chrysler custom engine rebuild kit is $237.99.

Topline

Topline offers engine rebuild kits for 4-cylinder Acura Integra vehicles. There are 2 versions.The Major kit includes a complete gasket set, timing belt and expansion plugs. The Gold kit offers all Major rebuild kit equipment plus an oil pump. Suggested retail pricing for the Topline Acura Integra Major engine rebuild kit is $280.53. Suggested pricing for the Gold kit is $486.58.

A blown engine can either be a nightmare of epic proportions or a fairly simple weekend project--the difference comes down to knowledge and preparation. Think of your engine disassembly as an autopsy and dont take anything at face value. Stay vigilant for cascading, cause-and-effect failures and expect to spend twice what you think you will. A "blown" engine can be the result of anything, from a simple head gasket failure to a crankshaft snapped in two, so dont buy any new parts until you know whats going on with the engine.

Instructions

1

Diagnose the engine during teardown, taking it slowly and staying organized. Remove the valve covers and intake manifold, checking for debris in the oil and broken valve springs/valve train components. Remove the cylinder heads and examine the piston tops and combustion chamber roofs for signs of oil leakage, water leakage and melted components.

2

Check for cracks in the heads, the combustion chamber and deck surface, the piston tops and cylinder bores and the engine block deck surface. This is just a preliminary check. If you dont see anything wrong, dont assume that the engine is fine; be prepared to take it to a machine shop to have the block and heads magnafluxed to check for cracks invisible to the naked eye. This is especially crucial if the engine blew from overheating.

3

Remove the crankshaft, rods and pistons. Pay close attention to the bearing surfaces, checking for signs of gouging.

4

Send the block to the machine shop to have the crankshaft, bearing bores, cylinders, engine block and cylinder head deck surfaces machined to factory specs. Order whatever new parts you need, including over-sized pistons, rings and bearings.

5

Install the new piston rings onto the pistons. Install the crankshaft bearings into the block, followed by the crankshaft itself, rod bearings then the pistons and connecting rods. Pack the oil pump with petroleum jelly, then install it and the oil pan.

6

Insert the new head gaskets and bolt the heads onto the block. Slide the new camshaft lifter in place. Install the camshaft either into the block or onto the cylinder heads and then install the valve train onto the heads. Install the intake manifold gaskets, intake manifold, exhaust manifold gasket, exhaust manifold, valve cover gaskets and valve cover(s).

7

Fill the engine with oil then use a drill and priming shaft to prime the oil pump. For many engines, the oil pump drive shaft is accessible through the distributor hole. Have an assistant manually turn the crankshaft with a large wrench while you prime. Once you see oil pushing through the valve train, the engine is ready to install and fire up.

Hydraulic jacks are relatively simple machines. If you have one in your workshop that no longer lifts, then you should consider trying to rebuild it. Many jacks are designed to be disposable and thrown out as soon as they break, but high quality hydraulic jacks can be rebuild instead of being replaced and some manufacturers offer rebuild kits. The procedure is the same whether you have a bottle jack or a floor jack. A floor jack has a bottle jack inside, so remove the bottle before starting the procedure. This procedure should not be part of your routine maintenance routine but it may help if the jack is not working correctly.

Instructions

1

Drain the oil from the jack by removing the drain plug. This is usually the uppermost plug if the bottle were standing on its base. Once the oil is drained, clean and replace the drain plug.

2

Remove the handle assembly. This is usually held in place by a few bolts. Once you have it off, pull the pump piston out from underneath the handle. This can be done by hand, though you may want to secure the jack with a vise.

3

Remove the release valve by unscrewing it. There is usually a ball or pin to regulate flow under the cap. Remove this by using the pencil magnet and keep the ball and cap together.

4

Remove the overload valve. This valve is often under a screw and close to the release valve. Remove the screw or bolt holding it in place and then use the pencil magnet to remove the two balls and springs underneath. There may also be some dividers, plates and guides underneath it. As you remove these, make a note of the order they were removed. This will help you when it comes to replacing them.

