Economy engine rebuild or crate motor?

I've got an older truck and am seriously thinking about keeping it, but it has 200k miles on it. It's my daily commuter, sh*t hauler, buck hauler and I'm fine with keeping it.
What is the more economical turn-key way to go, having the current engine rebuilt to factory specs (more or less) or buying and having an economy, factory spec crate motor installed? I won't be doing the work, I'll have to have it done. I'm not looking to hotrod it in any way, but looking more for the best bang for the buck. Thoughts?
For what it's worth it's a Chevy 4.3

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Originally Posted by Robb

I've got an older truck and am seriously thinking about keeping it, but it has 200k miles on it. It's my daily commuter, sh*t hauler, buck hauler and I'm fine with keeping it.
What is the more economical turn-key way to go, having the current engine rebuilt to factory specs (more or less) or buying and having an economy, factory spec crate motor installed? I won't be doing the work, I'll have to have it done. I'm not looking to hotrod it in any way, but looking more for the best bang for the buck. Thoughts?
For what it's worth it's a Chevy 4.3

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Pull out yours, take it to a machine shop, let them do the work, go with their recommended parts, and go from there. Or buy a new, from GM crate motor. I wouldnt install a mass reman Jasper, Autozone, Napa engine if it was given to me. I'd sell it, and put in a used 150k motor over those things. Also, if the engine you have is still running, why replace it? Ive seen those engines over 300k, not quite as strong, but not worn out by any means.

If you go the crate route you get a warranty which is good insurance. By the time you get a good engine shop to rebuild it the cost would probably be more then a crate motor. If you are staying stock I would go crate motor when the time comes for an engine. The 4.3's will go a long time though.

Unless it's sucking 2-3 qts of oil per 1K of driving, run it in to the ground. If you know it's not going to get you through the winter, factory crate motor. While you're at it crack off for another transmission, or clutch , pressure plate and throwout bearing if a manual trans.

Just keep in mind that those guys you find on Craigslist that do engine rebuilds real cheap are mostly scammers. A friend of mine went that route because its all he could afford (was laid off and his wife was going through chemo for breast cancer at the time) and the motor lasted about a month ... then the guy ignored his phone calls and dodged him for several months (thankfully another friend who owns a shop came along and just gave him a shiny new crate motor gratis).

Keep a couple of things in mind. It might not be wise to dump $3,000 into a truck that isn't worth $3,000. Plus, even though it will have a new engine, everything else (transmission, transfer case, suspension, differentials, etc.) isn't going to be new. My guess would be the likelihood of having other issues with the truck are probably higher than the engine losing compression or chucking a rod.

Good info, thanks.
My old engine still runs amazingly well, it puffs a nice cloud on startup and it uses oil but nothing insane. I'm not looking to replace it NOW, but I'm starting to think about it, do my homework so I know the way I want to go. It already has a brand new clutch and a newer used tranny in it, that's kind of why I've decided to go a new motor when the times comes and just live with keeping it.
Good to know about the Jasper etc rebuilds, I looked at their webpage.

Slap a set of valve stem seals on it. That will probably fix your smoking issue.

I don't about Brian, but I had a good experience with a Jasper Remanufactured Chevy 4.3L V6. Back in 2007, when I had it done it cost about $4K for the whole job and came with a warranty. Have to go to a Jasper affiliated mechanic for the warranty, but I thought it was worth it. We sold the truck about 20K miles later and the family we sold it to was still driving it a year ago.

I have the engine in my '56 Willys Jeep to have rebuilt, and my research on the local Colorado4x4 forum shows Rev Motors in Englewood to be about the best in the Denver area. I haven't hired them yet, but I will. I've visited the shop a couple of times, and it's exactly how an engine rebuilding shop should be. I recommend checking it out. On Lipan St.

Rondog,

Great info to know, thanks for sharing.

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Originally Posted by Robb

Rondog,

Great info to know, thanks for sharing.

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I "think" it's a turnkey operation too, as in they'll yank and reinstall the engine as well, but don't quote me on that.

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Originally Posted by ray1970

Slap a set of valve stem seals on it. That will probably fix your smoking issue.

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This and its easy to do.

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Originally Posted by Inconel710

I don't about Brian, but I had a good experience with a Jasper Remanufactured Chevy 4.3L V6. Back in 2007, when I had it done it cost about $4K for the whole job and came with a warranty. Have to go to a Jasper affiliated mechanic for the warranty, but I thought it was worth it. We sold the truck about 20K miles later and the family we sold it to was still driving it a year ago.

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I know people that have 75k+ on Jasper engines and transmissions with out any problems. Anything that is remanufactured you are going to want a warrenty on though.

I just did my own and it was a pretty fun experience. lucky for me my buddy owns a shop so we had plenty of space and time to work on it. I still got the heads done at a machine shop but we did the rest of it ourselves. 7500 miles on it now and running like a champ

A puff of smoke at start up isn't a bad thing. Is it burning oil of leaking?

I'd drive it til it drops, then look at options. Maybe another truck. The little things can get expensive too. Personally, I would rather take it to a reputable rebuilder and let them have at it. That is if I was going to keep it afterwards.

Old trucks are a love hate relationship. http://www.cheersandgears.com/public...ault/truck.gif

It burns oil. I just had the clutch and tranny work done about a year ago so no leaks at this point.

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Originally Posted by Inconel710

I don't about Brian, but I had a good experience with a Jasper Remanufactured Chevy 4.3L V6. Back in 2007, when I had it done it cost about $4K for the whole job and came with a warranty. Have to go to a Jasper affiliated mechanic for the warranty, but I thought it was worth it. We sold the truck about 20K miles later and the family we sold it to was still driving it a year ago.

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They tend to not blow up. Just not near as good as a one-off rebuild. theyre bored/honed so they fit together. Whereas a one-off will be bored at honed to tighter tolerance fit for the pistons provided. If OEM is 100% power rating, Jaspers run 80-90%, and one-off is at 100%. For a touch more money, you get higher quality parts, matched precisely, and will have an engine good for another 200k, that will drive like it did off the showroom floor. Jasper will drive like a 100k motor, good, but not new. I had a good friend who dealt with them for several years. He had some issues here and there, and viewed them as a budget replacement, an option, not a recommendation. Any one that was willing to spend a little more, did a better one-off rebuild, and seat of the pants was VERY noticeable between otherwise identical vehicles.

It's a 4.3 slap a BBC crate motor in it and BAM... Lookout.