5

Use the pipe wrench to remove the tank nut from the top of the bottle. Once this is off, the piston will slide out and you will be able to slide all the pieces apart. Make another note of which piece was inside which, so you can put them back together afterward.

6

Examine all the o-rings and seals for pinches, cracks or breaks while everything is apart. Replace the o-rings and washers with new ones. When removing the o-rings do not use the side that creates the seal as leverage as this may damage the surface and prevent the new ring from sealing correctly. You can also soak the new soft o-rings and washers in hydraulic oil to improve their initial seal.

7

Reassemble the piston by referring to the directions you drew up when you removed it. Slide the piston back inside the bottle and tighten the tank nut.

8

Replace the balls and springs in the overload valve. Usually the smallest ball goes first, followed by the smaller spring and then the large ball and large spring. Refer to the directions you wrote when removing them if you have additional parts. Replace the cap on the top of the hole.

9

Replace the ball or pin inside the release valve by dropping it in to place and then replace the release valve screw or bolt.

10

Push the pump piston back into place under the handle and replace the handle assembly using the bolts you removed earlier to secure it in place.

11

Open the oil reservoir cap, refill the jack with oil and bleed any excess air from the system. To bleed the air, open the release valve and pump the handle vigorously several times. Then close the vale, pump the jack to its full height, open the release valve and let it down. Repeat this process until the jack reaches its full height.

12

Wipe the jack all over with the cloth and test it by lifting a vehicle. Carefully examine it following the test for any evidence of leaks.

Craftsman ratchets are known as some of the most dependable tools you can purchase. They see use every day in professional shops and at home. With time, however, any tool can wear out. Rather than purchasing an all-new ratchet, you can rebuild yours at home provided that you have the right tools and the necessary replacement parts. Rebuilding your craftsman ratchet means that you will retain the handle of the ratchet, but will replace the inner workings of the tool.

Instructions

1

Turn the ratchet so that the square drive mechanism faces you. A hog ring secures the inner workings of the ratchet into the ratchet housing. Use the hog ring pliers to squeeze this ring together, then remove it from the ratchet.

2

Turn the ratchet over into the palm of your hand and the inner workings of the ratchet will fall out into it. The inner workings of the ratchet consist of a single cog wheel which is also doubles as the square drive mechanism. The ratcheting mechanism is housed slightly below the cog wheel and you wont need to replace it.

3

Place the ratchet rebuild kits replacement cog wheel into the head of the socket wrench. Its a good idea at this step to drop a little household oil into the head of the ratchet. Use the hog ring pliers to compress the hog ring and press it back into place on the ratchet to secure the new cog in the housing of the ratchet.

When an automatic transmission is working properly, it allows a driver to move a car or truck forward or backward by simply shifting a lever from one position to another. However, an automatic transmission can go bad and experience problems such as slipping or locking up in one gear. When this happens, an understanding of the challenge of rebuilding an automatic transmission can come in handy to auto owners.

Difficulty Level

Rebuilding an automatic transmission is generally regarded as a difficult undertaking because the repair shop must be familiar with your specific type of transmission. Automatic transmissions vary widely from one vehicle to the next and each requires totally different parts and tools to rebuild. For this reason, many repair shops will not take on the job of rebuilding an automatic transmission.

Solution

If you have trouble finding a shop with specific knowledge of your transmission, many repair shops will offer a simple solution to this problem. Instead of rebuilding your transmission, the shop can swap out your old unit for one that has already been rebuilt by the supplier.

Rebuild Versus Replace

One factor adding to the difficulty of rebuilding an automatic transmission is that it takes a considerable amount of time to tear down the transmission just to troubleshoot for problems. Consequently, serious problems with a transmission will often lead to a shop recommending replacement rather than rebuilding.